BY SARAH ROSS

PORTLAND- In a move expected by most local political experts, the Service Employee International Union made public their endorsement of former Democratic Governor John Kitzhaber on Thursday.

SEIU represents over 50,000 employees, primarily in state and local government but also in some private sector industries like nursing homes, hospitals, and property services.

According to a press release sent out by the organization, the decision was recommended by the SEIU political action committee and then affirmed by the SEIU Oregon State Council.

“We were impressed by Governor Kitzhaber’s grasp of the issues, sincerity and candor,” stated Barbara Casey in the same press release.

Casey, chair of the SEUI Local 503 political action committee, continued by saying, “more than anything else we believe he shares the values of our members and Oregon’s working families.”

The state council put willing participants through the task of filling out a questionnaire, appearing before members, and spending a day shadowing one member in the work place.

Republican candidate Chris Dudley declined to participate in the process.