I heard the other day that Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund, passed away the beginning of the month, from lung Cancer. News doesn't always reach our home in Florida. I was sad to hear of it for many reasons including Linda being in stage 4 of lung cancer.
What I wanted to say though was that he was a champion for the people...when I worked for the Oregon Eduction Association, and he ran as a legislative candidate from my area, the OEA opposed him and went "after him"...he won, in spite of it all and didn't hold it against us...and became a good friend of education.
When I served on the Education Service District Board of Directors after retirement, I had further contacts with Ben and found him still a good public policy supporter..not always worrying about the votes or the money but rather what was right...how refreshing....
He had a short run for governor...he would have made an excellent Governor for the State of Oregon....putting the people ahead of politics.
He was the only politician who started as a Republican..became an Independent and then a Democrat....and "lived to talk about it".
He will be missed....I quote from a statement his wife said in an interview with the Oregonian newspaper in 1996 ( Libby was on the Mt. Bachelor Ski Patrol with me for years):
In an interview with Libby, while sitting in the living room of her home in the countryside near Bend.
"I would like him being remembered as someone who cares for everybody else and worked his little fanny off to make sure we all have a good life....We do have a really nice place here, but he wants everybody to go home at night and be happy where they are."
Rest in peace Ben.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
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3 comments:
Ben was a great man and Oregonian. They had a service in the House Chambers and the place was packed. There was lots of laughter and many tears. He touched many lives and is greatly missed.
We attended the funeral of another great man yesterday, who did much for the State of Nebraska. The service for Uncle Ross was beautiful and dignified. Through Darrell, I was blessed to have known him. The four Rasmussen brothers and sister are resting in heaven and enjoying each other again. Love, Shar
DAVE REMEMBER IT WAS YOU AND ME WHO BROUGHT HIM BACK INTO FRIENDSHIP WITH THE OEA. YOU FOR GOT TO MENTION HE WAS A OWNER OF THE BEND ROCKIES, AND A GOOD FRIEND TO THE TEACHERS WHO HE LOVED...IT WAS DANIELSON WHO WENT AFTER HIM, HE HAD A 12% VOTING RECORD BUT CAME BACK AND ASKED FOR AN ENDORSEMENT WHE THE FIGHT WAS ON FOR THE SPEAKERSHIP. REMEMBER WHEN I TOLD THE TEACHERS WHEN WE WANTED TO ENDORSE HIM AND THEY CHALLENGED YOU ANDI ABND I TOLD THEM THAT AFTER WE SPENT FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS BLASTING HIM ABOUT DRUNK DRIVING, COCAINE USE AND A HOST OF OTHER THINGS THAT 12% WAS PRETTY GOOD. THEY WENT ALONG WITH US, HE WON AND AFTER THAT HAD A STELLAR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TEACHERS AND THE OEA. MY BEST TO YOU AND LINDA TELL HER TO BE STRONG EVERY DAY... IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR ME.
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