Matt Wingard

Matt Wingard is an American politician in the state of Oregon. He was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Oregon House of Representatives in 2008, and was elected to the seat in 2008 and re-elected in 2010.^[1] He represented District 26, which encompasses southeastern Washington County, including Sherwood; and southwestern Clackamas County, including Wilsonville. He did not seek re-election to a third term.

Early life

Wingard received a BA in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Southern California.^[2] He began his career as a television reporter in Yakima, Washington, for KIMA-TV.^[2] He then served as a campaign manager and congressional aide to Congressman Doc Hastings who represents Central Washington State.^[2] In 2001, Wingard returned to Oregon and worked as legislative administrator at the Oregon State Capitol before starting his own consulting company in 2002.^[2] Wingard is the spokesman for the Oregon Connections Academy, an online charter school, that had an enrollment of 1,500 students as of 2007.^[3] He has been a vocal supporter of school choice.^[4]

Political career

Wingard was appointed by Washington and Clackamas county commissioners to fill a vacancy in the Oregon House following the resignation of Jerry Krummel in August 2008, and announced his plans to seek election to a full term.^[1] During the campaign, it was revealed he was convicted in 2001 for misdemeanor assault for hitting his son on the head with a screwdriver.^[5] Wingard did community service and the conviction was eventually expunged.^[6][7] He won the November general election with 50% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jessica Adamson (45%) and Libertarian Marc Delphine (5%).

During the Seventy-fifth Oregon Legislative Assembly Wingard accomplishments include authoring HB 2476 which toughens sentences against athletic coaches who sexually abuse their young athletes, the Bill was Signed into law August 4, 2009.^[8] Wingard authored HB2512 which directs Department of Transportation to issue Fallen Public Safety Officer registration plates.^[9] Wingard introduced House Bill 2754 bill to provide tax-credit scholarships to low- and middle-income children throughout Oregon failed to pass a key legislative deadline in mid-April.^[10] Wingard has been a longtime supporter of school choice.^[3][11] Wingard is a believer in “individual responsibility, limited government, constitutional democracy, property rights and the free market.”^[12]

In February 2010 Wingard ignited a minor controversy when he extensively quoted an article during a speech on the floor of the Oregon House. Some claimed it was plagiarism but Wingard says he simply didn’t have time to cite his source.^[13]

In early June 2012, Wingard resigned from his post as the Deputy Republican Leader of the Oregon House of Representatives following allegations that he pressured a young woman who worked in his office at the capitol into a sexual relationship,^[14] and under pressure from then-Republican House leader Kevin Cameron, who told Wingard he would make a public call for his resignation if necessary.^[15] He admitted to the Willamette Week that the two did have a sexual relationship, but denied using his position to pressure the young woman.^[16] Later that month he abandoned his re-election campaign, but was to remain in office until the end of his term.^[17]

Wingard's alleged wrongdoing, and his ensuing interactions with Cameron, became the subject of international press coverage amid speculation about a visit several Republican lawmakers made to a topless bar in California.^[18]

Personal

He has served on the Clackamas County Economic Development Commission and the Portfolio Options Committee of the Oregon Public Utility Commission.^[2]

See also

• Seventy-fourth Oregon Legislative Assembly (2007–2008)

References

External links

• Representative Matt Wingard - Oregon House of Representatives