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Matt Wingard

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Matt Wingard
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from the 26th district
In office
August 19, 2008 – 2013
Preceded byJerry Krummel
Succeeded byJohn Davis
Personal details
BornBlack River Falls, WI
Political partyRepublican
Residence(s)Wilsonville, Oregon Minneapolis, MN
Alma materUniversity of Southern California, University of Minnesota College and Design
OccupationOwner public relations consulting firm
Websitewww.mattwingard.com

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

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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

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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%). In 2010, Wingard won reelection with 61% of the vote, defeating Democrat Sandy Webb (39%).[8]

During his two terms, Wingard's accomplishments include authoring HB2476 which toughens sentences against athletic coaches who sexually abuse their young athletes. The Bill was Signed into law August 4, 2009.[9] Wingard authored HB2512 which directs the Department of Transportation to issue Fallen Public Safety Officer registration plates.[10] Wingard introduced House Bill 2754 to provide tax-credit scholarships to low- and middle-income children throughout Oregon. It failed to pass a key legislative deadline in mid-April.[11] Wingard also co-sponsored HB3471 with Democrat Rep. Michael Dembrow (NE Portland) to provide free college tuition to Oregon foster children.[12]

Wingard has been a longtime supporter of school choice[3][13] and was the chief architect of the GOP education bills included in the Legislature's 2011 education reform package that passed over the objections of the state's teachers union.[14] Wingard called the package, which included bills increasing access to online education and expanding their charter schools, "the most consequential legislation on education reform in Oregon history."[15] After the reform bills passed, a Democratic lobbyist claimed Wingard had "outwitted his Democratic co-chair every step of the way."[16]

Wingard is a believer in "individual responsibility, limited government, constitutional democracy, property rights and the free market."[17]

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.[18]

Leadership Resignation

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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.[19] Then Republican House leader Kevin Cameron, told Wingard he would make a public call for his resignation if necessary.[20]

Wingard admitted to the Willamette Week that the two did have a sexual relationship, but denied using his position to pressure her[21] and claimed that "a small group of socially conservative and well-connected Republicans, including one local party official, had been deeply involved in encouraging that staffer to make claims against me and had also spent the last two years digging around in my private life looking for more mud to sling."[22]

After Wingard abandoned his re-election campaign,[23] his accuser recanted her most serious claims and he remained in office until the end of his term. His accuser went on to say "While he and I have an obvious disagreement about the nature of our relationship, I appreciate Mr. Wingard's tireless support for education reform in Oregon."[24]

Wingard's alleged wrongdoing, and his ensuing interactions with Cameron, became the subject of international press coverage amid speculation about a visit by several Republican lawmakers to a topless bar in California.[25] Steve Duin of the Oregonian wrote, "Wingard actually fondled the sweet young things that House leadership is seemingly content to ogle. As The Oregonian's Michelle Cole reported Thursday, Wingard is one of seven House Republicans who topped off a three-day golf holiday in Palm Springs last January by checking out the topless dancers at a local bar. That midnight ramble might never have gone public had not Wingard's sexual relationship with Samantha Berrier, a 20-year-old staffer, come to light. While Wingard disagreed with Berrier's insistence that he pressured her into his bed, he eventually realized he was unelectable for a millennium or two and announced in June he would not seek re-election."[25][26]

Personal

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

Electoral history

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2008 Oregon State Representative, 26th district [27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Wingard 15,432 50.3
Democratic Jessica Adamson 13,684 44.6
Libertarian Marc Delphine 1,503 4.9
Write-in 89 0.3
Total votes 30,708 100%
2010 Oregon State Representative, 26th district [28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Wingard 16,362 61.1
Democratic Sandy Webb 10,382 38.7
Write-in 52 0.2
Total votes 26,796 100%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Paul, Corey (November 4, 2008). "Wingard wins House District 26". The Sherwood Gazette. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Matt Wingard". VoteSmart.org. Archived from the original on February 21, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Silverman, Julia (September 6, 2007). "Battles looming over charter online education in Oregon". The World. Associated Press.
  4. ^ "Representative Matt Wingard: On Charter School panel". In the News. Oregon Catalyst. February 23, 2010. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  5. ^ Hogan (September 22, 2008). "Wingard abuse case becomes campaign issue". Oregonian. Archived from the original on June 17, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  6. ^ Mapes, Jeff (January 18, 2008). "Police record costs Wingard a key backer". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  7. ^ "Sign in to OregonLive.com". The Oregonian. August 22, 2008. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
  8. ^ "Official Results, General Election". Oregon Secretary of State. November 2, 2010. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  9. ^ "House Bill 2476". 2009 Session. OregonLive.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  10. ^ "House Bill 2512". 2009 Session. OregonLive.com. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  11. ^ Flowers, Aricka (June 1, 2009). "Oregon Choice Bill Expires". heartlander. Heartland Institute. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  12. ^ Clark, Ashley (June 29, 2011). "State Legislature passes HB 3471, helping foster kids". The Daily Barometer.
  13. ^ "Rep. Wingard, Republicans Seek to Expand School Choice, Education Opportunities for Oregon's Kids" (PDF). Oregon House Republicans. Oregon Legislature. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  14. ^ Mapes, Jeff (August 18, 2011). "Oregon teachers union hands out harsh grades, even to longtime legislative allies". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  15. ^ Mapes, Jeff (June 17, 2011). "Wide-ranging education reform bills begin moving in Oregon Legislature". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  16. ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (June 22, 2011). "The Good, the Bad and the Awful: Our ranking of Portland-area lawmakers". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  17. ^ Schoenberg, Bob (February 14, 2008). "Facing the Democrats: Matt Wingard's quest for a seat at the table in Salem". The Regal Courier. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  18. ^ "County rep. says speech wasn't plagiarized". The Oregonian. February 21, 2010. Archived from the original on February 25, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  19. ^ Mapes, Jeff (June 13, 2012). "Matt Wingard leaves Oregon House leadership post after allegations of misconduct". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  20. ^ Cole, Michelle (August 9, 2012). "Night in topless bar becomes embarrassment for Oregon GOP legislators". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 12 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  21. ^ "Oregon State Rep. Resigns Leadership Post Amid Allegations". Northwest News Network. June 13, 2012. Archived from the original on July 17, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  22. ^ Mapes, Jeff (July 10, 2012). "Matt Wingard says he was victim of political smears". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  23. ^ Mapes, Jeff (June 19, 2012). "After Matt Wingard drops reelection bid, Oregon House Republicans search for replacement". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  24. ^ Taft, Victoria (June 22, 2012). "Accuser Recants Serious Allegations Against Oregon Legislator, Matt Wingard". Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  25. ^ a b Duin, Steve (2012-08-11). "Steve Duin: Oregon Republicans at a topless bar: the moral of the Sex-Starved Seven". oregonlive. Archived from the original on 2020-09-07. Retrieved 2020-09-07. (...) Wingard actually fondled the sweet young things that House leadership is seemingly content to ogle. As The Oregonian's Michelle Cole reported Thursday, Wingard is one of seven House Republicans who topped off a three-day golf holiday in Palm Springs last January by checking out the topless dancers at a local bar. That midnight ramble might never have gone public had not Wingard's sexual relationship with Samantha Berrier, a 20-year-old staffer, come to light. While Wingard disagreed with Berrier's insistence that he pressured her into his bed, he eventually realized he was unelectable for a millennium or two and announced in June he would not seek re-election.
  26. ^ "Visit to topless bar forced married Republican lawmaker to quit | The World from PRX". 2020-09-07. Archived from the original on 2012-08-10. Retrieved 2020-09-07. Wingard, who had also been on the Palm Springs trip, allegedly plied Samantha Berrier, then 20, with alcohol and forced her into an unwanted sexual relationship.
  27. ^ "Official Results | November 4, 2008". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  28. ^ "Official Results November 2, 2010". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
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