Allen Alley

Perhaps the most eye-catching policy proposal in state Treasurer candidate Allen Alley’s (R-Lake Oswego) “Oregon 2020” plan, released on Tuesday, is his goal of increasing the federalCorporate Average Fuel Economy standard to 100 miles per gallon.

Shortly after the May 20 primary, Oregon state Treasurer candidates Allen Alley (R-Lake Oswego) and state Sen. Ben Westlund (D-Tumalo) talked of their hopes to schedule debates around the Beaver State. First there were five debates. Then the dream grew to 10 debates. Westlund thought it would be great fun to travel to the debates together in the same car. He even invited Bob Eckstrom, the Constitution Party’s state Treasurer nominee, to come along before he dropped out of the race. Both candidates believed that through joint appearances, Oregonians would come and learn the finer nuances of the state Treasurer’s office, they would cast their vote, and the best man would win.

State Sen. Ben Westlund: Campaign photoThe Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council announced Wednesday that it will be endorsing State Sen. Ben Westlund (D-Tumalo) for treasurer.

“As a legislator, he offered common-sense solutions to some of our biggest challenges,” said Bob Shiprack of the Council. “As State Treasurer, he will champion investment in our infrastructure to build our economy and create jobs.”

Building and Construction Trade Council represents 21 different construction crafts and over 30,000 of Oregon’s construction workers and contractors.

The first time state Sen. Ben Westlund went to Denver, it was January 1981 and he had to drive 24-hours through a Rocky Mountain winter to make it to the National Western Stock Show, the biggest cattle show in the country. He arrived at four in the morning, completely exhausted and hoping to get some sleep. Instead, he spent the next six hours outside of the Denver Coliseum, next to the railroad tracks, chipping frozen dung out of a pen, so his prize-winning bull, Reggie, would have a place for the night.

The Allen Alley campaign responded on Thursday to the anti-Alley website Oregon Democrats launched by taking a more of a glass-is-half-full approach toward the candidate's business history at Pixelworks, the Portland-based technology company that Alley founded.

The Oregon Democratic Party launched a new website Thursday aimed at bringing to light some of the business practices of Republican State Treasurer candidate Allen Alley.

Since the last elected Republican governor of Oregon, Vic Atiyeh, took office in January of 1979, it doesn’t look good for the party’s 2010 prospects.

State Sen. Ben Westlund (D- Tumalo), a candidate for treasurer, has hired Ivo Trummer as his campaign’s new finance director.

In an email to PolitickerOR.com, Stacy Dycus, Westlund’s spokesperson wrote: “Fundraising professional Ivo Trummer has joined Westlund's team for Oregon State Treasurer.  Trummer got his start in fundraising on Bev Stein's unsuccessful bid to defeat Kulongoski for the Democratic nomination in 2002, despite raising $1.78 million in the primary. For the 2004 and 2006 cycles, Trummer was finance director for FuturePAC, Oregon House Democrats, raising $1.2 million the first cycle and $1.95m in 2006, setting a new record for Oregon caucus fundraising.”

Bob Ekstrom, the Constitution Party’s candidate for state treasurer, has accepted an invitation from state Sen. Ben Westlund (D-Tumalo) to participate in 10 public appearances with the major party candidates. The offer came in the midst of negotiations about the debate schedule between Westlund and his Republican opponent for treasurer, Allen Alley (R-Lake Oswego). In May, PolitickerOR.com reported that Alley had challenged Westlund to a series of five debates in the treasurer’s race. Westlund responded by proposing a minimum of ten debates.

Stacey Dycus, Westlund’s spokesperson, told PolitickerOR.com that Westlund had spoken to Ekstrom and “welcomed him to participate in the joint public appearances.”

In an interview with PolitickerOR.com, Ekstrom confirmed the discussion had occurred and had accepted the offer. Ekstrom said that “it was a good idea” for him to participate in the debates.

The Allen Alley campaign, however, was never made aware of the invitation until contacted by PolitickerOR.com.

Last week Bob Ekstrom was nominated as the Constitution Party of Oregon’s candidate for treasurer. His entrance into the race has many observers calling him a long shot, others find him irrelevant, but Ekstrom told PolitickerOR.com in an interview that he has a chance at winning.

“I want to challenge the electorate to take a look at issues and policy proposals to set aside these thoughts,” Ekstrom said. “That’s going to be a lot of my message.”