Ben Westlund
Ben Westlund | |
---|---|
27th Treasurer of Oregon | |
In office January 5, 2009 – March 7, 2010 | |
Governor | Ted Kulongoski |
Preceded by | Randall Edwards |
Succeeded by | Ted Wheeler |
Member of the Oregon State Senate from the 27th district | |
In office 2003–2008 | |
Preceded by | Bev Clarno |
Succeeded by | Chris Telfer |
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 53rd district | |
In office 1997–2003 | |
Preceded by | Bev Clarno |
Succeeded by | Gene Whisnant |
Personal details | |
Born | Bernard John Westlund II September 3, 1949 Rancher |
Bernard John "Ben" Westlund II (September 3, 1949 – March 7, 2010) was an American politician in the U.S. state of
Early life
Westlund was born in Long Beach, California, and his family moved to Oregon when he was a teenager. He graduated from Oregon Episcopal School in 1967, then received a bachelor's degree from Whitman College[3] in education and history and pursued some graduate studies at the University of Oregon. He moved to Central Oregon in 1974 and lived near Bend, running a ranch, with his wife Libby and two children, son B.J. and daughter Taylor.[2]
Westlund was arrested for drunk driving and possession of cocaine in 1982. He credited that incident with convincing him to stop drinking. He later served in the Oregon Legislature with the arresting officer, Rep. John Minnis.[4]
Oregon legislature
In 1996, Westlund won election to the Oregon House of Representatives as a Republican.[1] During four terms in the House, his most notable work was done as co-chair of the budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee, to which he was appointed in 2001. He unsuccessfully argued for the creation of a state sales tax as a means to balance the budget during a revenue shortfall.[5]
That same year, he co-sponsored legislation to create the Oregon Cultural Trust,[6] and subsequently came under fire for seeking to head the newly created organization. He served on the Cultural Trust's board until his election as State Treasurer.[7]
In what would be Westlund's last House race, he defeated Democrat Cylvia Hayes, a Bend businesswoman who later became Oregon's first lady during the third and fourth terms of Governor John Kitzhaber.[8]
In 2003, Westlund was appointed to the
During the 2004 election, Westlund endorsed
Westlund was
Statewide office
Following his switch to the Democratic Party, there was speculation that Westlund would run against
2006 Governor's race
On February 14, 2006, Westlund dropped his Republican registration, registered as an
Health issues and death
Westlund was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2003, for which he underwent surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Although the cancer was in remission for some time,[20] Westlund died of cancer on March 7, 2010, while in office.[21][22]
Electoral history
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ben Westlund | 50,840 | 82.3 | |
Constitution | Don Loyd | 9,932 | 16.1 | |
Write-in | 981 | 1.6 | ||
Total votes | 61,753 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Ben Westlund | 847,590 | 51.1 | |
Republican | Allen Alley | 750,484 | 45.3 | |
Constitution | Michael Marsh | 56,581 | 3.4 | |
Write-in | 3,529 | 0.2 | ||
Total votes | 1,658,184 | 100% |
References
- ^ a b c Sinks, James (December 12, 2006). "Independent Westlund switches to Democrat". The Bend Bulletin. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
- ^ a b "Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund". Office of the State Treasurer. Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
- ^ a b Walsh, Edward (September 25, 2008). "Financial meltdown figures into Oregon treasurer's race". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
- ^ "Petitioners expect to suspend law recriminalizing pot". Archived from the original on 2005-12-19. Retrieved 2006-01-12.
- ^ "The Wild Card? Source Weekly, 10 November 2005". Archived from the original on 2006-05-12. Retrieved 2006-01-12.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Oregon Cultural Trust : History of the Oregon Cultural Trust Archived January 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-05-09. Retrieved 2006-01-12.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (October 8, 2014). "Oregon First Lady Cylvia Hayes' Undisclosed Third Marriage Was to 18-Year-Old Immigrant". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on January 17, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
- ^ Deschutes County, Oregon General Election November 2, 2004 Archived March 30, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Measure 36 - Arguments in Favor". Archived from the original on 2019-08-22. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
- ^ "The Yale Herald - November 12, 2004 - Gay marriage critics misuse Yale study". Archived from the original on 2004-12-07. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
- ^ "Brainstorm Nw". Archived from the original on 2006-05-27. Retrieved 2006-08-10.
- ^ Relating to information that a health care provider must provide to a female at least 24 hours before performing an abortion in order to obtain the female's informed consent to the abortion; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 435.496 Archived January 2, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Relating to the reporting of information about abortion; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 432.333 and 435.496 Archived January 9, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Relating to notification to a parent prior to performing an abortion on a minor Archived June 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Relating to establishing an unborn child as the legal victim of a crime that results in harm to the unborn child; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 163.005, 163.095, 163 Archived January 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Westlund launches bid to be governor - The Bulletin, 15 February 2006[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2006-08-17.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Ben Westlund Withdraws From Oregon Governor's Race - Salem-News.Com". Archived from the original on 2006-10-19. Retrieved 2006-08-30.
- ^ “Ben Westlund” | Willamette Week | April 26th, 2006 Archived 2008-11-21 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Treasurer Westlund succumbs to cancer | kgw.com | KGW News | Portland, Oregon Archived 2010-04-20 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Lehman, Chris (March 7, 2010). "Westlund Loses Battle With Cancer". Capitol Currents. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011.
- ^ "Official Results | November 2, 2004". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Official Results | November 4, 2008". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
External links
- Biography from State Treasurer's Office
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Ben Westlund (OR) profile
- Follow the Money - Ben Westlund
- Nov. 2, 2004 Voters' Pamphlet
- Official 2004 Election Results Deschutes County Clerk