Chris Telfer is a former Republican and current Independent Party of Oregon politician and Certified Public Accountant in Bend, Oregon, United States.
Chris Telfer | |
---|---|
Member of the Oregon State Senate from the 27th district | |
In office January 12, 2009 – January 14, 2013 | |
Preceded by | Ben Westlund |
Succeeded by | Tim Knopp |
Personal details | |
Political party | Republican (before 2015) Independent Party of Oregon (2015–) |
Alma mater | University of Denver Franklin University University of Oregon |
Profession | Certified Public Accountant |
Telfer serves on the Bend City Council, and was elected to the Oregon State Senate in the November 2008 elections, to succeed outgoing senator Ben Westlund.[1] Hers was the only seat that changed parties in the Senate in that election cycle; her campaign spent $300,000 to opponent Maren Lundgren's $12,000.[2] The shift, however, left Democrats with an 18-12 majority, allowing them to pass increases to taxes and fees without Republican support.[3] (A 1996 law requires a 3/5 supermajority in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly for such measures.)
Telfer has lived in Bend since 1977.[4] She has two daughters.[4]
She earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Denver, and did post-graduate work at Franklin University and the University of Oregon.[4] She has taught at Central Oregon Community College and served as vice-chair on the Bend Development Board.[4]
In 2010, Telfer filed for the special election for Oregon State Treasurer, to complete the term of Ben Westlund, who died in office,[5] but lost to Democratic incumbent Ted Wheeler in the November general election.[6]
In the Republican primary of the 2012 legislative elections, Telfer was defeated by Tim Knopp, a former state Representative and vice president of the Central Oregon Builders Association.[7]
She became the Oregon Lottery Commissioner. In 2016, she won the Independent Party of Oregon's nomination for Treasurer of Oregon. She lost in the general election to Tobias Read.[8]
Electoral history
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Chris Telfer | 42,061 | 59.6 | |
Democratic | Maren Lundgren | 28,379 | 40.2 | |
Write-in | 129 | 0.2 | ||
Total votes | 70,569 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Ted Wheeler | 721,795 | 52.9 | |
Republican | Chris Telfer | 571,105 | 41.9 | |
Progressive | Walter F. (Walt) Brown | 38,316 | 2.8 | |
Constitution | Michael Marsh | 30,489 | 2.2 | |
Write-in | 1,738 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 1,363,443 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tobias Read | 808,998 | 43.9 | |
Republican | Jeff Gudman | 766,680 | 41.6 | |
Independent | Chris Telfer | 173,878 | 9.4 | |
Progressive | Chris Henry | 90,507 | 4.9 | |
Write-in | 2,624 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 1,842,687 | 100% |