Kroger gets SEIU, but Macpherson gets Myers

Lewis & Clark law professor John Kroger announced yesterday he won the purple nod from the public employee union SEIU. Although, as the Willamette Week points out, this comes as no surprise to those familiar with opponent State Rep. Greg Macpherson's work reforming public employee pensions back in 2003 when they were crippling Oregon's already ailing economy. Public employees are still angry with Macpherson for using his background in employee benefits law to reform a system that was bankrupting the state. The opportunity for political payback finally presented itself this primary election cycle with his run for Attorney General and SEIU took it. It remains to be seen how petty their vengence will take them when it comes to throwing campaign cash into the race. SEIU is the only major Oregon labor union to stick their hand in the Attorney General campaign pot. No word yet from AFSCME, AFL-CIO or the teachers unions on whether they have moved on from their PERS tantrum.

Meanwhile, Kroger called in some of his own political favors by asking former boss Senator Chuck Schumer to host a fundraiser tonight in Washington DC. Federal fundraising limits preclude the Kroger camp from accepting any five figure donations from individuals or corporations as they have grown accustomed to.

Finally, the Macpherson camp is soon expected to announce the endorsement of current Attorney General Hardy Myers. While some see Myers and his team of DOJ attorneys as the "the state's greatest collection of underachievers," most in the Oregon legal community view Myers with high regard.

UPDATE: Macpherson announced the Myers endorsement today. Myers stated, "[Macpherson] is the only candidate who has the innovation, experience, knowledge, and passion to do the job."