KTVZ 21 News - Central Oregon
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Westlund reaches petition signature goal
Still gathering names for needed pad

Posted: 11:59 AM, Jul. 14, 2006
By KTVZ.com news sources

State Sen. Ben Westlund of Tumalo is making extensive use of Internet to reach voters, petition signers and campaign funding and assistance.

State Sen. Ben Westlund, independent candidate for governor, announced Frriday that the campaign has gathered 18,390 signatures. Westlund must submit 18,368 valid signatures by the end of August to qualify for the Nov. 7 ballot. "Reaching this milestone demonstrates that Ben Westlund will be on the November ballot," said Stacey Dycus, Westlund's campaign manager. "Oregonians from all over the state are signing because they are ready for a leader who will bring together people from both parties to solve Oregon's problems." The campaign will continue to gather signatures to account for those signatures deemed invalid. A new law passed during the last legislative session excludes Democrat and Republican voters who participated in the May Primary from signing the petition. The announcement came on the day that Democratic incumbent Ted Kulongoski and Republican challenger Ron Saxton squared off in their first formal debate, before the state's newspaper publishers.

Voters can sign Westlund's petition by downloading a petition from his website at www.westlundforgovernor.com, by visiting one of his regional offices or by ordering an Action Kit from the campaign by calling toll free 877-544-9222.

A successful entrepreneur and agri-businessman, Westlund served as a Republican in the state legislature since 1997, and was elected first as state representative from rural Central Oregon. Westlund was appointed in the final days of the 2004 session to fill a vacancy in the Senate and was elected to the seat in November 2004, receiving both the Democratic and Republican nominations and over 80% of the votes cast.

Westlund's politics defy party labels. He continues to lead the fight to provide fiscal stability through comprehensive fiscal reform including changing Oregon's tax structure that depends too heavily on income taxes paid by individual earners. He also is working to reduce health care costs for individuals and businesses and believes that primary and preventative healthcare is a fundamental right. He is a champion of alternative and renewable energy technologies and believes they provide the key to Oregon's prosperity.

More information about Ben Westlund, current signature count, commercials and radio ads, and regional field offices can be found at www.westlundforgovernor.com. The toll-free number for Westlund's Bend headquarters is 1-877-544-9222.