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Brad Avakian
Brad Avakian (b. February 4, 1961, in Fresno, CA) was the Oregon commissioner of labor and industries from 2008 to 2019. He was first appointed to the office by Governor Ted Kulongoski (D) on April 8, 2008, following the resignation of Dan Gardner. He was elected to a full term in office on November 4, 2008.
Avakian won re-election in the general election on November 6, 2012.[1] Since the term beginning in 2012 was only two years, Avakian ran for his second full term as commissioner in 2014 and won the election unopposed.[2] He did not seek re-election in 2018.[3]
While the office is officially nonpartisan, Avakian is a Democrat.
After briefly considering a run for governor, Avakian announced his intention to seek the office of secretary of state in the 2016 election. He defeated his Democratic rivals in the May 17 primary election.[4] He was defeated in the general election on November 8, 2016.
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 2006, and in the Oregon State Senate from 2006 to 2008.[5]
Education
- B.A., Oregon State University (1984)
- J.D., Lewis And Clark Law School (1990)[6]
Political career
Oregon Commissioner of Labor (2008-2019)
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. He won re-election in the general election on November 6, 2012.[7] Since the term beginning in 2012 was only two years, Avakian ran for his second full term as commissioner in 2014 and won the election unopposed.[2] He did not seek re-election in 2018.[3]
Oregon State Legislature (2002-2008)
Avakian served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2002 to 2006 and in the Oregon State Senate from 2006 to 2008.[5]
Elections
2018
- See also: Oregon Labor Commissioner election, 2018
Brad Avakian did not file to run for re-election.
2016
- Main article: Oregon Secretary of State election, 2016
Avakian announced that he would seek the office of secretary of state as a Democrat in the 2016 elections.[8] He was also a Progessive Party and Working Families Party candidate for the same office.[9] Incumbent Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins did not run in 2016. Atkins was appointed as a "caretaker" to temporarily fill the position left vacant when former Secretary of State Kate Brown became governor in 2015.[10]
Avakian defeated state Representative Val Hoyle and state Senator Richard Devlin in the Democratic primary election.[8] He competed with Dennis Richardson (R), Independent Party of Oregon candidate Paul Damian Wells, Libertarian Sharon Durbin, Pacific Green Party of Oregon candidate Alan Zundel and Constitution Party candidate Michael P. Marsh in the November general election.[4]
The following candidates ran in the Oregon secretary of state election.[11]
| Oregon Secretary of State, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Dennis Richardson |
47.44% | 892,669 | |
| Democratic/Progressive/Working Families | Brad Avakian | 43.27% | 814,089 | |
| Independent Party of Oregon | Paul Damian Wells | 3.45% | 64,956 | |
| Pacific Green Party of Oregon | Alan Zundel | 2.53% | 47,576 | |
| Libertarian | Sharon Durbin | 2.50% | 46,975 | |
| Constitution Party | Michael P. Marsh | 0.81% | 15,269 | |
| Total Votes | 1,881,534 | |||
| Source: Oregon Secretary of State | ||||
Brad Avakian defeated Val Hoyle and Richard Devlin in the Democratic primary for secretary of state.
| Democratic primary for secretary of state, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Brad Avakian |
39.06% | 168,041 |
| Val Hoyle | 33.81% | 145,444 |
| Richard Devlin | 26.35% | 113,335 |
| Write-in votes | 0.78% | 3,362 |
| Total Votes | 430,182 | |
| Source: http://oregonvotes.gov/results/2016P/71227554.html | ||
Campaign finance
| Brad Avakian campaign finance 2016 |
|---|
2014
Avakian ran for re-election to the office of Oregon Commissioner of Labor in 2014. The 2014 election was the first election of the new election pattern for this office. As a nonpartisan election, it was returning to its traditional mid-year date, which is that of the partisan primaries. The 2014 election was on May 20.[12] No other candidates filed for the race, so Avakian was unopposed for re-election.[13]
Results
Avakian won the election without opposition.
| Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Brad Avakian Incumbent |
98.3% | 406,798 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-ins | 1.7% | 7,153 | |
| Total Votes | 413,951 | |||
| Election results Oregon Secretary of State | ||||
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.[14]
Since it is officially a nonpartisan 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."[15]
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.[16] 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.[15]
| Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Brad Avakian* (D) Incumbent |
52.5% | 681,987 | |
| Nonpartisan | Bruce Starr* (R) | 46.7% | 606,735 | |
| Nonpartisan | 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.[17][18]
2008
On November 4, 2008, Brad Avakian won election to the office of Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries. He defeated Pavel Goberman and Mark Welyczko in the general election.
| Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Brad Avakian |
67.2% | 690,000 | |
| Nonpartisan | Pavel Goberman | 18% | 184,919 | |
| Nonpartisan | Mark Welyczko | 13.2% | 135,666 | |
| Misc. | Various | 1.6% | 16,056 | |
| Total Votes | 1,026,641 | |||
| Election results via Oregon Secretary of State. | ||||
Campaign themes
2016
Avakian's campaign website included the following positions:
| “ |
Good Governance: The Responsibility of Every Secretary of State For Oregon to compete in the 21st century, the Secretary of State must lead the way in good governance. The Secretary of State’s office can be used to hold corporations accountable for abuses, and reward businesses who are playing by the rules. The office is also responsible for making state information accessible, and allowing the public to benefit from the wealth of knowledge stored in the State Archives. Brad Avakian has a proven record of increasing accountability and transparency that he will build upon as Secretary of State. As Labor Commissioner, Brad Avakian has held corporations and state agencies accountable for abusive labor practices, discrimination, and fraud. As Secretary of State, Avakian will make Oregon a national model for good governance. Youth Vote and Return of Civics Education: Civic Engagement Oregon has a responsibility to teach the next generation the importance and process of participation in our democracy. The Secretary of State can be a leader in fostering a commitment to civics education in our public schools as well as giving Oregon children an opportunity to learn the process of voting. Brad Avakian has a proven record in bringing people together to strengthen our public schools. As Labor Commissioner, Avakian led the effort to bring 21st century shop classes to over 340 public schools. As Secretary of State, Avakian will create the partnership to return civics education as part of the curriculum and create the Oregon Youth Vote.[19][20] |
” |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Noteworthy events
Report on sexual harassment in the state capitol
On August 1, 2018, Avakian filed a complaint against Senate President Peter Courtney (D) and House Speaker Tina Kotek (D) for fostering a hostile environment and "subjecting multiple individuals in the Capitol to unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature."
Read the complaint here.
The report accused Courtney and Kotek of allowing former state Sen. Jeff Kruse's (R) office to employ student interns despite complaints of sexual misconduct from two legislators. It also said they prevented Avakian's office from assisting women who complained of sexual harassment.
Courtney and Kotek responded that the "Legislature will participate transparently in this process. We welcome additional scrutiny and a thorough investigation related to the Commissioner’s Complaint." Kotek released a separate statement asserting that she took "every complaint that was brought to my attention seriously."[21]
On August 31, the legislature issued a 35-page response to Avakian's investigation. The legislature's attorney, Edwin Harnden, argued that the investigation was "an attempt to violate the Constitution's strong protection of the separation of powers." Harnden also argued that the Bureau of Labor and Industry (BOLI) did not have the authority to discipline legislative members.[22]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Brad + Avakian + Oregon + Labor"
See also
| Oregon | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
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- Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries
- Oregon Secretary of State
- Oregon down ballot state executive elections, 2012
- Oregon down ballot state executive elections, 2014
External links
- Official campaign website
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative Profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions, 1998-2014
- Brad Avakian on Twitter
- Brad Avakian on Facebook
Footnotes
- ↑ Oregon Live, "2012 General Election Results," November 7, 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Oregonian, "Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian starts fundraising for 2014 re-election campaign," January 7, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Oregon Live, "Brad Avakian, Oregon labor bureau chief, will not seek re-election," July 17, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Oregon Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search Results," accessed March 11, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Brad Avakian, "Meet Brad Avakian," accessed February 22, 2013
- ↑ Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, "Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian," accessed October 19, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Live, "2012 General Election Results," November 7, 2012
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Oregonian, "Third top Democrat joins race for Oregon secretary of state," accessed October 19, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search Results," accessed September 1, 2016
- ↑ The Oregonian, Jeff Mapes, "Kate Brown finds a caretaker by appointing Jeanne Atkins as Oregon secretary of state," accessed October 19, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes," accessed May 25, 2017
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named2014race - ↑ Brad Avakian for Labor Commissioner, "You did this," March 12, 2014
- ↑ Oregon Live, "2012 General Election Results," November 7, 2012
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 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
- ↑ Brad Avakian for Secretary of State, "Issues," accessed March 11, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ OPB.org, "Oregon Labor Commissioner Accuses Legislature Of Creating Hostile Workplace," August 1, 2018
- ↑ The State, "Oregon lawmakers battle labor commission’s #MeToo probe," August 31, 2018
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dan Gardner |
Oregon Commissioner of Labor 2008-2019 |
Succeeded by Val Hoyle |
| ||||||||||||||
