First Signature Submission, July 25
Mike Selvaggio,
Bend Office
This afternoon, Ben and the
Bend office crew visited the Deschutes County Elections office to drop
off the first of many batches of petition sheets. The sheets have to be
delivered to each county office in Oregon for verification. Then, they
will be returned to the campaign for submission to the Secretary of
State.
Since the office
was so close to the county office, Ben, his crew, and his
children BJ and Taylor walked the two blocks... with a
photographer and some volunteers in tow.
We were met by a
camerawoman from one of the local TV stations, and the whole
entourage stood by with electric anticipation as Ben submitted
his signature sheets.
Truth be told, the campaign
won’t have any official results for at least a few days, but there was a
sense of “this is how it starts” keeping everyone on their toes,
giggling nervously and cracking jokes.
After some paperwork was
stamped and signed in a little democratic ritual, Ben thanked his
volunteers and staff, and set off on more important business at the next
window: Dog Licensing.
It seems that Taylor’s
two dogs, Rocket and Rooster, may have been behind on their
licensing… and Ben didn’t want them to end up in “Doggie Jail.” (But the
clerk assured Taylor that the dogs’ licenses wouldn’t need renewals
until December.)
Willamette River Cleanup, July 15
Jonathan Manton, Eugene Office
More than 200
volunteers, community leaders, and concerned citizens gathered on the
shores of the Willamette River in Eugene on Saturday to clean up trash, debris,
and other hazardous waste. Among them was State Senator and Independent
Gubernatorial candidate, Ben Westlund.
“It’s
our moral responsibility not just to this generation, but to
those that follow, to clean this river”, Ben said in a keynote
speech following the event. “As Democrats, Republicans,
Independents, Greens, and others, we must all come together to
ensure that our children can enjoy a river free from toxic
waste.”
In the 2005
Legislature, Ben worked with members of both parties attempting to close
a loophole that allows for “toxic mixing zones”. The Oregon League of
Conservation Voters named him the “Consensus Builder of the Year” for
this and other efforts. The toxic mixing zones loophole gives polluters
permission to exceed state standards for pollutants in short stretches
along the river. Thousands of pounds of toxic waste enter the river each
year in these mixing zones. In 2006, American Rivers named the
Willamette America’s #3 most endangered river.
“Currently, the state doesn’t even identify these toxic zones. That’s
unsafe and completely ridiculous”, Ben said.
Ben also spoke forcefully of the need for corporate responsibility and
accountability. He offered solutions such as providing more funding for
the Department of Environmental Quality and enforcing tough penalties,
both civil and criminal, for polluters who break the law. As an
Independent, he will work with members of both parties to get beyond
partisan gridlock and protect public health.
By the end
of the event, Ben and his campaign volunteers -- the "Westlund Posse" --
had picked up hundreds of pounds of garbage.
Seventy percent of the state’s population lives near the Willamette.
Also attending were State Senator Vicki Walker, State Senator Floyd
Prozanski, and Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy. The Eugene REI store organized
the event.
"He's
not in anybody's pocket. I really admire him for having the
courage to stand up for what he believes." Gert Boyle,
Chair, Columbia Sportswear
"Today,
Oregon needs strong leadership. As the parent of a student that
attends public schools, I believe Ben will be a champion for the
students and their future." Elizabeth Blackney,
Bend
"He
is determined to make this place we call Oregon a better place,
for all Oregonians." Ernest Bloch,
Portland
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