Oregon Public Broadcasting

The unexpected race for Oregon's next state Treasurer has turned out to be a competitive one.

Governor Ted Kulongoski Tuesday selected Multnomah County Board Chair and former bank manager Ted Wheeler to be the state's fiscal manager.

He's also one of at least four candidates vying to win the job in November. Chris Lehman reports.

Democratic State Treasurer Ben Westlund died of lung cancer over the weekend. By law, Governor Kulongoski had to appoint a Democrat to replace him.

Kulongoski selected the chair of Oregon's most populous county. By the end of the day, Ted Wheeler was in Salem filing paperwork to run for the remaining two years on Westlund's term.

Wheeler was on the floor of the Oregon House for the biennial ritual of candidate filing day.

He faces two other candidates in the Democratic primary for state Treasurer.

State Senator Rick Metsger and former State Treasurer Jim Hill. One Republican is in the race: State Senator Chris Telfer of Bend:

Chris Telfer:"Ben was a dear friend of mine. And it was a difficult decision because I was still kind of in shock because I just talked to him last week."

But Telfer will be one of four candidates for Treasurer in the Oregon primary May 18.

Westlund will be remembered at a pair of memorial services later this week.