Oregon Begins Congressional Turnaround

Salem, Oregon

In what AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee is hailing as "a barometer for November 1996," Democrat Ron Wyden was elected to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Republican Bob Packwood. Wyden is the first Oregon Democrat to be elected to the U.S. Senate since 1969.

Wyden's victory is "exciting proof that progressives can be elected and labor can make the difference," said McEntee. "The issues working people care about—jobs, Medicare and Medicaid, education, and the environment—are winning issues."

In this first vote-by-mail U.S. congressional election, the efforts of at least 300 AFSCME volunteers secured Wyden's victory. Voters had a 20-day period in which to mail or hand-deliver their ballots. Volunteers organized rallies, went door-to-door, and made tens of thousands of calls to get out the vote.

"AFSCME volunteers turned out in record numbers in cities and rural areas in all parts of Oregon," said Oregon Council 75 Political Coordinator Mary Botkin. "This was not an election day. This was an election month. Our volunteers had to turn out again and again, and they did—sometimes going door to door when the wind chill was ten degrees below zero, and in high winds and torrential rains."

With record turnout, the mail-in vote was considered a great success. Union members also voted in record numbers—79 percent as compared with overall turnout of just under 68 percent.

"I couldn't be prouder of the effort that Oregon AFSCME Council 75 members put out, or of their impact on this race," said Council 75 Exec. Director Ken Allen. "We hope and believe this election sets a tone nationally. We believe we have sent a message from Oregon to the nation: that working families are important and we will be heard," he said. "By the same token, I hope we've set a standard for other AFSCME councils and local unions. We—AFSCME members—can make a difference if we're willing to put out the effort."

AFSCME Activist—Campaign's "Most Valuable Volunteer"

AFSCME Local 1246 Exec. Board Member Tonya Fox was named the "most valuable volunteer" of the Ron Wyden for Senate campaign—for the hours she spent and for the friends, neighbors, and co-workers she recruited to work in the campaign—said Council 75 Political Coordinator Mary Botkin.

"Essentially it came down to somebody had to do it," said Fox. "I felt very strongly about this race. It was crucial that Ron Wyden win. I felt morally obli-gated to do anything I could to get Ron Wyden elected to the U.S. Senate. We needed to send a message about Oregon to the entire country."

Fox is a vocational coordinator at Fairview, a state-run facility for the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled. Wyden's position on care and security for the disadvantaged played a big role in her support for him.

"I'm very concerned about how we care for our elderly in this country. We need to provide care in an acceptable fashion," said Fox. "Ron Wyden has always been a champion of that cause. He also has an excellent career voting record on labor issues, both AFSCME issues and issues of organized labor in general," she said. "That was important. I appreciate his support of our issues of concern."