Kulongoski Wins Teachers Union Endorsement

Governor Ted Kulongoski

(SALEM) - After being snubbed by public employee unions in the Democratic primary, Gov. Ted Kulongoski received a major boost Friday night when the influential Oregon Education Association endorsed his re-election bid.

The 45,000-member teachers union declined to endorse Kulongoski over his two Democratic rivals in Tuesday's primary election, in part because of its unhappiness over Kulongoski's moves to change the state retirement system that reduced benefits.

On Friday night, however, union representatives voted to endorse Kulongoski over Republican rival Ron Saxton, who won Tuesday's GOP primary, and independent contender Ben Westlund, who's collecting signatures in hopes of earning a spot on the fall ballot.

The OEA's endorsement carries significant financial resources, as well as volunteer help from the union's members for the fall campaign.

In 2002, the union endorsed Kulongoski in the general election and contributed $250,000 to his campaign, among his largest single donations.

Kulongoski, Saxton and Westlund all made separate appearances before OEA representatives Friday night in a bid to win the union's endorsement.

OEA President Larry Wolf said Kulongoski was the overwhelming choice of the union members, in part because of his advocacy for boosting state school funding to $6 billion in 2007-2009.

Wolf said the union members roundly oppose Saxton, largely out of concern that Saxton wants to reduce their pension benefits and privatize various parts of school district operations.

As for Westlund, Wolf said OEA members worry that the independent contender isn't a viable candidate for governor but could end up being a spoiler who swings the race to Saxton in the fall.