Potential Gardner replacements

UPDATE:  The Willamette Week and Oregonian are reporting a replacement will be chosen this Thursday and the most likely appointment will go to Secretary of State candidate Senator Brad Avakian.  This will dramatically change the dynamic of the SOS primary between Senators Kate Brown, Rick Metsger and Vicki Walker.

Dan Gardner's vacancy as Oregon Labor Commissioner now sparks tremendous speculation on who will replace him. Sources to the Inside Edge indicate that former AFL-CIO chief and current Kulongoski aide Tim Nesbitt is on the short list. Nesbitt, widely viewed as more of an intellectual than a politician, would be a fresh face to the electoral process. His greatest challenge lies in building a fundraising network outside of his labor comrades. However, he is the darling of Oregon labor and might be a consensus choice for the Democratic ideologues.

Another name being tossed around is labor-friendly legislator Rep. Diane Rosenbaum who is currently running for the senate seat being vacated by Secretary of State candidate Kate Brown. Although she brings more campaign experience to the table, her appointment would trigger vacancies in the Brown seat and possibly the House seat currently held by Rep. Carolyn Tomei.