Treasurer candidate Ben Westlund fails to pay taxes on time

[Alan Alley Press Release]
Ben Westlund Fails to Pay Property Taxes on Time,
Calls into Question His Suitability to be Oregon’s Next Treasurer

Portland, OR — An examination of Deschutes County public records shows that Ben Westlund, candidate for state treasurer, has failed to pay his property taxes on time in five of the last twelve years [1]. This pattern of delinquency in performing a basic civic duty calls into question his suitability to be Oregon’s chief financial officer. The treasurer is “responsible for the prudent financial management of billions of taxpayer dollars.” [2] Part of this responsibility is to oversee more than 13 million financial transactions valued at over $120 billion each year. It is no place for shoddy accounting practices.

“If Ben Westlund can’t pay his own bills on time, why should Oregonians trust him to pay the state’s bills on time?” asked Allen Alley. “Being late on payments nearly half the time is no way to run a household, let alone a state.”

In addition, ORS 293.875 designates the State Treasurer as the cash management officer for the state. State agencies regularly rely on the flow of cash in and out of the Treasury in a timely manner in order to run their operations and serve Oregonians.

“If the Treasurer is late with payments it can disrupt the delivery of state services. The Office of the Treasurer demands experience and leadership and is no place for on-the-job training,” said Allen Alley who has extensive experience in financial management and investments and has helped grow and manage several global, publicly-traded technology companies. Alley has demonstrated an impeccable record in both his personal and corporate life, and has been tested by the scrutiny of running a publicly traded company.

“This morning, children from every corner of Oregon will be returning to a school funded by property taxes. Thankfully, hard-working Oregonians uphold their civic duty by paying their taxes on time to fund these schools,” said Allen Alley. “The same can’t be said for Ben Westlund.”

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[1] Deschutes County property tax records: 1996, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2005

[2] www.ost.state.or.us/about/about_us/index.htm