Oregon AFL-CIO Endorses Kitzhaber

The Oregon AFL-CIO endorsed John Kitzhaber’s campaign for Governor today. The endorsement of the labor federation is the largest labor endorsement in the race for Governor.

“John Kitzhaber understands the pressures union members and all middle class Oregonians are under,” said Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain. “Of all the candidates he has the strongest plan to create jobs and help lead Oregon out of the recession. We are looking forward to playing an active role in the campaign.”

“It’s an honor to receive the support of the AFL-CIO”, said Kitzhaber. “I look forward to working with their member unions to create and retain quality jobs.”

The Oregon AFL-CIO represents more than 225,000 Oregonians and provides a strong voice for Oregon’s middle class. The AFL-CIO is a federation of hundreds of unions and non-represented workers throughout the state of Oregon in a wide range of professions: steelworking, nursing, firefighting, transportation, teaching, building and construction, baking, musical performance, telecommunications, office administration and more.

To date, Kitzhaber has received every union endorsement awarded in the race for Oregon Governor.

Other labor support for Kitzhaber includes: -United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 -International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 48 -Oregon State Council of Firefighters -Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council -Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters -Boilermakers Local 500 -Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 1 Oregon -Heat & Frost Insulators Local 36 -Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers Local 156

Kitzhaber also boasts the endorsement of over 100 current and former elected officials, including four statewide office holders.

John Kitzhaber is a former two-term Governor of Oregon. An emergency room physician from Roseburg by trade, he has also served in the Oregon House of Representatives and as the Oregon Senate President. In his career he enacted many progressive reforms, including the Oregon Health Plan, the Oregon Education Act for the 21st Century, the Oregon Children's Plan, and the Oregon Salmon Plan. Since leaving office in 2002, he has continued to work on health care reform, natural resource issues and energy policy, leading several nonprofit foundations and boards.

Posted on March 5, 2010 in Press Releases.

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Campaign Updates

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Meet John Kitzhaber

A Legislator

A reputation for innovation

John's interest in health care policy, his deep love for Oregon's natural heritage and his concern about the lives and jobs of rural Oregonians led him to seek an additional form of public service: serving his neighbors as an elected official.

John Kitzhaber represented Douglas County in the legislature for fourteen years - and was elected by his colleagues to serve as Senate President in 1985, 1987, 1989, and 1991.

He earned a reputation for integrity, civility and public policy innovation. His legislative career was marked by active leadership in the areas of public education, community development, environmental stewardship and a wide variety of health care issues including: long-term care, resource allocation and uncompensated care.

A Governor

John Kitzhaber was elected Governor of the State of Oregon in 1994 and reelected in 1998.

As Governor, he undertook many new policy initiatives including the expansion of the Oregon Health Plan which has benefited nearly two million Oregonians since it was implemented in 1994. He broke new ground with the Oregon Option, a cooperative approach with the federal government that attempted to increase accountability and reduce bureaucracy related to the delivery of a number of government services. As one result, the State of Oregon reduced welfare caseloads by more than 50 percent, helping nearly 20,000 Oregonians find work and saving more than $200 million in the state budget.

On economic issues, Kitzhaber continued to earn his reputation as a leader who looked over the horizon. He brought to the state the first major renewable energy wind turbine manufacturer and laid in place the foundation for Oregon's development and reputation as an incubator of green jobs. And John kicked off the effort to create the Oregon Business Plan, a comprehensive blueprint for economic progress for the state.

Read more about John Kitzhaber's record as Governor on jobs and the economy, public safety, natural resources, and more.

A Leader

Reforming health care

Since leaving the Governor's office, Kitzhaber has continued to work on health care reform, founding the Archimedes Movement -- a grassroots community engagement effort to reframe the debate on health care and build a voice for fundamental change.

Kitzhaber also serves as the President of the Estes Park Institute, which conducts educational conferences for community hospitals. He serves as the Director for the Center for Evidence Based Policy at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland and holds an endowed Chair on Health Care Policy with The Foundation for Medical Excellence; an Oregon based public, nonprofit educational foundation.

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