The Board of County Commissioners on June 26 appointed longtime labor representative Rob Nosse to the House District 42 seat representing inner Southeast Portland and a small portion of inner Northeast Portland.
Nosse replaces Jules Bailey, who vacated the seat after being elected as Multnomah County Commissioner for District 1 in May. The other candidates for the position were Shane Jackson, a lobbyist for families affected by autism and Marisha Child, a lawyer and business owner.
Commissioners cited Nosse’s longtime work in the community in their decision.
“Your experience as an advocate, your history as a fighter against inequality and your history of success in that fight makes you an incredible candidate and state representative,” said Commissioner Bailey before casting his vote in Nosse’s favor.
Nosse currently works as a labor representative for the Oregon Nurses Association, has served as a board member of Basic Rights Oregon Equality PAC and is a member of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Teamsters Local 223, Healthcare for All Oregon, the Oregon Student Foundation and the Labor Employment Relations Association.
“I ran for the Legislature because I am pretty frustrated with how things are going since the recession. I feel like the gaps between the rich and poor are continuing to grow,” said Nosse on Thursday.
“Rules are stacking up against the working and middle class people, against our schools and environment and it’s not right,’’ he said. “I want to work to change these things.”
Nosse will be sworn in at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 7 in the Oregon House Chamber and will hold the house position in the Legislative Assembly until January 11, 2015.
Nosse is also currently in the running for the full, two-year term as House District 42 Representative, besting five other candidates in the primary election in May of this year. Results from the general election on November 4, 2014 will determine who will hold the House District 42 seat starting on January 12, 2015.