{{Short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Matt Wingard | image = | state_house = Oregon | state = Oregon | district = 26th | term_start = August 19, 2008 | term_end = 2013 | preceded = Jerry Krummel | succeeded = John Davis | party = Republican | birth_date = | birth_place = Black River Falls, WI | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = University of Southern California, University of Minnesota College and Design | occupation = High school history teacher | spouse = | website = }} '''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.<ref name=appoint>{{cite news|url=http://www.tigardtimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=122591596026703600|title=Wingard wins House District 26|newspaper=The Sherwood Gazette|last=Paul|first=Corey|date=November 4, 2008|accessdate=June 15, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> 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.<ref name=vs>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=103176|publisher=VoteSmart.org|accessdate=June 15, 2012|title=Matt Wingard|archive-date=February 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221135855/http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=103176|url-status=live}}</ref> He began his career as a television reporter in Yakima, Washington, for KIMA-TV.<ref name=vs/> He then served as a campaign manager and congressional aide to Congressman Doc Hastings who represents Central Washington State.<ref name=vs/> In 2001, Wingard returned to Oregon and worked as legislative administrator at the Oregon State Capitol before starting his own consulting company in 2002.<ref name=vs/> Wingard is the spokesman for the Oregon Connections Academy, an online charter school, that had an enrollment of 1,500 students as of 2007.<ref name=ap>{{cite news|last=Silverman|first=Julia|title=Battles looming over charter online education in Oregon|newspaper=The World|date=September 6, 2007|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He has been a vocal supporter of school choice.<ref>{{cite web|title=Representative Matt Wingard: On Charter School panel|url=http://oregoncatalyst.com/3086-Representative-Matt-Wingard-On-Charter-School-panel.html|work=In the News|publisher=Oregon Catalyst|accessdate=15 June 2012|date=February 23, 2010|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305065817/http://oregoncatalyst.com/3086-Representative-Matt-Wingard-On-Charter-School-panel.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
== 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.<ref name=appoint/> During the campaign, it was revealed he was convicted in 2001 for misdemeanor assault for hitting his son on the head with a screwdriver.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hogan|title=Wingard abuse case becomes campaign issue|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2008/09/democrats_make_wingard_abuse_c.html|accessdate=June 14, 2012|newspaper=Oregonian|date=September 22, 2008|archive-date=June 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617024259/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2008/09/democrats_make_wingard_abuse_c.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Wingard did community service and the conviction was eventually expunged.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/01/police_record_costs_wingard_a.html|title=Police record costs Wingard a key backer|last=Mapes|first=Jeff|date=January 18, 2008|work=The Oregonian|accessdate=2008-08-20|archive-date=2008-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080131233203/http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/01/police_record_costs_wingard_a.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/news/1219427460137960.xml&coll=6 | work=The Oregonian | title=Sign in to OregonLive.com | date=August 22, 2008 | access-date=August 31, 2009 | archive-date=June 9, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609181839/http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/news/1219427460137960.xml&coll=6 | url-status=live }}</ref> 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%).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordpdf/6873642|title=Official Results, General Election|work=Oregon Secretary of State|date=November 2, 2010|access-date=December 11, 2019|archive-date=December 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211214240/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordpdf/6873642|url-status=live}}</ref>
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 on August 4, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=House Bill 2476|url=http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/2009/HB2476/|work=2009 Session|publisher=OregonLive.com|accessdate=15 June 2012|archive-date=5 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205160608/http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/2009/HB2476/|url-status=live}}</ref> Wingard authored HB2512, which directs the Department of Transportation to issue Fallen Public Safety Officer registration plates.<ref>{{cite web|title=House Bill 2512|url=http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/HB2512/|work=2009 Session|publisher=OregonLive.com|accessdate=15 June 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|last=Flowers|first=Aricka|title=Oregon Choice Bill Expires|url=http://news.heartland.org/newspaper-article/2009/06/01/oregon-choice-bill-expires|work=heartlander|publisher=Heartland Institute|accessdate=15 June 2012|date=June 1, 2009|archive-date=23 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923144154/http://news.heartland.org/newspaper-article/2009/06/01/oregon-choice-bill-expires|url-status=live}}</ref> Wingard also co-sponsored HB3471 with Democrat Rep. Michael Dembrow (NE Portland) to provide free college tuition to Oregon foster children.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.dailybarometer.com/state-legislature-passes-hb-helping-foster-kids/article_4b399553-c303-588a-802b-2dec2d9f7046.html | work=The Daily Barometer | title=State Legislature passes HB 3471, helping foster kids | last=Clark | first=Ashley | date=June 29, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
Wingard has been a longtime supporter of school choice<ref name=ap/><ref>{{cite web|title=Rep. Wingard, Republicans Seek to Expand School Choice, Education Opportunities for Oregon's Kids|url=http://www.leg.state.or.us/press_releases/wingard032609.pdf|work=Oregon House Republicans|publisher=Oregon Legislature|accessdate=15 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222085734/http://www.leg.state.or.us/press_releases/wingard032609.pdf|archive-date=22 December 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2011/08/oregon_teachers_union_hands_ou.html| title=Oregon teachers union hands out harsh grades, even to longtime legislative allies| work=The Oregonian| last=Mapes| first=Jeff| date=August 18, 2011| access-date=August 6, 2015| archive-date=March 4, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200857/http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2011/08/oregon_teachers_union_hands_ou.html| url-status=live}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/06/wide-ranging_education_reform.html | title=Wide-ranging education reform bills begin moving in Oregon Legislature | work=The Oregonian | last=Mapes | first=Jeff | date=June 17, 2011 | access-date=August 6, 2015 | archive-date=September 24, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924143444/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/06/wide-ranging_education_reform.html | url-status=live }}</ref> After the reform bills passed, a Democratic lobbyist claimed Wingard had "outwitted his Democratic co-chair every step of the way."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17651-the_good_the_bad_and_the_awful.html | title=The Good, the Bad and the Awful: Our ranking of Portland-area lawmakers | work=Willamette Week | last=Jaquiss | first=Nigel | date=June 22, 2011 | access-date=August 6, 2015 | archive-date=September 30, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930111303/http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17651-the_good_the_bad_and_the_awful.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
Wingard is a believer in "individual responsibility, limited government, constitutional democracy, property rights, and the free market."<ref>{{cite news|last=Schoenberg|first=Bob|title=Facing the Democrats: Matt Wingard's quest for a seat at the table in Salem|url=http://www.theregalcourier.com/news/story.php?story_id=120303732592968100|accessdate=15 June 2012|newspaper=The Regal Courier|date=February 14, 2008|archive-date=19 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219020406/http://www.theregalcourier.com/news/story.php?story_id=120303732592968100|url-status=live}}</ref>
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 didn't have time to cite his source.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/hillsboroargus/2010/02/county_rep_says_speech_wasnt_p.html|work=The Oregonian|title=County rep. says speech wasn't plagiarized|date=February 21, 2010|access-date=February 22, 2010|archive-date=February 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225144045/http://blog.oregonlive.com/hillsboroargus/2010/02/county_rep_says_speech_wasnt_p.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Leadership Resignation == 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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mapes|first=Jeff|title=Matt Wingard leaves Oregon House leadership post after allegations of misconduct|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/06/matt_wingard_leaves_oregon_hou.html|accessdate=June 14, 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=June 13, 2012|archive-date=June 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616093953/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/06/matt_wingard_leaves_oregon_hou.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Then Republican House leader Kevin Cameron, told Wingard he would make a public call for his resignation if necessary.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cole|first=Michelle|title=Night in topless bar becomes embarrassment for Oregon GOP legislators|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/08/night_in_topless_bar_becomes_e.html|accessdate=16 August 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=August 9, 2012|archive-date=12 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812160422/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/08/night_in_topless_bar_becomes_e.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Wingard admitted to the ''Willamette Week'' that the two did have a sexual relationship, but denied using his position to pressure her<ref name=npr>{{cite news | url=http://nwpr.org/post/oregon-state-rep-resigns-leadership-post-amid-allegations | work=Northwest News Network | title=Oregon State Rep. Resigns Leadership Post Amid Allegations | date=June 13, 2012 | access-date=June 14, 2012 | archive-date=July 17, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717110203/http://nwpr.org/post/oregon-state-rep-resigns-leadership-post-amid-allegations | url-status=live }}</ref> 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."<ref name=victim>{{cite news|last=Mapes|first=Jeff|title=Matt Wingard says he was victim of political smears|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2012/07/matt_wingard_says_he_was_victi.html|accessdate=July 10, 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=July 10, 2012|archive-date=July 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712193159/http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2012/07/matt_wingard_says_he_was_victi.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
After Wingard abandoned his re-election campaign,<ref name=drops>{{cite news|last=Mapes|first=Jeff|title=After Matt Wingard drops reelection bid, Oregon House Republicans search for replacement|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/06/after_matt_wingard_drops_reele.html|accessdate=June 19, 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=June 19, 2012|archive-date=June 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620092212/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/06/after_matt_wingard_drops_reele.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 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."<ref name=settlement>{{cite news|last=Taft|first=Victoria|title=Accuser Recants Serious Allegations Against Oregon Legislator, Matt Wingard|url=http://www.victoriataft.com/accuser-recants-serious-allegations-against-oregon-legislator-matt-wingard/|date=June 22, 2012|access-date=July 16, 2015|archive-date=July 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722210145/http://www.victoriataft.com/accuser-recants-serious-allegations-against-oregon-legislator-matt-wingard/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Duin|first=Steve|date=2012-08-11|title=Steve Duin: Oregon Republicans at a topless bar: the moral of the Sex-Starved Seven|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/steve_duin/2012/08/steve_duin_oregon_republicans.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907013345/https://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/steve_duin/2012/08/steve_duin_oregon_republicans.html|archive-date=2020-09-07|access-date=2020-09-07|website=oregonlive|language=en|quote=(...) 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 that he would not seek re-election.}}</ref> 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."<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ellen |first=Connolly |date=2012-08-10 |title=Visit to topless bar forced married Republican lawmaker to quit |url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2012-08-10/visit-topless-bar-forced-married-republican-lawmaker-quit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907013355/https://www.pri.org/stories/2012-08-10/visit-topless-bar-forced-married-republican-lawmaker-quit |archive-date=2020-09-07 |access-date=2020-09-07 |website=The World from PRX |quote=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.}} [https://www.pri.org/stories/2012-08-10/visit-topless-bar-forced-married-republican-lawmaker-quit Alt URL]</ref>
==Personal== He has served on the Clackamas County Economic Development Commission and the Portfolio Options Committee of the Oregon Public Utility Commission.<ref name=vs/> Wingard currently works as a high school history teacher at American Leadership Academy Vistancia, a charter school in Peoria, Arizona, as of the 2025-2026 school year.{{citation needed|reason=No known source exists to verify this aside from students at this school alleging that Matt Wingard is a History Teacher there|date=November 2025}}
==Electoral history== {{Election box begin no change | title = 2008 Oregon State Representative, 26th district<ref>{{cite web | title = Official Results | November 4, 2008 | url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873598 | website = Oregon Secretary of State | access-date = October 30, 2023 | archive-date = September 10, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230910004214/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873598 | url-status = live }}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Matt Wingard | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 15,432 | percentage = 50.3}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jessica Adamson | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 13,684 | percentage = 44.6}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Marc Delphine | party = Libertarian Party (United States) | votes = 1,503 | percentage = 4.9}} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 89 | percentage = 0.3}} {{Election box total no change | votes = 30,708 | percentage = 100%}} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title = 2010 Oregon State Representative, 26th district<ref>{{cite web | title = Official Results November 2, 2010 | url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873642 | website = Oregon Secretary of State | access-date = October 30, 2023 | archive-date = August 31, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230831080329/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873642 | url-status = live }}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Matt Wingard | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 16,362 | percentage = 61.1}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Sandy Webb | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 10,382 | percentage = 38.7}} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 52 | percentage = 0.2}} {{Election box total no change | votes = 26,796 | percentage = 100%}} {{Election box end}}
== See also == * Seventy-fourth Oregon Legislative Assembly (2007–2008)
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100331185938/http://www.leg.state.or.us/wingard/ Representative Matt Wingard] - Oregon House of Representatives
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wingard, Matt}} Category:Republican Party members of the Oregon House of Representatives Category:21st-century members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly Category:Living people Category:People from Wilsonville, Oregon Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Place of birth missing (living people)