Just the other day, a friend asked me why I wanted to run for SEIU president.  At the time I offered probably seemed a stock response: to  serve and because I know I can bring things to the job others haven't.

After saying that, I realized how hollow it sounded.  Honestly, I began to wonder why.  I can't stand up here and pretend to be an extremely familiar face.  I know many of you, and, over my twelve years in this union have performed my share of duties. I've served on CAPE, as a bargaining delegate, as an officer of the DOJ local, and as a steward; I've attended three General Councils.  

Still, admittedly, I haven't  been a fixture at many functions. The other night this was pointed out to me, somewhat unceremoniously.  I began to doubt myself, to probe a little deeper into the question.  Perhaps, I thought, I'm not pursuing an office suitable to me, one for which my services are desired.  In the pursuit of lofty goals and great things, we often reach this critical stage of doubt and need an experience to shake us, to either knock us off our path or impel us further down it.

While driving through town last night I felt a frisson as these words came out of my car's speakers:

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this measuring of truth.
An eye for an eye
A tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die. 

The words were written by Nick Cave, but delivered in Johnny Cash's stony voice-- from his later work, when death seemed to sing nearby and infuse the music with power and depth.

It resonated with me immediately.  In approaching difficult challenges in life we must eventually accept ourselves, the discomfort of what confronts us, and move forward without fear.  In the song, a man is awaiting his execution and states boldly that the truth he's told disabuses him of false fear.

I'm not at every meeting.  I'm an outsider in that sense.   To some degree, I even accept that I'm speaking today to a folks who aren't my “base.” I propose to do things quite differently.  I plan to become a leader of this union, to refocus it on members, to re-energize people who don't participate or even return a free mail-in ballot.  

As president, I intend to travel around the state continually, communicating with members across the board, asking them how things are going where they work, finding out what they NEED, and then doing my damnedest to get it delivered.  I want to find out what members think and want,not tell them what I think they should want. When I get that information from you I intend to let the governor and the legislature-- even my boss, the labor commissioner-- know that SEIU has ideas and a vision for where we and Oregon need to go.  I plan to  make this union work from the bottom up by taking care of business from the top down.

So, in many ways, I'm telling my truth up here.  By doing so, I'm not afraid to die, which Joe might tell you is a better alternative to winning this election.  I want members to have a choice between new, dynamic leadership and the established course.  

Just as the country poises itself for change, our union can do the same.  We're told that we have four for the future.  I think Leslie, Barbara, Linda, and Sonia are all very able people, but their future looks like the past.  We still face problems with low voter turnout, an unenthusiastic membership, and, in a host of cases, offices across the state feeling ignored by SEIU.  I want as many active members as we can get.  

Only with a full, vocal membership will we achieve what we need to achieve-- good contracts, a better health care system, workplace dignity.  The track record of the current leadership does not suggest a glorious future.

I can do better.  It's time for a change.

Thank you.