The Dalles Council Candidate’s Data Center Remarks Ruffle Union Feathers

A candidate for The Dalles City Council has sparked a heated debate with local trade unions after making comments perceived as dismissive of their role in the region’s booming data center industry. The controversy erupted during a recent public forum focused on economic development and infrastructure.

While discussing the significant tax revenue and job creation associated with major tech investments, the candidate suggested that the specialized construction and maintenance of these facilities often relies on out-of-area contractors with specific expertise, implying limited long-term opportunities for local building trades. This characterization did not sit well with representatives from several local unions.

“To suggest that our skilled members in The Dalles and the Gorge aren’t capable of building or servicing these projects is insulting and factually wrong,” said a business manager for a local electrical workers union, who asked not to be named due to the political sensitivity. “We have been integral to every phase of growth here, and we expect candidates to recognize that partnership.”

The backlash highlights the delicate balance city leaders must strike in managing the benefits and pressures of the data center economy. While the facilities provide crucial tax base, they also place demands on water, power, and local labor markets. For unions, ensuring project labor agreements and local hire provisions are top political priorities.

In response to the criticism, the candidate clarified they support union labor but were emphasizing the need for specialized training programs at Columbia Gorge Community College to prepare the local workforce for high-tech construction. The incident serves as a reminder that in The Dalles, the path to elected office runs directly through the hard hats of the trades that build our community.