Independent Westlund switches to Democrat

By James Sinks / The Bulletin
Published: December 12, 2006 5:00AM PST

SALEM - State Sen. Ben Westlund, the Central Oregon legislator who left the Republican Party in February and flirted with an independent campaign for governor, will officially join the Democratic Party today.

The switch in allegiance was sparked by a realization that his politics mesh more with Democrats than Republicans, Westlund said in an interview Monday.

"During the campaign it became very clear to me that I shared many more of the Democratic Party's values than the Republicans," he said.

Among those: He supports universal health care, civil unions for same-sex couples and a fiscal reform package that includes a sales tax along with reductions in income and property taxes.

Westlund, I-Tumalo, said he has been mulling an affiliation change for weeks but made his decision after re-reading the platforms of both parties this weekend.

Neither Republican nor Democrat figureheads in Central Oregon expressed surprise with Westlund's political evolution, pointing to the senator's work this fall to defeat two tax-cutting initiatives and his endorsement of Gov. Ted Kulongoski, a Democrat.

And some speculated that Westlund, 57, may be setting the stage for another bid for higher office, either for a statewide post such as treasurer or possibly to challenge U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., in 2008.

"There are all sorts of rumors going around,," said state Rep. Gene Whisnant, R-Sunriver. "I didn't think he would do this and I'm obviously disappointed, and I think the people of Senate District 27 elected him as a Republican and they are going to be disappointed, too."

With the shift, Westlund will become the only Democratic legislator on the east side of the Cascades.

In a written statement, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, R-Ore., welcomed Westlund to the Democratic Party.

"For too long, Oregon Democrats have been denied the ideas and sensibilities of the dry part of the state," Wyden said. "From small business issues to rural health care and natural resources, I know you're going to bring a fresh perspective to Democrats on a host of critical issues."

Westlund, an agribusinessman who made a small fortune selling bull semen, was first elected to the Oregon House in 1996. He was the powerful House budget chief in the 2001 session, but he was viewed with suspicion by some Republicans - who gave him the tag of "Republican in Name Only," or RINO.

He won appointment to the Senate in 2003, when he was tapped by Republicans to succeed former Sen. Bev Clarno, R-Redmond. Clarno resigned to take an appointment in the Bush administration.

He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2003, but underwent aggressive chemotherapy and has received a clean bill of health.

He was elected to his Senate seat in 2004.

Steve Doell, the director of Crime Victims United of Oregon, who helped Westlund win his 2003 Senate appointment, said Monday that "deep down I always felt Ben was basically a liberal."

Still, he expects Westlund will continue to support principles such as gun rights.

"I'm disappointed but I hate to be partisan about crime because it shouldn't be a partisan issue," he said. "Ben was a man without a country and he wants to be player, and needs to be in a caucus to do that."

State Rep. Chuck Burley, R-Bend, said he does not anticipate Westlund's work ethic or priorities will change.

"My observation of Ben is that he works as hard as he can for his district and it's regardless of the (political) letter," Burley said.

"We are going to work together and do the best we can in the next session coming up."

Central Oregon Democrats - whose members have been unable to win election at the polls - welcomed the news Monday.

"I have a lot of respect for Ben and the way he tried to work hard within his party to try and moderate some of the extreme elements," said Judy Stiegler, who narrowly lost to Burley in 2004.

"I see Ben as an Oregon Republican of the Tom McCall and Mark Hatfield era - that's the Republican Party I grew up with and the party moved a long way from that."

Phil Philiben, chairman of the Deschutes County Democrats, said Westlund's switch will help Central Oregon now that the statehouse is in Democrat control.

"It's to all of our advantage to have Ben as a Democrat," he said.

Westlund was the subject of recall rumors in 2005 among Republicans because of his support for civil unions and tax increases.

Deschutes County Commissioner Dennis Luke, a Republican and former legislator, said Westlund probably needed to make a switch to have any shot at getting re-elected in 2008, when his current term ends.

"He needs to do what he needs to do," he said.

Luke said Westlund faced the reality that it would be "difficult but not impossible" to win re-election as an independent. "He may have a chance running as a Democrat," he said.

Westlund disagreed that the shift is about winning re-election. He won election in 2004 with 82 percent of the vote, although he wasn't challenged by a Democrat in that race.

"I think most people voted for me because of who I am and how I represent the district, not because of party affiliation," he said.

Lee Smith, the chairman of the county's Republicans, said a Westlund switch was widely anticipated and the party is discussing who to recruit to challenge him.

But until then, Westlund is the county's representative in the Senate, and Lee expects to work with him to advance the region's interests in Salem, he said.

Despite gathering the necessary signatures this summer, Westlund opted to not file for governor as an independent, saying he would be a spoiler. He was also in debt, and his campaign remains $182,640 in the red, according to filings this month.

Westlund's withdrawal is widely credited with helping Kulongoski win re-election.

After dropping his independent bid, Westlund worked to defeat measures 41 and 48 - and both lost. He also endorsed Kulongoski in the waning days of the campaign.

On Monday, Westlund said there was no deal cut with Senate leaders to get a committee chairmanship, and he also downplayed any speculation that he is planning for a statewide campaign.

"Some people mentioned that to me as a possibility and I'm flattered, but I really haven't given it any thought and it certainly is not part or parcel to this decision," he said.

"Right now, it's time for the campaigning to stop. It's time to get in session and do the fun part of this avocation, which is solving real problems for real Oregonians."