Ben Westlund
| Ben Westlund | |
|---|---|
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| 27th Oregon State Treasurer | |
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In office January 5, 2009 – March 7, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Randall Edwards |
| Succeeded by | Ted Wheeler |
| Member of the Oregon Senate from the 27th district |
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In office 2003–2008 |
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| Preceded by | Beverly Clarno |
| Succeeded by | Chris Telfer |
| Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 53rd district |
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In office 1997–2003 |
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| Preceded by | Beverly Clarno |
| Succeeded by | Gene Whisnant |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
September 3, 1949 Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Died | March 7, 2010 (aged 60) Bend, Oregon, U.S. |
| Political party |
Democratic (2006–2010) Independent (2006) Republican (1996–2006) |
| Spouse(s) | Libby |
| Residence | Tumalo, Oregon, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Whitman College |
| Occupation | Rancher |
| Religion | Episcopal |
Ben Westlund (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. Westlund worked as a business analyst, and ran businesses in mining, ranching, and agriculture.
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 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.
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.
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