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Brad Avakian
| Brad Avakian | ||
 | ||
| Oregon Commissioner of Labor | ||
| Incumbent | ||
| In office | ||
| April 8, 2008 - Present | ||
| Term ends | ||
| 2017 | ||
| Years in position | 5 | |
| Party | Non-partisan | |
| Predecessor | Dan Gardner | |
| Compensation | ||
| Base salary | $72,000 | |
| Elections and appointments | ||
| Last election | November 6, 2012 | |
| First elected | November 4, 2008 | |
| Next election | November 8, 2016 | |
| Campaign $ | $1,894,812 | |
| Appointed | April 8, 2008 | |
| Appointed by | Gov. Ted Kulongoski | |
| Term limits | N/A | |
| Prior offices | ||
| Oregon State Senate | ||
| 2006-2008 | ||
| Oregon House of Representatives | ||
| 2002-2006 | ||
| Education | ||
| High school | Aloha High School | |
| Bachelor's | Oregon State University (1984) | |
| J.D. | Lewis And Clark Law School (1990) | |
| Personal | ||
| Birthday | February 4, 1961 | |
| Place of birth | Fresno, California | |
| Profession | Attorney | |
| Religion | Episcopalian | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
| Campaign website | ||
Contents |
Biography
Following his graduation from law school, Avakian became a civil rights attorney. He co-founded the Oregon League of Conservation Voters’ Washington County Chapter and was appointed to lead the State Board of Psychologist Examiners. He served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2002 to 2008, and in the Oregon State Senate from 2006 to 2008.[2]
Education
- Aloha High School
- Bachelor's degree from Oregon State University (1984)
- Juris Doctorate from Lewis And Clark Law School (1990)
Political career
Oregon Commissioner of Labor (2008-present)
Avakian was first appointed Oregon's commissioner of labor and industries by Governor Ted Kulongoski on April 8 2008, following the resignation of Dan Gardner. He was elected to a full term in office on November 4, 2008. While the office is officially non-partisan, Avakian is a Democrat. He won re-election in the general election on November 6, 2012.[3]
Oregon State Senate (2006-2008)
Oregon House of Representatives (2002-2006)
Elections
2012
Avakian ran successfully for re-election in 2012. He defeated one challenger, Republican State Senator Bruce Starr, in the general election on November 6, 2012.[4]
Since it is officially a non-partisan position, at the beginning of the campaign season the candidates for Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries assumed the election would take place on May 15, 2012, during the state's primary election. Election officials, however, said a 2009 law passed by the legislature required the election to take place in November. Commissioner Avakian stated, "We thought the election was in May. My opponent thought the election was in May. Everybody thought the election was in May. It seems clear now that's not the case."[5]
In mid-March, Avakian's opponent, Sen. Bruce Starr, sought a temporary restraining order that would have forced the Secretary of State to put the labor commissioner race on the May 15 ballot. Circuit Court Judge Steven Price rejected the move, saying Starr couldn't show he would be likely to win on the legal merits of the case.[6] Adding to the confusion, the election was for a two year term, but only for this election. Andrea Cantu-Schomus, spokeswoman for the secretary of state's office, explained this move was intended to set up a standard where each election includes some statewide offices.[5]
| Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Non-partisan |  Brad Avakian* (D) Incumbent |
52.5% | 681,987 | |
| Non-partisan | Bruce Starr* (R) | 46.7% | 606,735 | |
| Non-partisan | Write-in | 0.7% | 9,616 | |
| Total Votes | 1,298,338 | |||
| Election Results via Oregon Secretary of State. | ||||
2011
Avakian ran for the U.S. House seat vacated by David Wu. Avakian lost to Suzanne Bonamici in the Democratic primary.[7] [8]
2008
Avakian won election in the November 4, 2008 election, defeating candidates Pavel Goberman and Mark Welyczko. The office is non-partisan.[9]
| Oregon Commissioner of Labor (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Brad Avakian
|
690,000 | |||
| Pavel Goberman | 184,919 | |||
| Mark Welyczko | 135,666 | |||
| Misc. | 16,056 | |||
Campaign donors
Comprehensive donor information for Avakian is available dating back to 1998. Based on available campaign finance records, Avakian raised a total of $1,894,812 during that time period. This information was last updated on May 13, 2013.[10]
| Brad Avakian's Campaign Contribution History | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Office | Result | Contributions | |
| 2012 | OR Labor Commissioner |  |
$858,519 | |
| 2010 | OR Labor Commissioner |  |
$25,904 | |
| 2008 | OR Labor Commissioner | |
$377,514 | |
| 2006 | OR State Senate | |
$214,540 | |
| 2004 | OR House of Representatives | |
$55,024 | |
| 2002 | OR House of Representatives | |
$225,286 | |
| 1998 | OR State Senate |  |
$138,025 | |
| Grand Total Raised | $1,894,812 | |||
2012
Avakian won re-election to the position of Oregon Labor Commissioner in 2012. During that election cycle, Avakian raised a total of $858,519.
| Oregon Labor Commissioner 2012 election - Campaign Contributions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top contributors to Brad Avakian's campaign in 2012 | ||||
| Too Extreme For Oregon (16072) | $177,500 | |||
| Oregon Education Association | $50,000 | |||
| Our Oregon | $37,194 | |||
| Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters | $30,000 | |||
| Service Employees Local 530 | $25,500 | |||
| Total Raised in 2012 | $858,519 | |||
| Source:Follow the Money | ||||
2008
Ballotpedia collects information on campaign donors for each year in which a candidate or incumbent is running for election. The following table offers a breakdown of Brad Avakian's donors each year.[11] Click [show] for more information.
| Brad Avakian's Campaign Contributions | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Oregon Labor Commissioner | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total Raised | $377,514 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Raised by General Election Opponent | $0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Top 5 contributors | Hotel Heathman | $12,390 | |||||||||||||||||
| Oregon Democratic Party | $10,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Oregon Education Association | $10,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia Chapter | $10,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters | $9,600 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Individuals | $91,161 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Institutions | $218,580 | ||||||||||||||||||
| In-state donations | $349,237 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Out-of-state donations | $26,623 | ||||||||||||||||||
Recent news
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This section displays the most recent stories in a Google news search for the term "Brad + Avakian + Oregon + Labor"
- All stories may not be relevant to this page due to the nature of the search engine.
Brad Avakian News Feed
- Revival of Portland's iconic Yaw's Top Notch Restaurant folds amid labor ... - OregonLive.com
- Oregon lawmakers consider new workplace protections for interns: Oregon ... - OregonLive.com
- Equal rights for LGBTQ folks are inevitable - Dailybarometer
- Unpaid interns deserve protection from harassment, discrimination - OregonLive.com
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See also
- Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries
- Governor of Oregon
- Oregon down ballot state executive elections, 2012
External links
- Oregon Department of Labor - Commissioner Brad Avakian
- Official campaign website
- Project Vote Smart biography
- Project Vote Smart legislative profile
- Campaign contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2000, 2002, 1998
- Brad Avakian on Twitter
- Brad Avakian on Facebook
References
- ↑ Oregon Live, "2012 General Election Results," November 7, 2012
- ↑ Brad Avakian, "Meet Brad Avakian," accessed February 22, 2013
- ↑ Oregon Live, "2012 General Election Results," November 7, 2012
- ↑ Oregon Live, "2012 General Election Results," November 7, 2012
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Oregon Live, "Oregon labor commissioner election in November, not May -- as candidates thought," March 19, 2012
- ↑ Oregon Live, "Oregon judge denies attempt by Bruce Starr to hold labor commissioner's election in May," March 21, 2012
- ↑ Northwest Asian Weekly, "Controversial Oregon congressman Wu gets a primary challenger," April 30, 2011
- ↑ Register Guard, "Second-tier races on top," January 10, 2012
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "November 4, 2008 General Election Results," accessed March 20, 2011
- ↑ Follow the Money, " Career fundraising for Brad Avakian," accessed May 13, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money.org
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dan Gardner |
Oregon Commissioner of Labor 2008-present |
Succeeded by NA |
| ||||||||||||||
