Weren’t Republicans supposed to be the party of “family values?”
News today in The Oregonian and on Blue Oregon about newly appointed State Representative Matt Wingard (R-Willsonville) is distressing.
It turns out that Rep. Wingard, now running for election, pleaded guilty to beating his child with a screwdriver in 2002. His ex-wife says it was part of a pattern of abuse. From The Oregonian:
The additional allegations of abuse are in a sworn affidavit that Pico, the boy's mother, submitted to a Clackamas County judge in August 2004. It outlined what she called "a mentally and sometimes physically abusive relationship" that Wingard had with their son.
She said the boy told her that Wingard struck him three times with the screwdriver during a weekend visit in 2001.
In addition, she wrote, Wingard "has a lengthy history of emotionally abusing our son, neglecting his needs, inappropriate punishments and making questionable parenting decisions" that included:
When the boy refused to eat his food, holding him down "and force-feeding him to the point of vomiting."
He locked the boy, at age 4 or 5, "in a dark stairwell and told him that he was going to get over his fear of the dark that night," adding that he wouldn't be let out until he was no longer afraid.
At times when the boy cried, Wingard "would attempt to stop the crying by holding him very tightly to the point of bruising his chest."
At other times, the boy told of Wingard "slapping him during play, leaving fingerprint marks and other bruises."
Court records include notes from the boy's medical files that also reference the abuse allegations.
Wingard denies the allegations – blaming them on his ex-wife – but the record is pretty clear. Voters could do us all a favor by electing Jessica Adamson to replace Wingard. Clearly, Winggard doesn’t have the ethical or moral skills to serve in public office.
