Matt Wingard
Encyclopedia
Matt Wingard is an American
politician in the state of Oregon
. He won the Republican
nomination to represent District 26 in the Oregon House of Representatives
in May 2008.
at the University of Southern California
. He began his career as a television reporter in Yakima, Washington
, for KIMA-TV. He then served as a campaign manager and congressional aide to Congressman Doc Hastings
who represents Central Washington State. In 2001, Wingard returned to Oregon and worked as legislative administrator at the Oregon State Capitol
before starting his own consulting company in 2002. Wingard is the spokesman for the Oregon Connections Academy, an online charter school
, that had an enrollment of 1,500 students as of 2007. He has been a vocal supporter of school choice.
resigned the office and Wingard was appointed to fill the remaining time of the unexpired term. He then won the November general election with 50% of the vote, defeating Democrat
Jessica Adamson (45%) and Libertarian
Marc Delphine (5%). That election race was one of the top 5 closest in the state.
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. Wingard authored HB2512 which directs Department of Transportation to issue Fallen Public Safety Officer registration plates. 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. Wingard has been a longtime supporter of school choice. Wingard is a believer in “individual responsibility, limited government, constitutional democracy, property rights and the free market.”
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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician in the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He won the Republican
Oregon Republican Party
The Oregon Republican Party is the state affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Oregon, headquartered in Lake Oswego. The first state party convention was held in Salem on April 21, 1859, and its first nominee for Congress, Portland attorney David Logan...
nomination to represent District 26 in the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
in May 2008.
Early life
Wingard received a BA in Broadcast JournalismBroadcast journalism
Broadcast journalism is the field of news and journals which are "broadcast", that is, published by electrical methods, instead of the older methods, such as printed newspapers and posters. Broadcast methods include radio , television , and, especially recently, the Internet generally...
at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. He began his career as a television reporter in Yakima, Washington
Yakima, Washington
Yakima is an American city southeast of Mount Rainier National Park and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the eighth largest city by population in the state itself. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 91,196 and a metropolitan population of...
, for KIMA-TV. He then served as a campaign manager and congressional aide to Congressman Doc Hastings
Doc Hastings
Richard Norman "Doc" Hastings is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1995. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes most of the central part of the state, including Yakima, Wenatchee, and the Tri-Cities....
who represents Central Washington State. In 2001, Wingard returned to Oregon and worked as legislative administrator at the Oregon State Capitol
Oregon State Capitol
The Oregon State Capitol is the building housing the state legislature and the offices of the governor, secretary of state, and treasurer of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located in the state capital, Salem. The current building, constructed from 1936 to 1938, and expanded in 1977, is the third...
before starting his own consulting company in 2002. Wingard is the spokesman for the Oregon Connections Academy, an online charter school
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
, that had an enrollment of 1,500 students as of 2007. He has been a vocal supporter of school choice.
Political career
In September 2009, Wingard announced his intentions to run for House District 26. During the primary, it was revealed he was convicted in 2001 for misdemeanor assault of his son. Wingard said he did community service and the conviction was eventually expunged. On August 1, 2008, incumbent Jerry KrummelJerry Krummel
Gerald A. Krummel is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. A native of Washington, he served as mayor of Wilsonville, Oregon in the 1990s. An educator and athletic trainer, he is a former member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing Wilsonville and parts of...
resigned the office and Wingard was appointed to fill the remaining time of the unexpired term. He then won the November general election with 50% of the vote, defeating Democrat
Democratic Party of Oregon
The Democratic Party of Oregon, based in Portland, is the official Oregon affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. It is recognized by the state of Oregon as a major political party, along with the Oregon Republican Party...
Jessica Adamson (45%) and Libertarian
Libertarian Party of Oregon
The Libertarian Party of Oregon is a political party representing the national Libertarian Party in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is organized as a minor party for state election law, and recognized by the Oregon as a state-wide nominating party....
Marc Delphine (5%). That election race was one of the top 5 closest in the state.
During the Seventy-fifth Oregon Legislative Assembly
Seventy-fifth Oregon Legislative Assembly
The seventy-fifth Oregon Legislative Assembly convened beginning on , for its biennial regular session. All of the 60 seats in the House of Representatives and half of the 30 seats in the State Senate were up for election in 2008; the general election for those seats took place on .Democrats took...
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. Wingard authored HB2512 which directs Department of Transportation to issue Fallen Public Safety Officer registration plates. 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. Wingard has been a longtime supporter of school choice. Wingard is a believer in “individual responsibility, limited government, constitutional democracy, property rights and the free market.”
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.
Personal
Matt publishes The Wingard Report, an online conservative newsletter and also is a frequent contributor to The Oregon Catalyst, an online conservative blog. He has served on the Clackamas County Economic Development Commission and the Portfolio Options Committee of the Oregon Public Utility Commission.External links
- Representative Matt Wingard - Oregon House of Representatives