Brad Avakian
{{short description|American politician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Brad Avakian
|image = Brad Avakian 2008 Color.jpg
|office = Labor Commissioner of Oregon
|governor = Ted Kulongoski
John Kitzhaber
Kate Brown
|term_start = April 8, 2008
|term_end = January 7, 2019
|predecessor = Dan Gardner
|successor = Val Hoyle
|state_senate1 = Oregon
|district1 = 17th
|term_start1 = January 2, 2007
|term_end1 = April 8, 2008
|predecessor1 = Charlie Ringo
|successor1 = Suzanne Bonamici
|state_house2 = Oregon
|district2 = 34th
|term_start2 = January 2, 2003
|term_end2 = January 2, 2007
|predecessor2 = Charlie Ringo
|successor2 = Suzanne Bonamici
|birth_name=Bradley Paul Avakian
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|2|4}}
|birth_place = Fresno, California, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|spouse = Deborah Avakian
|education = Oregon State University, Corvallis (BA)
Lewis and Clark College (JD)
|website = {{URL|bradavakian.com|Official website}}
|signature = Brad Avakian signature.svg
}}
Brad Peter Avakian (born February 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as a Democrat in the Oregon House, the Oregon Senate, and as the state's nonpartisan elected Labor Commissioner.
He was appointed Labor Commissioner by Governor Ted Kulongoski on April 8, 2008, and was subsequently elected statewide on November 4, 2008.{{cite news|title=New labor leader hopes to boost job training in Oregon|date=April 9, 2008|url=http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080409/STATE/804090432/1042|work=Statesman Journal}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He was re-elected in 2012 and 2014.
In 2016, he was the Democratic nominee for Oregon Secretary of State and was defeated by former state representative Dennis Richardson.
Early life
Born in Fresno, California, he is the son of Larry and Catherine Avakian. He is of Armenian descent. His grandparents came what is now Turkey; grandfather Avak Avakian, immigrated from Muş in 1898 and his grandmother, Sirpoohi Antoyan, came from Bitlis in 1900.[http://www.bradavakian.com/aboutbrad.htm Brad Avakian for Oregon] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703194547/http://www.bradavakian.com/aboutbrad.htm |date=July 3, 2008 }}: Meet Brad, from bradavakian.com. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
Avakian was raised in Washington County, Oregon.[http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI/Avakian_bio.shtml About Oregon's Labor Commissioner] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917130043/http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI/Avakian_bio.shtml |date=September 17, 2008 }}: Meet Commissioner Brad Avakian, from oregon.gov. Retrieved 2008-04-09. He was educated in Oregon's public schools and graduated with a Juris doctor from Lewis & Clark Law School in 1990. He helped create the YMCA's Juvenile Restitution Program while in law school.
Avakian then worked as a civil rights attorney. He co-founded the Oregon League of Conservation Voters' (OLCV) Washington County chapter, and he was appointed by Governor Barbara Roberts to lead the State Board of Psychologist Examiners. He served as Honorary Chair of the Oregon Business Leadership Network, a coalition of employers committed to hiring the disabled. Avakian lives in the Portland metropolitan area in the city of Beaverton.
Political career
Avakian ran for the Oregon State Senate in 1998,{{cite news
|title=Avakian, Hartung war chests fuel fierce senate seat race
|date=October 19, 1998
|author=Don Hamilton
|work=The Oregonian
}} losing to incumbent Republican Tom Hartung.{{cite news
|title=GOP gains, loses in the legislature
|date=November 7, 1998
|author=Courtenay Thompson
|work=The Oregonian
}}
Avakian was elected to represent District 34, on Portland's west side, in the Oregon House of Representatives in 2002.{{cite news
|title=Vote trends show stronger division from east to west
|date=November 7, 2002
|author=Laura Gunderson and David R. Anderson
|work=The Oregonian
}} He defeated Portland police officer John Scruggs,{{cite news
|title=Washington County legislative races tight
|date=November 6, 2002
|author=Richard Colby
|work=The Oregonian
}} the only Republican to lose in Washington County that year, with 53 percent of the vote.{{cite news
|title=How Oregon voted: ballots counted -- 95%
|date=November 7, 2002
|work=The Oregonian
}}
Avakian was elected to the Oregon State Senate, representing District 17, in 2006.
While in the legislature, Avakian was honored by both the Oregon AFL-CIO and the SEIU Local 503 for his work on behalf of working families. In the state Senate he chaired the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, and in 2007 the OLCV named him the "Consensus Builder of the Year," recognizing him for passing an extension of the Oregon Bottle Bill and a renewable energy act. In 2008 he led a coalition to approve water supply development for rural communities.
In July 2007, Avakian announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Oregon Secretary of State.[http://blog.oregonlive.com/politics/2007/07/avakian_jumps_into_secretary_o.html Avakian jumps into secretary of state race] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331055605/http://blog.oregonlive.com/politics/2007/07/avakian_jumps_into_secretary_o.html |date=2008-03-31 }}, The Oregonian. July 31, 2007 He later withdrew from the race when he was appointed by governor Ted Kulongoski to be Commissioner of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries in early 2008 after Dan Gardner announced his resignation. Gardner was the first Commissioner of Labor and Industries to leave mid-term for a new job.
File:Brad Avakian with supporters.jpg
In April 2011, Avakian announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination for Oregon's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.{{cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/04/labor_commissioner_brad_avakia_1.html|title=Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian will run in Democratic primary against Rep. David Wu|last=Mapes|first=Jeff|date=April 18, 2011|accessdate=April 18, 2011|publisher=The Oregonian|archive-date=April 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421051217/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/04/labor_commissioner_brad_avakia_1.html|url-status=live}} The seat was held by fellow Democrat David Wu, who resigned from Congress before the end of his term due to allegations of sexual misconduct.{{cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/07/rep_david_wu_resigns.html|title=Rep. David Wu announces he will resign after accusations of sexual misconduct|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=July 26, 2011|accessdate=July 26, 2011|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216004949/https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/07/rep_david_wu_resigns.html|url-status=live}} Avakian lost in the Democratic primary to Suzanne Bonamici, who succeeded him in both the Oregon House and Senate.
In July 2015, Avakian ordered Aaron and Melissa Klein, owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa in Gresham, to pay a lesbian couple $135,000 in damages for unlawful discrimination in public accommodations after the bakery refusing to make a cake for the couple's wedding. The owners cited their Christian beliefs against same-sex marriage.{{cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2015/07/sweet_cakes_state_orders_orego.html|title=Sweet Cakes: State orders Oregon bakery owners to pay $135,000 for denying service to same-sex couple|last=Rede|first=George|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=July 2, 2015|access-date=October 31, 2023|archive-date=June 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622220315/https://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2015/07/sweet_cakes_state_orders_orego.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author=Casey Parks|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2016/08/oregon_lawyers_sweet_cakes_by.html|title=Oregon lawyers: Sweet Cakes by Melissa $135,000 damage award was justified|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=August 24, 2016|access-date=October 31, 2023|archive-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623004947/https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2016/08/oregon_lawyers_sweet_cakes_by.html|url-status=live}} The Kleins' appealed in the Oregon Court of Appeals, but the ruling was upheld.{{cite news |first = Gordon R. |last = Friedman |date = December 28, 2017 |url = http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/12/appeals_court_upholds_fine_aga.html |title = Appeals Court Upholds Fine Against Christian Bakers Who Refused to Make Same-Sex Wedding Cake |work = OregonLive |access-date = December 29, 2017 |archive-date = December 28, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171228234747/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/12/appeals_court_upholds_fine_aga.html |url-status = live }} However, the Supreme Court vacated this ruling and sent it back to the Court of Appeals of Oregon to rule in a manner consistent with the case Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.{{cn|date=September 2023}}
On November 8, 2016, Avakian lost his bid for Oregon Secretary of State to Republican Dennis Richardson, the first time a Republican was elected to statewide office in Oregon since 2002.Mike Rogoway, [http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/11/oregon_secretary_of_state_race.html Dennis Richardson tops Brad Avakian for Oregon secretary of state, breaking Democrats' hold on statewide office] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219041218/https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/11/oregon_secretary_of_state_race.html |date=2018-12-19 }}, The Oregonian/OregonLive (November 8, 2016).
Avakian announced in July 2017 he would not seek reelection to a third full term.{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/07/brad_avakian_oregons_labor_bur.html|title=Brad Avakian, Oregon labor bureau chief, will not seek re-election|author=Friedman, Gordon R.|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=July 11, 2017|accessdate=January 12, 2018|archive-date=January 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113150208/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/07/brad_avakian_oregons_labor_bur.html|url-status=live}}
= Electoral history =
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2004 Oregon State Representative, 34th district{{cite web
| title = Official Results | November 2, 2004
| url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873503
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = September 10, 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230910004416/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873503
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Brad Avakian
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 17,835
| percentage = 96.6}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 635
| percentage = 3.4}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 18,470
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |Oregon State Senate 17th District Democratic Primary Election, 2006 {{citation needed|date=October 2023}} |
| Party
|Candidate |Votes |% |
| Democratic
|Brad Avakian |7,180 |63.12 |
| Democratic
|Sam Chase |4,171 |36.67 |
| Democratic
|Write-ins |24 |0.21 |
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2006 Oregon State Senator, 17th district{{cite web
| title = Official Results | November 7, 2006
| url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873552
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = September 10, 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230910004315/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873552
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Brad Avakian
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 31,612
| percentage = 67.2}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Piotr Kuklinski
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 13,497
| percentage = 28.7}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Richard Whitehead
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 1,445
| percentage = 3.1}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John R. Pivarnik
| party = Constitution Party (United States)
| votes = 371
| percentage = 0.8}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 89
| percentage = 0.2}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 47,014
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2008 Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries{{cite web
| title = Official Results | November 4, 2008
| url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873598
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = September 10, 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230910004214/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873598
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Brad Avakian
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 690,000
| percentage = 67.2}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Pavel Goberman
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 184,919
| percentage = 18.0}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mark Welyczko
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 135,666
| percentage = 13.2}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 16,056
| percentage = 1.6}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1,026,641
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |Oregon 1st Congressional District Special Democratic Primary Election, 2011 {{citation needed|date=October 2023}} |
| Party
|Candidate |Votes |% |
| Democratic
|Suzanne Bonamici |49,721 |65.18 |
| Democratic
|Brad Avakian |16,963 |22.24 |
| Democratic
|Brad Witt |6,003 |7.87 |
| Democratic
|Dan Strite |1,212 |1.59 |
| Democratic
|Dominic Hammon |923 |1.21 |
| Democratic
|Todd Lee Ritter |651 |0.85 |
| Democratic
|Write-ins |469 |0.61 |
| Democratic
|Saba Ahmed |250 |0.33 |
| Democratic
|Robert Lettin |91 |0.12 |
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2012 Oregon Commissioner of Labor election{{cite web
| title = Official Results | November 6, 2012
| url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873690
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = April 6, 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230406223358/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873690
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Brad Avakian
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 681,987
| percentage = 52.5}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bruce Starr
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 606,735
| percentage = 46.7}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 9,616
| percentage = 0.7}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1,298,338
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2016 Oregon Secretary of State election{{cite web
| title = November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes
| url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873777
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = January 19, 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230119071743/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873777
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dennis Richardson
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 892,669
| percentage = 47.4}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Brad Avakian
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 814,089
| percentage = 43.2}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Paul Damian Wells
| party = Independent (United States)
| votes = 64,956
| percentage = 3.4}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Alan Zundel
| party = Pacific Green Party
| votes = 47,576
| percentage = 2.5}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Sharon L Durbin
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 46,975
| percentage = 2.5}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Michael Marsh
| party = Constitution Party (United States)
| votes = 15,269
| percentage = 0.8}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 2,646
| percentage = 0.1}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1,884,180
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.bradavakian.com/ Brad Avakian campaign web site]
- [http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordpdf/6873588 Voters' Pamphlet 2006 statement, page 28]
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Dan Gardner}}
{{s-ttl|title=Labor Commissioner of Oregon|years=2008–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=Val Hoyle}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Avakian, Brad}}
Category:American people of Armenian descent
Category:Lewis & Clark Law School alumni
Category:Democratic Party members of the Oregon House of Representatives
Category:21st-century members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Category:Oregon commissioners of labor and industries
Category:Democratic Party Oregon state senators
Category:Oregon State University alumni