{{short description|American politician (1949-2010)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ben Westlund | image = Ben Westlund Forward Oregon.jpg | image_size = | office = 27th Treasurer of Oregon | governor = Ted Kulongoski | term_start = January 5, 2009 | term_end = March 7, 2010 | predecessor = Randall Edwards | successor = Ted Wheeler | state_senate2 = Oregon State | district2 = 27th | term2 = 2003–2008 | preceded2 = Bev Clarno | succeeded2 = Chris Telfer | state_house3 = Oregon | district3 = 53rd | term3 = 1997–2003 | preceded3 = Bev Clarno | succeeded3 = Gene Whisnant | party = Democratic (2006–2010) | other_party = Independent (2006)<br/>Republican (1996–2006) | birth_name = Bernard John Westlund II | birth_date = {{birth date|1949|9|3}} | birth_place = Long Beach, California, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2010|3|7|1949|9|3}} | death_place = Bend, Oregon, U.S. | alma_mater = Whitman College | occupation = Rancher | spouse = Libby }}
'''Bernard John''' "'''Ben'''" '''Westlund II''' (September 3, 1949 – March 7, 2010) was an American politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. A Democrat, he was elected State Treasurer in 2008. Previously, Westlund served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, as a Republican from 1996 to 2006, as an independent from 2006 to 2007, and then as a Democrat. Westlund dropped his Republican party affiliation to run for Governor of Oregon in the 2006 election, but dropped out of the race in August. In December 2006 he became a Democrat.<ref name="bend">{{cite news|url=http://www.benwestlund.com/insert_news_bulletin-democrat-12-12-06.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928041505/http://www.benwestlund.com/insert_news_bulletin-democrat-12-12-06.html|archivedate=2007-09-28|title=Independent Westlund switches to Democrat|last=Sinks|first=James|date=December 12, 2006|work=The Bend Bulletin|accessdate=2009-04-27}}</ref> Westlund worked as a business analyst, and ran businesses in mining, ranching, and agriculture.<ref name="treasurer">{{cite web|url=http://www.ost.state.or.us/about/treasurer/index.htm|title=Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund|publisher=Office of the State Treasurer|accessdate=2009-04-27|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080731091134/http://www.ost.state.or.us/about/treasurer/index.htm |archivedate = July 31, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== 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<ref name=race2008>{{cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2008/09/financial_meltdown_figures_int.html|title=Financial meltdown figures into Oregon treasurer's race|last=Walsh|first=Edward|date=September 25, 2008|work=The Oregonian|accessdate=2008-09-26| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080929071614/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2008/09/financial_meltdown_figures_int.html| archivedate= 29 September 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> 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.<ref name="treasurer"/>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pdxnorml.org/O_Petitioners_100497.html |title=Petitioners expect to suspend law recriminalizing pot |access-date=2006-01-12 |archive-date=2005-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051219015128/http://pdxnorml.org/O_Petitioners_100497.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Oregon legislature == In 1996, Westlund won election to the Oregon House of Representatives as a Republican.<ref name="bend"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tsweekly.com/oregon_newspaper_archive/11-10-05archive/localnews1.asp |title=The Wild Card? Source Weekly, 10 November 2005 |accessdate=2006-01-12 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060512075554/http://www.tsweekly.com/oregon_newspaper_archive/11-10-05archive/localnews1.asp |archivedate=2006-05-12 }}</ref>
That same year, he co-sponsored legislation to create the Oregon Cultural Trust,<ref>[http://www.culturaltrust.org/about/oregon_cultural_trust_history.php Oregon Cultural Trust : History of the Oregon Cultural Trust] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060108041950/http://www.culturaltrust.org/about/oregon_cultural_trust_history.php |date=January 8, 2006 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cagw.org/site/DocServer/Oregon_Pig_Book_-_Finalpdf.pdf?docID%3D161 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2006-01-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509074650/http://www.cagw.org/site/DocServer/Oregon_Pig_Book_-_Finalpdf.pdf?docID=161 |archivedate=2006-05-09 }}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-32290-oregon_first_lady_cylvia_hayes_undisclosed_third_marriage_was_to_18_year_old_immigrant.html|agency=Willamette Week|title=Oregon First Lady Cylvia Hayes' Undisclosed Third Marriage Was to 18-Year-Old Immigrant|first=Nigel|last=Jaquiss|date=October 8, 2014|accessdate=January 15, 2015|archive-date=January 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150117005335/http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-32290-oregon_first_lady_cylvia_hayes_undisclosed_third_marriage_was_to_18_year_old_immigrant.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2003, Westlund was appointed to the Oregon Senate to complete the term of retiring Sen. Bev Clarno.<ref name="bend"/> He won election to that same seat in 2004, also gaining the local Democratic nomination and facing only token opposition on the ballot.<ref>[http://mom.deschutes.org/election/archive/20041102.htm#State%20Senator,%2027th%20District Deschutes County, Oregon General Election November 2, 2004] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050330134101/http://mom.deschutes.org/election/archive/20041102.htm#State%20Senator,%2027th%20District |date=March 30, 2005 }}</ref> He represented District 27 in the Senate, which covers most of Deschutes County and includes the city of Bend.
During the 2004 election, Westlund endorsed Ballot Measure 36, which outlawed same-sex marriage in Oregon.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordpdf/6873502 |title=Measure 36 - Arguments in Favor |access-date=2019-08-21 |archive-date=2019-08-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822121508/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordpdf/6873502 |url-status=live }}</ref> After learning that research claims by Measure 36 proponents on which he had relied were rejected by the researcher, he personally called the researcher to apologize, expressing regret for supporting the measure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yaleherald.com/article.php?Article=3783 |title=The Yale Herald - November 12, 2004 - Gay marriage critics misuse Yale study |accessdate=2007-07-05 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041207031400/http://www.yaleherald.com/article.php?Article=3783 |archivedate=2004-12-07 }}</ref> He subsequently sponsored a bill in the legislature to allow civil unions. That effort was defeated in part thanks to opposition by Speaker of the House Karen Minnis, wife of the officer who arrested Westlund in 1982.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.brainstormnw.com/archive/jul04_feature.html |title=Brainstorm Nw |access-date=2006-08-10 |archive-date=2006-05-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060527124031/http://www.brainstormnw.com/archive/jul04_feature.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Civil union legislation was later resurrected and passed in the 2007 legislature, becoming law in 2008.
Westlund was pro-choice and supported access to the morning-after pill. During his time in the legislature, however, he had supported some restrictions on abortion. In 2003 he backed House Bill 2547<ref>[http://www.leg.state.or.us/03reg/measures/hb2500.dir/hb2547.a.html 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] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102202421/http://www.leg.state.or.us/03reg/measures/hb2500.dir/hb2547.a.html |date=January 2, 2007 }}</ref> and in 2005 he backed H.B. 2532.<ref>[http://www.leg.state.or.us/05reg/measures/hb2500.dir/hb2532.intro.html Relating to the reporting of information about abortion; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 432.333 and 435.496] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060109165643/http://www.leg.state.or.us/05reg/measures/hb2500.dir/hb2532.intro.html |date=January 9, 2006 }}</ref> Both would have created a 24-hour waiting period for women wishing to receive an abortion and required doctors to read a statement to patients about abortion. In 2005, he also supported H.B. 2605,<ref>[http://www.leg.state.or.us/05reg/measures/hb2600.dir/hb2605.intro.html Relating to notification to a parent prior to performing an abortion on a minor] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611081501/http://www.leg.state.or.us/05reg/measures/hb2600.dir/hb2605.intro.html |date=June 11, 2011 }}</ref> a parental notification bill, and H.B. 2020,<ref>[http://www.leg.state.or.us/05reg/measures/hb2000.dir/hb2020.intro.html 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] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060112172742/http://www.leg.state.or.us/05reg/measures/hb2000.dir/hb2020.intro.html |date=January 12, 2006 }}</ref> which would have expanded Oregon's criminal homicide law, redefining "human beings" to include fetuses and embryos at any stage of development.
== Statewide office == {{Main|2008 Oregon State Treasurer election}} Following his switch to the Democratic Party, there was speculation that Westlund would run against Republican incumbent U.S. Senator Gordon Smith. On October 3, 2007, however, in a press conference attended by Governor Ted Kulongoski, he announced his candidacy for the office of Oregon State Treasurer. He won the Democratic primary and defeated Allen Alley in the November 2008 general election.<ref name=race2008/> He was sworn in on January 5, 2009.{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} Westlund was one of the first statewide officeholders to be cross-nominated by the Independent Party of Oregon.
== 2006 Governor's race == {{main|2006 Oregon gubernatorial election}} On February 14, 2006, Westlund dropped his Republican registration, registered as an independent and declared his candidacy for Governor.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130118031013/http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060215/NEWS0107/602150347/1001&nav_category= Westlund launches bid to be governor - The Bulletin, 15 February 2006]</ref> While Westlund gathered over 36,000 signatures<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westlundforgovernor.com/documents/release_signatures_7-24-06.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2006-08-17 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927161226/http://www.westlundforgovernor.com/documents/release_signatures_7-24-06.pdf |archivedate=2007-09-27 }}</ref> (18,386 valid signatures required by August 29, 2006, for ballot access), he withdrew from the race for governor on August 10, 2006, citing that he did not want to be a spoiler in the election.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.salem-news.com/articles/august102006/westlund_81006.php |title=Ben Westlund Withdraws From Oregon Governor's Race - Salem-News.Com |access-date=2006-08-30 |archive-date=2006-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061019131109/http://www.salem-news.com/articles/august102006/westlund_81006.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
== 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,<ref>[http://wweek.com/editorial/3225/7482/ “Ben Westlund” | Willamette Week | April 26th, 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121133449/http://wweek.com/editorial/3225/7482/ |date=2008-11-21 }}</ref> Westlund died of cancer on March 7, 2010, while in office.<ref>[http://www.kgw.com/news/State-Treasurer-Westlund-succumbs-to-cancer-86766852.html Treasurer Westlund succumbs to cancer | kgw.com | KGW News | Portland, Oregon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420060740/http://www.kgw.com/news/State-Treasurer-Westlund-succumbs-to-cancer-86766852.html |date=2010-04-20 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = Westlund Loses Battle With Cancer |date = March 7, 2010 |first = Chris |last = Lehman |work = Capitol Currents |url = http://www.capitolcurrents.com/2010/03/westlund-loses-battle-with-cancer.html |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110708115019/http://www.capitolcurrents.com/2010/03/westlund-loses-battle-with-cancer.html |archivedate = July 8, 2011 }}</ref>
==Electoral history== {{Election box begin no change | title = 2004 Oregon State Senator, 27th district<ref>{{cite web | title = Official Results | November 2, 2004 | url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873503 | website = Oregon Secretary of State | access-date = October 30, 2023 | archive-date = September 10, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230910004416/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873503 | url-status = live }}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Ben Westlund | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 50,840 | percentage = 82.3}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Don Loyd | party = Constitution Party (United States) | votes = 9,932 | percentage = 16.1}} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 981 | percentage = 1.6}} {{Election box total no change | votes = 61,753 | percentage = 100%}} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title = 2008 Oregon State Treasurer election<ref>{{cite web | title = Official Results | November 4, 2008 | url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873598 | website = Oregon Secretary of State | access-date = October 30, 2023 | archive-date = September 10, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230910004214/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873598 | url-status = live }}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Ben Westlund | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 847,590 | percentage = 51.1}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Allen Alley | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 750,484 | percentage = 45.3}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Michael Marsh | party = Constitution Party (United States) | votes = 56,581 | percentage = 3.4}} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 3,529 | percentage = 0.2}} {{Election box total no change | votes = 1,658,184 | percentage = 100%}} {{Election box end}}
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080731091134/http://www.ost.state.or.us/about/treasurer/index.htm Biography from State Treasurer's Office] * [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=11041 Project Vote Smart - Senator Ben Westlund (OR)] profile * ''Follow the Money'' - Ben Westlund ** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=81785 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=63782 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=4948 2002] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=48839 2000] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=48639 1998] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=48389 1996] campaign contributions * [http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Record?q=recTitle:2004+general&sortBy=recCreatedOn- Nov. 2, 2004 Voters' Pamphlet] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20050330134101/http://mom.deschutes.org/election/archive/20041102.htm#State%20Senator,%2027th%20District Official 2004 Election Results Deschutes County Clerk]
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Randall Edwards}} {{s-ttl|title=Treasurer of Oregon|years=2009–2010}} {{s-aft|after=Ted Wheeler}} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Westlund, Ben}} Category:1949 births Category:2010 deaths Category:Oregon state senators Category:Members of the Oregon House of Representatives Category:Oregon Democrats Category:Politicians from Long Beach, California Category:University of Oregon alumni Category:Oregon Republicans Category:Deaths from lung cancer in Oregon Category:State treasurers of Oregon Category:Whitman College alumni Category:Ranchers from Oregon Category:Oregon independents Category:21st-century members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly Category:American people of Swedish descent Category:Oregon Episcopal School alumni