Westlund Runs for Treasurer
Chris Lehman 10/4/2007

When's the last time you got really excited about the race for State Treasurer? Chances are, never. But people who run for Treasurer still have to spend months on the campaign trail. Oregon State Senator Ben Westlund started down that road today (Wednesday). As Salem Correspondent Chris Lehman reports, it's the latest twist in a long political career.

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN FOLLOWING THE POLITICAL CAREER OF BEN WESTLUND RECENTLY, HERE'S A BRIEF RECAP: IN 2004, HE RAN FOR STATE SENATE AS A REPUBLICAN. IN 2006, HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR AS AN INDEPENDENT. AND NOW, HE'S RUNNING FOR TREASURER AS A DEMOCRAT.

WESTLUND: "This is the proper move at the proper time."

WESTLUND SAYS THE TREASURER'S OFFICE WILL ALLOW HIM TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUES HE'S WORKED ON THE MOST OVER THE PAST DECADE IN THE LEGISLATURE. THINGS LIKE FISCAL MANAGEMENT AND HEALTH CARE REFORM. THE BEND-AREA LAWMAKER SAYS HE ALSO WANTS TO HELP PEOPLE PLAN THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURES:

WESTLUND: "For every Oregonian whose life can be improved, by saving for college, gaining new financial skills, or even saving for a rainy day, the Treasurer can help. For every entrepreneur that looks to the state for financial strength in a global economy, the Treasurer can help."

WESTLUND KICKED OFF HIS CAMPAIGN IN FRONT OF A SMALL CROWD AT THE STATE CAPITOL BUILDING. AND YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED AT ONE OF THE PEOPLE AT HIS SIDE–GOVERNOR TED KULONGOSKI. THAT'S BECAUSE KULONGOSKI WOULDN'T STILL BE THE GOVERNOR IF WESTLUND HAD HAD HIS WAY LAST YEAR. BUT PAST CAMPAIGN GRUDGES WERE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND AS THE GOVERNOR CALLED WESTLUND HIS FRIEND AND ALLY:

KULONGOSKI: "The good easy part about this is there's no one else in the race, on either side. And it is easy for me to come forward and tell you how important it is that Ben Westlund be elected the State Treasurer of Oregon."

AND IF WESTLUND PLANS TO USE THE TREASURERS OFFICE AS A LAUNCHING PAD FOR A FUTURE STAB AT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, HE WASN'T LETTING ON:

WESTLUND: "I have no plans to run for governor. This office deserves the respect and attention of someone who's willing to stay the course. I have no plans, immediate or otherwise, to run for the office of governor."

THAT'S PROBABLY TRUE, SAYS OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR BILL LUNCH. HE SAYS IF WESTLUND GETS ELECTED TO TREASURER, IT COULD VERY WELL BE THE END OF HIS CAREER IN POLITICS:

LUNCH: "One of the reasons that state treasurers have not moved up, as it were, in state politics on a regular basis is that they tend to be seduced by the private sector and go off to make hundreds of thousands of dollars in jobs in that sector."

LUNCH SAYS PEOPLE WITH GREATER POLITICAL AMBITIONS IN OREGON MORE OFTEN SEEK THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE. THREE DEMOCRATS HAVE ALREADY STEPPED INTO THAT RACE. I'M CHRIS LEHMAN REPORTING.

℗ Copyright 2007, KUOW News.