08/20/2008

Associated Press

A joint board of Clackamas and Washington county commissioners appointed Matt Wingard to fill the vacant seat for House District 26.

Wingard's appointment lasts through the end of the year. He won the Republican primary in May and will be on the November ballot.

He fills the spot that opened when Rep. Jerry Krummel resigned to take a job in Nevada.

Washington County Commissioners Tom Brian, Andy Duyck and Roy Rogers voted for Wingard on Tuesday, calling him the most qualified candidate. So did Clackamas Commissioner Bill Kennemer.

Clackamas County commissioners Lynn Peterson and Martha Schrader voted against Wingard, with Peterson saying a candidate who isn't campaigning in the fall would be best for the interim.

Washington County Commissioner Dick Schouten abstained from the vote. Commissioner Desari Strader also abstained, criticizing Wingard for a 2002 misdemeanor conviction for striking his son.

Party officials considered replacing Wingard after he disclosed the assault about six months ago. By officials stuck with him after he won the primary and maintained support of community members.

"Everyone in the district stayed with me. Everyone told me to keep running," Wingard told The Oregonian. "So I did."

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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com