Guv appoints county commissioner as State Treasurer
SALEM, Ore. - Multnomah County Chairman Ted Wheeler has accepted an offer to fill the State Treasurer position left vacant by the late Ben Westlund, Governor Kulongoski's office announced Tuesday.
In a press release sent to media outlets, Governor Kulongoski said “Ted Wheeler brings the perfect balance of expertise from both the public and private sectors to this job with an impressive record managing the county’s budget to a working knowledge of the financial industry.”
Wheeler was elected in landslide to the Multnomah County Chairman position in 2006 with 70 percent of the vote.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the citizens of this great state and am well prepared for the challenges ahead,” Ted Wheeler said.
Ben Westlund died March 7 after a long battle with cancer. He was 60 years old.
The Treasurer serves as the chief financial officer for the state and is responsible for the financial management of billions of taxpayer dollars.
Wheeler will hold the position until this November, when an election for the position will be held.
Read the entire press release:
Today Governor Ted Kulongoski announced the appointment of Ted Wheeler to the office of State Treasurer, filling the vacancy created by the passing of Treasurer Ben Westlund.
“Ted Wheeler brings the perfect balance of expertise from both the public and private sectors to this job with an impressive record managing the county’s budget to a working knowledge of the financial industry,” said Governor Ted Kulongoski. “A fifth generation Oregonian with ties across the state, I am confident that Ted will serve Oregonians well as the State Treasurer.”
Wheeler was elected to Multnomah County Chair in November 2006 with 70 percent of the vote, serving both as Chief Executive Officer of Multnomah County and the Chair of the Board of Commissioners. Before taking office, Wheeler worked in the financial industry, including with the Bank of America and Copper Mountain Trust.
Wheeler is a graduate of Portland’s Lincoln High School. He earned a BA degree in Economics from Stanford University, an MBA from Columbia University and a Masters in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the citizens of this great state and am well prepared for the challenges ahead,” Ted Wheeler said.
The Treasurer serves as the chief financial officer for the state and is responsible for the financial management of billions of taxpayer dollars. The Treasurer also serves as the state’s chief investment officer, and has the duty of investing the moneys of the Public Employees Retirement Fund, the State Accident Insurance Fund, the Common School Fund and numerous smaller funds.
The Treasurer serves on a variety of state financial boards and on the State Land Board which has a fiduciary duty to manage state trust lands for the benefit of the Common School Fund.
Article V, section 16 of the Oregon Constitution govern filling the vacancy of the office of the State Treasurer. The immediate vacancy is filled by appointment by the Governor and shall serve only until such time as a successor is duly elected and qualified at the next regularly scheduled general election.
Oregon voters will select a candidate to fill the remaining two years of office at the General Election in November of this year.
Anna Richter Taylor
Communications Director
Office of Governor Ted Kulongoski
