Oregon Public Broadcasting

A new poll commissioned by OPB, Fox 12 and the Portland Tribune finds the Democratic primary in the Oregon treasurer's race to be very close.  Ballots are due next Tuesday.

It's a campaign no one expected to run at all. The Treasurer's office wasn't supposed to be on the ballot this year. But when Democrat Ben Westlund died of cancer in March, it set up a last-minute scramble for candidates to get on the ballot.

Ted Wheeler (L) and Rick Metsger

When the dust settled, two Democrats and a Republican were left in the running. Chris Lehman reports.

Ted Wheeler never intended to be the incumbent in this year's Oregon Treasurer's race.

Ted Wheeler: "I want you to know I didn't ask for it, and I didn't lobby for it."

Wheeler says it was a complete surprise when Governor Ted Kulongoski appointed him to the job just days after Westlund's death. Wheeler had literally a matter of hours to decide if he wanted to try to win the remaining two years of Westlund's term by putting his name on the ballot in the Democratic primary.

Despite the unexpected appointment, Wheeler tells voters like the ones at this meeting of Washington County Democrats in Beaverton that he feels fully qualified for the job.

Ted Wheeler: "As it turns out, it's a very good fit for me. It fits with my private sector experience. I served as a manager in a private sector firm that managed about five-and-a-half billion dollars of other people's pension investments and other investments."

More recently, Wheeler served as chair of the Multnomah County Commission, an office he had been planning to seek again.

In the Democratic primary, Wheeler faces State Senator Rick Metsger. And judging by their interactions at the Washington County forum, at least, the two candidates see eye-to-eye on most issues.

Rick Metsger: "I agree with Ted."

Ted Wheeler: "I agree with what Rick said."

Rick Metsger: "Ted is absolutely right."

The lack of major policy differences means that Metsger, like Wheeler, is running in large part on the strength of his resume.

Rick Metsger: "I believe that my record in the Legislature of actually creating jobs is going to be the message that resonates."

Metsger served 12 years in the Legislature. He says his work on the Senate's business committee to craft a highway construction package last year shows his ability to create jobs.

He says, as Treasurer, he would continue to work for job creation by working with the Legislature to shape effective bonding authorities for the state.

And he says he'd use the Treasurer's role as the state's chief investment officer to demand more consumer - friendly policies at large financial institutions.

Rick Metsger: "We have votes for boards of directors and chief executive officers of some of these major companies and we need to hold them accountable to transparency and accountability if we're going to do business with them."

One Democratic stalwart who attended the Washington County forum said he's pleased with both Metsger and Wheeler. But Paul Erickson says he's made up his mind to vote for Wheeler.

Paul Erickson: "Rick Metsger's got some very strong background also, especially in the legislative sphere. But I think on balance, public and private experience, the edge has gotta go to Ted Wheeler."

Erickson says he was especially impressed with the way Wheeler handled the fallout from a recent series of articles by The Oregonian.

The newspaper detailed how state investment managers often traveled first class. They're also accused of double dipping, getting reimbursed for meals already paid for by outside investment firms. The practice had been in place long before Wheeler was appointed, and his response to the situation is already showing up in a campaign ad.

Announcer on ad: "Wheeler's already cutting travel and perks, so there's more to protect schools and create jobs."

Wheeler says he doesn't know how the travel investigation will affect his chances in the Democratic primary.

Ted Wheeler: "The way I look at it, it's an issue I own and it's something I have an obligation to fix."

Metsger says he'd enact changes that go even further than Wheeler.

Whoever wins the Democratic primary for Treasurer — Ted Wheeler or Rick Metsger — will face Republican State Senator Chris Telfer in the fall. She's running unopposed in the GOP primary.