Teachers' Union Declines to Endorse Candidate in Primary

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski Photo By: Tim King

(PORTLAND) - The Oregon Education Association has declined to make any endorsement during the run-up to Oregon's May 16th primary.

Six of the seven major candidates for governor addressed the powerful teachers' union members during their annual convention Saturday in Portland.

The lack of an endorsement is a blow to incumbent Governor Ted Kulongoski, a Democrat.

Kulongoski received support in the general election from the union in 2002, including 250-thousand dollars in donations.

But union members were unhappy about subsequent reforms to the pension system for public employees.

The endorsement from the teachers' union also carries volunteer help from the union's 45-thousand members.