Charles Lewis has been endorsed by the Northwest Oregon Labor Council in his race for an open seat on the Portland City Council.

Lewis is in a November runoff against Amanda Fritz for Position 1. The seat is currently held by Mayor-elect Sam Adams. Adams didn’t seek re-election, in order to run for mayor. He takes office Jan. 1, 2009.

Fritz, a member of the Oregon Nurses Association, was the top vote-getter in the primary, capturing 44 percent of the vote in a field of six candidates. She was endorsed by several unions, including United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, Laborers Local 483, AFSCME Local 189, Letter Carriers Branch 82, Fire Fighters Local 43, and Carpenters Local 247.

Lewis received 13 percent of the vote in the primary. He did not have any union endorsements.

The Northwest Oregon Labor Council’s endorsed candidate in the May primary was Mike Fahey. The former Carpenters Union representative finished fourth.

Lewis is making his first run at political office. He is the founder of Ethos Music Center, a non-profit organization that teaches music and provides instruments to children.

During an interview with the labor council’s Executive Board on July 28, Lewis said he is a former member of the Teamsters Union and that his father was a Teamster throughout his working career.

“I will be the strongest advocate you have on City Council,” he told board members.

In other political action, the Northwest Oregon Labor Council endorsed the re-election of Tony Hyde for Columbia County commissioner, Position 3. Hyde ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

He faces a challenge from Democrat Pat Zimmerman in November. Zimmerman ran unopposed in the May primary.

© Oregon Labor Press Publishing Co. Inc.