Ben Westlund
From dKosopedia
Ben Westlund is a Democratic member of the Oregon State Senate for the 27th District.
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Republican Turned Independent Turned Democrat
Like many Blue State Republicans, Westlund has abandoned his party because of its unpopularity. Westlund was elected as a Republican to the Oregon State Senate in 2004 after having served in the Oregon State House of Representatives from 1996 to 2004. He was appointed to the State Senate in 2003 to fill the term of Bev Clarno. In the 2004 election the Democratic Party did not field a candiate for this seat but Westlund won their nomination with over a thousand write-in votes in the Democratic Party Primary. He then went on to defeat the Constitution Party candiate, receiving over 80% of the votes cast.
State Senator (2003-present); State Representative (1997-2003); Joint Ways & Means Committee, chair 2001; Health & Human Services Budget Committee; Transportation and Economic Development Budget Committee; Joint Interim Tax Reform Committee, vice chair; Audit and Human Services Budget Reform, chair; Joint Legislative Audit Committee; Emergency Board; Governor's Public Safety Policy & Planning Council; Governor's Commission on Senior Services; National Conference of State Legislators, Executive Committee.
He ran unsuccessfully for Governor as an Independent, see Oregon gubernatorial election, 2006, and in December 2006, he joined the Democratic party. (Source: Politics1, Dec. 12, 2006.)
Background
Ben Westlund was born on September, 1949 in Long Beach, California but has lived in central Oregon for most of his life. He has a B.A. in Education & History from Whitman College. Westlund has worked as a small businessman in agricultural enterprises and currently consults on increasing healthcare access and efficiency to cover more uninsured.
Contact Information
- Ben Westlund
- 20590 Arrowhead Dr., Bend, OR 97701
- Telephone Number: (541) 383-4444
- Email: ben@benwestlund.com
References
- An Inclination to Color Outside Party Lines
- Critics rally to Oppose Westlund for Civil Unions<P>
- Senator Westlund Proposes Healthcare Task Force
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