Filing the paperwork

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Dear Friends,
 
I want you to be among the first to know that today I filed the paperwork to seek re-election as State Treasurer of Oregon.
 
It has been an honor to serve as your State Treasurer for the last 18 months.  I hope you will agree that I have provided strong leadership - financial and otherwise - to help our state through these challenging times.
 
As a candidate for State Treasurer, I pledged that I would fight relentlessly to protect and enhance Oregon’s economic health, use the tools of the Treasury to help move our economy forward, and find new ways to help Oregon families achieve and maintain financial independence.
I’ve already accomplished a number of important things in office: 

  • Earned an upgrade in Oregon’s credit rating – one of the few states in the nation to do so – by holding the line on debt and demonstrating strong financial performance.
     
  • Increased the value of the State’s assets under Treasury management – those in the Common Schools Fund and the retirement accounts.
     
  • Restructured the State’s debt to reduce finance costs and save Oregon families millions.
     
  • Cut in half the state’s fees on the Oregon College Savings Plan, making it more affordable for Oregonians to attend college.

 But there is much more to be done. 

  • I am anxious to help get Oregonians back to work.  I am working on a major new initiative to use State Lottery Dollars and other funds to leverage private investment for both expansion of Oregon employers and support for small and emerging companies.
     
  • Make college and technical training more affordable for Oregon families.  In the coming days I will announce a new initiative to significantly expand the Oregon Opportunity Grant program so that any Oregonian who wants to attend a public institution for either college or other post-secondary training can afford to do so.

 I hope I can count on your support in the 2012 election.  
 
Please consider making a contribution to my campaign; whatever you can afford is helpful.
 
I look forward to the next year and talking with Oregonians all over the state to hear their ideas about how to improve our state.  And I look forward to partnering with you to help make it all happen.  As always, get in touch any time with your ideas, comments and feedback.
 
Sincerely,
Ted Wheeler