Democratic state legislator from Tumalo is running for state treasurer

Published: July 22, 2008
TALIA SCHMIDT

In an effort to win election as Oregon's next treasurer, state senator Ben Westlund campaigned in Baker City Saturday during the Miners Jubilee parade.

Westlund, a Democrat from Tumalo, near Bend, plans to campaign right up to the Nov. 4 election. On his current trip Westlund will visit Baker, Hermiston, Pendleton and La Grande.

"Time is a valuable commodity," said Westlund, who's on the road more often than he's home these days.

This is the motto by which he plans to run the treasury. Westlund is running against Republican candidate Allen Alley, who also participated in the parade.

Alley's positions were chronicled in the June 6, 2008, edition of the Baker City Herald. The story is available online at: www.bakercityherald.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=6699

"Running for state office is like climbing Mount Everest barefoot without any oxygen," Westlund said Saturday. He added that it can be time-consuming, exhausting and immensely rewarding in the end, much like climbing a mountain.

Westlund, whose 11-year career in the Legislature includes stints as a representative and a state senator, said it's experience that matters most in the race for state treasurer.

"I've shepherded Oregon through its best and its worst," Westlund said. During the Legislature's 2002 session, for instance, lawmakers were faced with a poor economy and some tough decisions.

"I was forced to cut all those budgets," Westlund said. "I cut more money from more budgets than any other Oregonian in history."

Though the decisions were not easy, Westlund believes he did what he had to do.

"There's such instability in the Oregon tax structure," Westlund said, shaking his head. "Our revenue fell further and faster than any other state in history."

But through it all, Westlund learned a great deal about money management.

"It was some of her (Oregon's) very worst times," Westlund said. "But it's that experience that gives me the experience to run for state treasurer."

Westlund said he genuinely looks forward to a good, healthy debate with Alley. He's not afraid to disagree with other politicians or voters on certain matters, and he likes to spark a discussion.

"For instance, I'm a huge Second Amendment rights fan," said Westlund with a mischievous smile. "We can talk about that, or whatever else we want."

Westlund said disagreement over particular matters is simply political nature. He enjoys traveling through towns like Baker City and igniting a passionate fire.

"But it's the whole mosaic of the trip, the fabric of it all, meeting people, talking about ideas," Westlund said. "It's that gestalt of politics," Westlund said, that constantly makes politics so fierce and exciting.

"Baker is one of my favorite places," Westlund said. "I know a lot of people here."

He said a key to his campaign is talking with as many voters as possible.

"I want to hear their ideas," Westlund said.

After the parade, Westlund met with the Baker County Democrats over lunch at Paizano's Pizza.

Westlund believes he appeals to Baker County voters because of his deep-seated roots in the region.

"I've spent my entire business career east of the mountains," Westlund said. "I care about rural economy issues and natural resources."

Healthcare reform remains his greatest passion when it comes to changing the state treasury's expenditures. Westlund, a non-smoker who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2003, said it was an eye-opening experience to see how the healthcare system works firsthand.

"Every Oregonian deserves the same health care I got when I was sick," said Westlund.

"We have double the healthcare costs of any other first-world country," Westlund said. "But we have the best hospitals, the best medicine, the best doctors. Something's horribly wrong."

Westlund's other political platforms include increasing financial literacy in schools and adding fairness and stability to the tax code.

Josh Balloch, Westlund's travel coordinator, said of all the places he's called to make arrangements, Baker definitely boasts some of the friendliest people.

"Everyone was just very helpful," Balloch said. "These are just the nicest people, genuinely friendly."

Along with Chuck Butcher, vice chairman of Baker County Democrats, Balloch worked to ensure Westlund's visit went smoothly.

Westlund said he hopes to win the November election to introduce greater political change from a new position.

"I love my time in the House; I revere my time in the Senate," Westlund said.

But he said he often felt there wasn't enough time to make major changes.

"When you're in legislation, what you don't have time to do is build a coalition to move big policy initiatives."

But even after the utter political chaos that comes with the territory, Westlund said he hopes to slow down and really focus on a few key issues in the state treasury.

"It's all good after you have cancer," Westlund said. "I've learned to focus and prioritize more, and the office of treasurer allows you to move big policy issues."