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2008 Oregon Commissioner of Labor election

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2008 Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries election

← 2006 November 4, 2008 2012 →
 
Nominee Brad Avakian Pavel Goberman Mark Welyczko
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 690,000 184,919 135,666
Percentage 67.2% 18.0% 13.2%

Results by county:
Avakian:      55–60%      60–65%      65–70%      70–75%

Commissioner of Labor and Industries before election

Brad Avakian

Elected Commissioner of Labor and Industries

Brad Avakian

The 2008 Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries election was held on November 4, 2008, in order to elect the Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries. The election was held on a nonpartisan basis.

Incumbent Commissioner Brad Avakian, who had been appointed by Governor Ted Kulongoski after Commissioner Dan Gardner resigned, was elected to a full term.

Candidates

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  • Brad Avakian, incumbent Labor Commissioner
  • Pavel Goberman, perennial candidate
  • Mark Welyczko, security guard

While the position of Labor Commissioner is nonpartisan, Avakian is a known Democrat. Welyczko had previously challenged incumbent David Wu in that year's congressional primaries as a Democrat, and Goberman had run for a variety of offices under different parties, including as a Democrat, Republican, and Libertarian.

Campaign

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Avakian, at the time a state senator, was appointed Labor Commissioner in March 2008 and took office April 8.[1] A special election was set for November 4, alongside the general election scheduled for that date.

Avakian faced two opponents with no political experience. Despite that, he spent on advertising, aiming to boost his low statewide name recognition. He was endorsed by the Oregonian and Willamette Week.[2][3]

Results

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General election results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Brad Avakian 690,000 67.21%
Nonpartisan Pavel Goberman 184,919 18.01%
Nonpartisan Mark R. Welyczko 135,666 13.22%
write-ins 16,056 1.56%
Total votes 1,026,641 100.00%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Avakian changes jobs, Greenlick decides to continue". Cedar Mill News. April 2008. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  2. ^ Francis, Mike (October 17, 2008). "Avakian for labor commissioner". Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  3. ^ Pein, Corey (October 21, 2008). "Schmoozing And Shredding". Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  4. ^ "2008 General Election Official Results". Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved July 1, 2024.