The state treasurer election results may reveal that Oregonians value public policy experience over the experiences gained while working in corporate America.
With Ben Westlund winning the race for state treasurer, the Allen Alley campaign admits it was not able to mobilize its message as well as it would have liked.
“It looks like we’re not going to win, but we ran a strong campaign in places like Multnomah County, and it shows. It seems that we just didn’t get the message out to enough people,” Alley said.
With January fast approaching, Westlund plans on concentrating on a few key issues for Oregon’s citizenry. As treasurer, he intends to re-evaluate how the state attract and create new businesses. The more businesses the state attracts, the more money gets flushed into local communities, something communities like Eugene recognize as an immediate need.
“Now, this is all about jobs,” Westlund said. “Creating real-wage jobs by attracting businesses that will increase the production of renewable energy and reduce the consumption of energy.”
During his time in the legislature, Westlund has taken a strong stance on the importance of ending Oregon’s dependence on foreign oil. He worked on programs such as the Renewable Energy Tax Credit Expansion, which expanded the tax credits and increased the maximum allowable projects costs helping to attract green business, something he plans on continuing as treasurer.
“All the alternative energy sources should be on the table, including geothermal,” Westlund said. “We don’t know which technology will have the first big breakthrough; my job is to invest in all (renewable energy resources) and let the market decide what is the most productive and lowest cost provider of renewable energy.”
Westlund’s campaign focused on his experience in the state legislature and his policy history.
Alley’s message, however, centered on his experience as a strong business leader, and political experiences he gained working with the governor. He believes his campaign strategy sought to show voters he would work in a non-partisan manor, and when he got the opportunity to talk with voters, they favored this approach.
“When I look back on my experiences, I realize the problem is I didn’t get to enough people, because when we actually did have the opportunity to speak about issues, we did very well,” Alley said.
However, the public policy strength that Westlund gained from being an Oregon senator radiated more effectively with voters in the end.
In the arena of health care, Westlund will seek to manage the Oregon Health Fund by ensuring maximum returns at lower costs.
Westlund also plans on encouraging educational growth in the state by helping ordinary Oregon families afford college through an expansion of the state’s 529 College Savings Plan Network. He envisions the plan to not only provide an avenue for families to start saving early for their children’s educations, but also to provide financial assistance to high school seniors and adults who need money for education.
He also intends on educating his constituents on their own financial well-being by providing more opportunities for Oregonians to access Oregon’s Financial Management Network, a program that was developed to enlighten residents on everything from proper banking practices to retirement and pension planning.
Westlund’s vision for the state will take form over the next four years, but for now he is trying to sit back, relax and comprehend what he has accomplished.
“I’m tired, I’m elated, but I’m so excited to get to making policy for our great state,” Westlund said.
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