Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley today announced the endorsements of two Mayors: James Bernard of Milwaukie and Pat Sherman of Brookings. Twelve mayors are now backing the House Speaker for his bid to take on GOP incumbent Gordon Smith.

“Jeff has been a champion for Oregon values his whole career,” said Bernard. “I’m proud to support him because he has proven he knows how to bring people together and get things done. We need that now more than ever.”

“There is no one better than Jeff to represent Oregon in the U.S. Senate,” said Sherman. “He understands the challenges working families and rural Oregonians face because that’s where he came from. He has stayed true to his roots, and that’s what we need in a U.S. Senator.”

Merkley also has the backing of Mayors Bruce Abernethy of Bend, Judie Hammerstad of Lake Oswego, Lori Hollingsworth of Lincoln City, Norm King of West Linn, Charlotte Lehan of Wilsonville, John Morrison of Ashland, Alice Norris of Oregon City, Kitty Piercy of Eugene, Tom Potter of Portland and Charles Tomlinson of Corvallis.