Oregon, here’s your new State Treasurer (on a bike of course!)

Ted Wheeler, State Treasurer.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Earlier today, Jeff Mapes at The Oregonian broke the news that Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler has accepted an appointment by Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski to be State Treasurer (filling the void left by the late Ben Westlund).

The news is a blow to our region, as Wheeler was an effective and well-liked politician who was tackling big issues with an all-too-rare-these-days combination of skill, charisma, and candor. Last week he left a comment on our story about studded tires.

I won’t get into who might take his place and what this means to our region’s and Oregon’s political landscape (I’ll leave that to folks at BlueOregon, Jeff Mapes, etc..) — but, just for the record, I thought I’d share a photo I snapped of Mr. Wheeler back in August.

Wheeler riding across the Hawthorne Bridge on a ride organized during the Safe Routes National Conference back in August.

Congratulations on your appointment Ted, let us know how the riding is down in Salem.