Treasurer for the State of Oregon. Elected as a Republican to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1996 serving four terms. Appointed to the Oregon Senate in 2003 and elected in 2004. Briefly ran for Oregon governor as an independent in 2006. Elected Oregon treasurer as a Democrat in 2008.
His friends and colleagues described him as a savvy and good-humored man who, in his heart, never left the Oregon Legislature and its gritty give-and-take politics.
Among his public accomplishments were his role in creating the Public Safety Memorial Fund and the Oregon Cultural Trust. He was also the chief legislative advocate for creating the Cascades campus of Oregon State University in central Oregon. He was known for always trying to make things better. Ben never said "goodbye." Instead, he would always end his phone calls saying: "Down the trail."
Ben is survived by his wife Libby Bishop-Westlund, and two children, B.J., 21, and Taylor, 17.
His friends and colleagues described him as a savvy and good-humored man who, in his heart, never left the Oregon Legislature and its gritty give-and-take politics.
Among his public accomplishments were his role in creating the Public Safety Memorial Fund and the Oregon Cultural Trust. He was also the chief legislative advocate for creating the Cascades campus of Oregon State University in central Oregon. He was known for always trying to make things better. Ben never said "goodbye." Instead, he would always end his phone calls saying: "Down the trail."
Ben is survived by his wife Libby Bishop-Westlund, and two children, B.J., 21, and Taylor, 17.
Treasurer for the State of Oregon. Elected as a Republican to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1996 serving four terms. Appointed to the Oregon Senate in 2003 and elected in 2004. Briefly ran for Oregon governor as an independent in 2006. Elected Oregon treasurer as a Democrat in 2008.
His friends and colleagues described him as a savvy and good-humored man who, in his heart, never left the Oregon Legislature and its gritty give-and-take politics.
Among his public accomplishments were his role in creating the Public Safety Memorial Fund and the Oregon Cultural Trust. He was also the chief legislative advocate for creating the Cascades campus of Oregon State University in central Oregon. He was known for always trying to make things better. Ben never said "goodbye." Instead, he would always end his phone calls saying: "Down the trail."
Ben is survived by his wife Libby Bishop-Westlund, and two children, B.J., 21, and Taylor, 17.
His friends and colleagues described him as a savvy and good-humored man who, in his heart, never left the Oregon Legislature and its gritty give-and-take politics.
Among his public accomplishments were his role in creating the Public Safety Memorial Fund and the Oregon Cultural Trust. He was also the chief legislative advocate for creating the Cascades campus of Oregon State University in central Oregon. He was known for always trying to make things better. Ben never said "goodbye." Instead, he would always end his phone calls saying: "Down the trail."
Ben is survived by his wife Libby Bishop-Westlund, and two children, B.J., 21, and Taylor, 17.
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