Westlund runs for governor

Sen. Ben Westlund of Central Oregon is running for governor. Westlund announced on Oregon’s 147th birthday, Tuesday, February 14. He will campaign as an independent.

Westlund, formerly a Republican, made the announcement at the Deschutes County Clerk’s Office in Bend shortly after 9 a.m. as he dropped off a petition changing his party affiliation to independent. He was to travel to Salem to file his candidacy later in the morning.

Westlund said he was running for governor “because I care, I’m concerned and I’m committed.”

He cited three prominent issues: healthcare for all Oregonians; tax reform; and reducing what he called “paralyzing partisanship” in state politics.

“There has to be a larger movement to bring good people together for the common good in Oregon,” Westlund said.

Westlund said the state’s tax code is antiquated and leads to wild swings in revenue and disinvestment that renders the state fiscally unstable and “prevents Oregonians from being all they can be.”

The candidate has proposed a tax reform package in Senate Bill 382, which may be accessed at the Oregon Legislature’s website. “The current tax structure is destroying Oregon,” Westlund said.

He says his proposal for tax reform will cut capital gains taxes in half, cut the income tax in half, create 35,000 jobs and provide tax cuts. To fund the tax cuts he would impose a 5 percent value added tax on some goods and services. Much of the sales tax income would come from out-of-state travelers to Oregon who consume state services, he has indicated.

Westlund believes his run for the governor’s chair can help break down the partisan culture in state politics. Westlund said his independent candidacy reflects an effort to create a new political center.

“Just like in an airplane, you are either moving forward or going down,” he said. “Oregon is going down” because of partisan party politics.