Oregon Public Broadcasting

Governor Ted Kulongoski has appointed Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler to take over as Oregon State Treasurer. He’ll serve out the term of Ben Westlund, who died of cancer over the weekend.  April Baer reports.

Wheeler’s relatively short political career has carried him to lead Oregon’s most populous county.

His family reaches back five generations in Oregon, and was deeply involved in the timber business.

When he announced the appointment, Governor Kulongoski mentioned Wheeler’s prior experience as a manager at Bank of America, and at Copper Mountain Trust.

Ted Kulongoski  “Ted Wheeler brings the perfect balance of expertise, from both the public and private sector to serve as State Treasurer. Ted has a reputation for integrity and fiscal responsibility which is also critical to the office.”

Wheeler’s appointment is only good until the next scheduled  election.

He says he intends to file to run in the May primary, where other candidates are already surfacing.

Republican State Senator Chris Telfer from Bend has announced she’ll file.

State Senator Rick Metzger has also filed to run. Former State Treasurer Jim Hill has also filed to reclaim the job he held in the early 90s.