Kelley Wirth

Kelley Wirth is a former member of the Oregon House of Representatives, where she represented Corvallis, Oregon. Wirth, a Democrat, was one of two Oregon lawmakers to resign during the 73rd Oregon Legislative Assembly due to a personal scandal, with the other being Dan Doyle (R–Salem). She was indicted of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, and resigned from the legislature effective November 15, 2005.^[1] Wayne Krieger (R-Gold Beach) introduced a bill during the following session to institute mandatory drug testing for Oregon lawmakers, but stated the bill had nothing to do with Wirth.^[2]

The drug charges came after Wirth was struck by a car, by a woman who claimed Wirth was having an affair with her boyfriend. After the incident, police searched Wirth's car, and found what they called a "small amount" of methamphetamine. The driver, Lisa Temple, was charged with attempted murder.^[3]

In her last months in the legislature, Wirth gave her legislative aides, including her mother, pay raises that drew criticism from Minority Leader Jeff Merkley; she rescinded the raises, but became the subject of an ethics probe in the ensuing months.^[4]

Wirth, who was first elected to the House in 2000, went through a divorce in 2003. She has two daughters.^[5]

References

1. Cain, Brad (November 4, 2005). "Lawmaker denies meth charge". Eugene Register-Guard (link via Google News). Associated Press.
2. Steves, David (January 12, 2007). "Measure seeks drug testing of officials". The Register-Guard.
3. "Wirth wins round in court as restraining order is denied". KATU.com (Associated Press). December 28, 2005.
4. Cain, Brad (February 25, 2006). "Former Oregon legislator is target of probe". The Seattle Times (The Associated Press).
5. "Kelley Wirth rescinds raises after pressure builds". KATU.com (Associated Press). November 17, 2005.