Gardner, a member of Local 48 in Portland, was declared winner
in the nonpartisan race on May 21. By capturing more than 50 percent
of the vote, he avoids a contest in the general election. (See "IBEW
Member Makes Statewide Run in Oregon," IBEW Journal, April
2002.)
Gardners leading opponent garnered only 23 percent of the vote.
Forty percent of the eligible voters turned out.
An inside wireman, Gardner will take charge in January of an agency
charged with protecting workers and children in the workplace, governing
registered apprenticeship programs and banning employment discrimination.
"Its sweet," Gardner said of his victory. He said he
plans to spend the rest of the year campaigning for candidates in
the fall congressional and gubernatorial races and building his
team for transition to office.
Gardner said he won all 36 counties in Oregon, the only state with
100 percent mail-in balloting.
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