Oregon has not been kind to Independent
candidates. That’s one reason why Ben Westlund’s odyssey seems destined for
failure. The state senator from Bend has left the Republican party to run
for governor as an Independent. To qualify, he must gather 18,368 signatures
from registered voters who won’t be voting in the May primary election.
Many Oregonians would applaud Westlund’s announced motivation for running.
He says the major political parties, Republican and Democratic, have failed
to respond to the state’s real needs. Scoring partisan points has been more
important to party leaders than seeking productive compromise.
Who would defend the results of the last three legislative sessions?
Westlund’s assertions are on target. Is he the person to lead Oregon to a
new place? His quest will define the answer to that question. Few Oregonians
have a personal impression of Westlund. To succeed, he must plead his case
across the state and generate enthusiasm.
For Oregon to regain its momentum, there must be a shift in the middle of
the electorate. A sizable group of Oregon voters must become convinced that
more of the same is not good enough.
