Oregon Treasurer Ben Westlund dies

60-year-old former legislator is hailed as a state leader

Pamplin Media Group, Mar 7, 2010, Updated Mar 7, 2010 (2 Reader comments)

State Treasurer Ben Westlund of Bend died early Sunday morning. He was elected to the position in November 2008 after a dozen years in the Legislature.

Courtesy photo

Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund died early Sunday morning of cancer.

Westlund, 60, became the new state treasurer in January 2009. Before that, he served 12 years in the Legislature and at one time was co-chairman of the budget-writing Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

He had been battling lung cancer. Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced Westlund’s death Sunday, saying he had lost a good friend.

“Ben cared about the people of this state and worked tirelessly throughout his public service career to create hope, opportunity and build a better future for all Oregonians,” Kulongoski said. “Oregon has lost a leader, a friend and a member of our collective Oregon family, but his spirit and enthusiasm will continue to inspire the best in all of us.”

Other friends and colleagues offered their thoughts on Westlund’s passing.

Sen. Jeff Merkley, who served with Westlund in the Oregon House, said when he met Westlund in 1997 he was “enormously impressed by his earnestness and command of the issues.”

1 | 2 Next Page >>

Facebook	Digg	Del.icio.us
Newsvine	Stumbleupon	Reddit