Oregon Lottery Commissioner Chris Telfer announced Friday that she's running as an Independent Party of Oregon candidate for state treasurer.
Telfer, a former Republican senator from Bend, is the party's first candidate for statewide office since it achieved major-party status Aug. 17.
"When I worked in the Legislature, I saw a lot of polarization and I saw the otherness of Oregon that has no representation," Telfer said in a phone interview.
Telfer was elected to the state Senate in 2008 after serving on the Bend City Council. She ran for treasurer in 2010, losing to Ted Wheeler in a special election.
In 2012, she lost her Senate seat to Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend.
Gov. John Kitzhaber appointed Telfer to the state Lottery Commission in 2013. Telfer is also a certified public accountant -- something she said makes her more qualified for treasurer than the Democratic candidate, Rep. Tobias Read, D-Beaverton.
Chris Telfer
"The treasurer and the state will be facing a significant financial crisis come 2017, and I think I have the skill set to deal with that," Telfer said. "Nothing against Tobias -- I served with him, he's a nice enough guy -- but he doesn't have the experience to address the financial issues of the treasury."
Telfer must win the Independent Party primary in May to appear on the November ballot. So far, she's the only candidate and has strong support from the party.
"We are thrilled to have someone as well-respected and highly qualified as Chris Telfer as our first announced candidate," Independent Party Secretary Sal Peralta said in a statement. "With her experience as a successful small business owner, a CPA, state lottery commissioner, Bend city councilor and state senator, she is certainly the most qualified of the announced candidates for state treasurer. We look forward to supporting her efforts throughout the campaign."
-- Ian K. Kullgren
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