IBEW Member Makes Statewide Run in Oregon

April 2002 IBEW Journal

Local 48, Portland, Oregon, member Dan Gardner, who is running for Oregon Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries, is campaigning by doing a variety of different jobs. He has harvested cranberries, baked bread and, in a proud first for the inside wireman, birthed a calf. But the toughest job he performs may be the one he is favored to win in May.

With major job losses in high-tech, manufacturing and natural resources, Oregon has the highest unemployment rate in the country. His pledge to make Oregon’s jobs his job has had a positive impact on audiences since he officially started his run on Labor Day, 2001.

"I want to work with the next governor to diversify Oregon’s economy," Gardner said, adding that the state’s economy must branch out from its recent focus on microchip manufacturing, which is suffering in the wake of the dot-com downturn.

A 25-year veteran of the IBEW, Gardner is a third generation member and an experienced state legislator. He was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 1996 and during his three sessions in the legislature, Gardner has focused on protecting the interests of working families by advocating policies that strike an economic balance between employers and employees.

He got his start in politics by urging fellow members to seek local office from his post as Local 48 Political Action Committee chairman. Then-Senator Robert Packwood’s retirement set off a series of office-holders resigning for a chance to move up the political ladder.

" Suddenly we realized the seat in my district was open, and people started looking at me to run," Gardner said. In that race, he crossed 9,000 doorsteps and wore out three pairs of shoes. He won 63 percent of the vote and was elected leader of the House Democratic caucus in 1999.

As a workingman from the trades, Gardner said he has a valuable perspective. "I have always believed IBEW members can tell the story and represent the membership well in government," he said. "I preached that quite a bit."

One of three declared candidates in the non-partisan race for Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries, Gardner hopes to garner enough of the votes to win outright during the primary on May 21. If he wins 50 percent plus one vote of the primary total, the race ends there.

Dan Gardner, Local 48 inside wireman, hopes to be the next Oregon Labor Commissioner.

LU 48 Web site