The race for BOLI commissioner pits employment lawyer Christina Stephenson against restaurant owner and former state representative Cheri Helt

All eyes are on the Oregon governor’s race in the run-up to Election Day. But there’s another statewide election in which a woman is bound to prevail: the competition to lead the Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries, known as BOLI.

Listen to the candidates as the debate on OPB’s “Think Out Loud”:

Here are a few things to know about that race.

First, remind us why BOLI matters

BOLI is often described as a referee between workers and employers. If your boss withholds a paycheck, you can turn to BOLI for help. Likewise if you’re an employer trying to understand your responsibilities under the law. BOLI is also meant to be a civil rights watchdog. People who face discrimination at work, in housing or at businesses like stores and restaurants can file complaints with the agency — though backlogs have slowed BOLI’s ability to respond to potential civil rights and wage violations.

The agency plays a role in workforce development too, overseeing the state’s apprenticeship programs, some of which are getting a historic boost from Gov. Kate Brown’s Future Ready Oregon package.

Who are the candidates?

Employment lawyer Christina Stephenson led by a wide margin in the May primary, but she fell just short of half the vote, pushing the race into a general election run-off. Stephenson, who hails from Washington County, has won the endorsements...

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