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Campaign Updates

Mar 8	My Friend Ben Westlund
Mar 5	Teamsters Endorse John Kitzhaber
Mar 5	Oregon AFL-CIO Endorses Kitzhaber
Mar 1	Kitzhaber Jobs Webcast: Community College Idea
Feb 25	Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters Endorse Kitzhaber
	Read more updates.

In the News

Mar 1	WKRG: Ex-governor The Favorite In Ore. Democratic Race
Feb 17	Blue Oregon: Poll: Kitzhaber 55%, Bradbury 21%
Feb 16	The Oregonian: Kitzhaber claims big poll lead in Democratic primary
Feb 16	Portland Mercury: Kitzhaber Poll Shows Strong Lead
Jan 27	Illinois Valley News: Kitzhaber talks jobs, budget
Jan 15	TABarnhart.net: Kitz kicks off policy season: Jobs & Economy rollout
	Read more news.

My Friend Ben Westlund

by John Kitzhaber

Ben Westlund -- our State Treasurer -- passed away early Sunday morning after a long battle with cancer. Ben was a personal friend and an outstanding public servant. He served Oregon for twelve years in the state legislature, before his election as State Treasurer in 2008. Many will remember that he served as a Republican, an Independent and a Democrat at different times during his career. Ben always put our state's needs above partisan politics and personal interests. He was an Oregon original, and his spirit and leadership will be deeply missed. I hope you will take a moment to remember Ben today, and allow his example to inspire you to make a difference for Oregon.

Below is the final paragraph of the statement that his family and staff released yesterday:

Westlund's legacy will live on in Oregon, in the form of the cultural trust and public safety fund, which provides money to families of officers killed or injured in the line of duty. His legacy also will live on in the memories of friends and Oregonians whose lives he touched, and those who spoke with him, or were fortunate enough to meet him in his travels down almost every road – paved or not — across the state he loved. Down the trail, Ben. Down the trail.

-John Kitzhaber

You can read the full statement from Ben's staff and family here.

Posted on March 8, 2010.

Meet John Kitzhaber

A Legislator

A reputation for innovation

John's interest in health care policy, his deep love for Oregon's natural heritage and his concern about the lives and jobs of rural Oregonians led him to seek an additional form of public service: serving his neighbors as an elected official.

John Kitzhaber represented Douglas County in the legislature for fourteen years - and was elected by his colleagues to serve as Senate President in 1985, 1987, 1989, and 1991.

He earned a reputation for integrity, civility and public policy innovation. His legislative career was marked by active leadership in the areas of public education, community development, environmental stewardship and a wide variety of health care issues including: long-term care, resource allocation and uncompensated care.

A Governor

John Kitzhaber was elected Governor of the State of Oregon in 1994 and reelected in 1998.

As Governor, he undertook many new policy initiatives including the expansion of the Oregon Health Plan which has benefited nearly two million Oregonians since it was implemented in 1994. He broke new ground with the Oregon Option, a cooperative approach with the federal government that attempted to increase accountability and reduce bureaucracy related to the delivery of a number of government services. As one result, the State of Oregon reduced welfare caseloads by more than 50 percent, helping nearly 20,000 Oregonians find work and saving more than $200 million in the state budget.

On economic issues, Kitzhaber continued to earn his reputation as a leader who looked over the horizon. He brought to the state the first major renewable energy wind turbine manufacturer and laid in place the foundation for Oregon's development and reputation as an incubator of green jobs. And John kicked off the effort to create the Oregon Business Plan, a comprehensive blueprint for economic progress for the state.

Read more about John Kitzhaber's record as Governor on jobs and the economy, public safety, natural resources, and more.

A Leader

Reforming health care

Since leaving the Governor's office, Kitzhaber has continued to work on health care reform, founding the Archimedes Movement -- a grassroots community engagement effort to reframe the debate on health care and build a voice for fundamental change.

Kitzhaber also serves as the President of the Estes Park Institute, which conducts educational conferences for community hospitals. He serves as the Director for the Center for Evidence Based Policy at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland and holds an endowed Chair on Health Care Policy with The Foundation for Medical Excellence; an Oregon based public, nonprofit educational foundation.