By Sal Peralta of the Oregon Independent
Jeff Mapes is reporting that Portland Attorney Steve Novick has won the endorsement of the Oregon Education Association, one of Oregon's most powerful labor unions.
The voting by the 337 delegates at the Salem Conference Center was weighted based on contributions made by each local to the OEA's political fund.
Novick won 58,322 votes compared to 19,013 for Merkley and 12,541 for Oregon Independent Party candidate John Frohnmayer. Another candidate, David Loera, received 342 votes and 1,513 votes were cast for no recommendation.
Novick said the vote was the culmination of 11 years of working with the 48,000-member union on a wide variety of issues, ranging from his work against measures sponsored by conservative tax activist Bill Sizemore to his efforts to lower video lottery commissions for retailers so that more of the proceeds could flow to schools.
As surprirising as Novick's victory is how close Independent John Frohnmayer was to Merkley, who has been a reliable ally for the OEA during his tenure in the Oregon legislature.
In other news, Hofstra is beating the Patriots by a touchdown midway through the third quarter.
