Ben Westlund

Ben Westlund
27th Treasurer of Oregon
In office
January 5, 2009 – March 7, 2010
GovernorTed Kulongoski
Preceded byRandall Edwards
Succeeded byTed Wheeler
Member of the Oregon State Senate
from the 27th district
In office
2003–2008
Preceded byBev Clarno
Succeeded byChris Telfer
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from the 53rd district
In office
1997–2003
Preceded byBev Clarno
Succeeded byGene Whisnant
Personal details
Born
Bernard John Westlund II

(1949-09-03)September 3, 1949
Long Beach, California, U.S.
DiedMarch 7, 2010(2010-03-07) (aged 60)
Bend, Oregon, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (2006–2010)
Other political
affiliations
Independent (2006)
Republican (1996–2006)
SpouseLibby
Residence(s)Tumalo, Oregon, U.S.
Alma materWhitman College
OccupationRancher

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.[1] Westlund worked as a business analyst, and ran businesses in mining, ranching, and agriculture.[2]

  1. ^ Sinks, James (December 12, 2006). "Independent Westlund switches to Democrat". The Bend Bulletin. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  2. ^ "Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund". Office of the State Treasurer. Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-27.