Third candidate files to challenge Labor Commissioner Avakian

Another candidate filed to run against incumbent Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian. Avakian is already running against the relatively unchallenging and somewhat eccentric candidate Pavel Goberman in his fall bid for re-election to head up the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI). Now, Mark Welczko, a losing primary challenger to U.S. Rep. David Wu earlier this year, has declared his intention to join the race.

Welczko claims his occupation to be in security with a background as a union member. Though he does not discuss what specific union he was a member of in any of his previous campaign materials, he did mention he was a Teamster over 20 years ago when he was tractor-trailer driver. Doesn't appear the unions will be providing Welczko any support as the Teamsters were quick to endorse Avakian in his hotly contested four-way primary bid for Secretary of State and the union just donated $5000 from their national Drive PAC.

Neither Goberman nor Welczko have raised a dime for the fall election, however, Avakian has close to $70,000 in the bank. Although the race is non-partisan, all three candidates have run as Democrats in previous elections.