[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

This situation has concluded

It was preserved as a record on September 14; the timeline below shows how it unfolded, with sources. Get the briefing to follow the top situations still developing: three emails a week, sourced and in order.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [POLITICS]

2 clusters · 4 sources · 8 days · First seen · Last updated

Ethics investigation of Oregon Representative Greg Smith

Overview

Oregon State Representative Greg Smith, the state’s longest-serving legislator, has been fined $12,000 by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission following an investigation into his conduct at the Columbia Development Authority (CDA).

The commission found that Smith used his role as executive director of the CDA to secure a $66,000 salary increase via a federal grant application and to approve unauthorized paid vacation time. Although the CDA board later reversed the raise and ordered Smith to repay approximately $33,000, reports indicate he has not yet returned the excess funds. Smith stated he “continues to stand ready to repay” the amount upon direction from the Port of Morrow, the CDA’s fiscal agent.

Smith agreed to the $12,000 civil penalty in July without admitting to intentional violations of state law, a decision that waived his right to a formal defense hearing. The final fine amount was reportedly negotiated down from a higher initial figure because there was insufficient evidence to pursue additional alleged violations.

Entities

Greg Smith · Columbia Development Authority · Oregon Government Ethics Commission · Port of Morrow · Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Timeline

  1. about 1 month ago

    [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Oregon Rep. Greg Smith fined $12,000 for ethics violations

    Oregon’s longest-serving State Representative Greg Smith has been fined $12,000 for using his role at a public development authority to secure a salary raise and extra paid vacation.

  2. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Oregon Rep. Greg Smith Pays $12,000 Ethics Fine Over Grant Pay Raise

    Oregon Rep. Greg Smith will pay a $12,000 ethics fine after the commission found he used a federal grant to give himself a $66,000 raise and kept $33,000 of excess pay.

Sources

eastoregonian.com · lynnwoodtimes.com · ncwlife.com · philomathnews.com