Posted on 10/15/2005 7:47:37 AM PDT by new yorker 77
Rep. Wirth booked for meth case
Corvallis legislator expected to resign
In this photo provided by the Salem Police Department, Democratic State Rep. Kelley Wirth, 40, is seen Thursday, Oct. 13, 2005. Wirth was cited Thursday for possession of a controlled substance after police found what they said was methamphetamine in her car, the Statesman Journal reported. (AP Photo/Salem Police)
SALEM — State Rep. Kelley Wirth was booked on suspicion of methamphetamine possession after turning herself in to Salem Police Thursday morning, and today seems likely to resign from the Legislature.
The Corvallis Democrat was cited, and had fingerprints and a booking photograph taken. She was scheduled to appear on the drug charge on Nov. 3 in Marion County Circuit Court.
The drug case stemmed from the police investigation of an alleged murder attempt against Wirth outside the State Capitol on Sept. 6, according to Sgt. Mike Scanlon of the Salem Police Department.
On that day, Wirth was seriously injured after being hit by a car, which was allegedly driven by a jealous woman who said her boyfriend, a janitor at the Capitol, was having an affair with the District 16 representative.
“It wasn’t a drug investigation,” Scanlon said. “We were conducting a thorough investigation of an assault, and the purported relationship with the other gentleman.”
A small amount of a white powder/crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine was found in Wirth’s vehicle when it was searched Sept. 12, Scanlon said. Wirth was trying to get into her vehicle when she was hit by the car on Sept. 6.
House Democratic leaders Thursday called on Wirth to resign.
“We believe that is in the best interests of her, her family and her constituents,” said Rep. Diane Rosenbaum of Portland, the House’s second-ranking Democrat.
By the end of the day, it appeared she had agreed and even received help in drafting a letter of resignation.
“The circumstances of my personal life make my continued service impossible,” she was quoted as saying in a statement drafted by the House Democratic office and obtained by the Oregonian newspaper, which published it online. Lonn Hoklin, communications director for the Democrats, later said he wrote the letter to be “helpful” to Wirth and give her guidance in crafting one of her own.
“Health issues and other concerns prevent me from spending the necessary amount of time and effort on my legislative duties,” the statement continued. “Because I believe that the people of House District 16 deserve a vigorous and energetic representative to work for them in the Oregon House, I must not only resign my office, but also withdraw my candidacy for re-election.”
Benton County commissioners would appoint a successor from a list of three to five candidates chosen by Democratic precinct representatives. The selection must be completed within 30 days of an official resignation, or else the governor can appoint a replacement, said Pat Malone, vice president of the Benton County Democrats.
Though Wirth’s resignation wasn’t official, “We’re trying to get ready (to create a list) because something certainly could happen,” Malone said.
A successor would face running for the election to the seat next year.
Sara Gelser will get strong consideration to make the list of successors, Malone said.
Gelser, who was narrowly defeated by Wirth in the Democratic primary in 2004, already has filed to seek the seat in next year’s election. Wirth also had filed, seeking a fourth term. She was first elected in 2000.
Wirth made an appointment to show up at the Salem police station Thursday, and arrived at 10:25 a.m. with her attorney, Jane Aiken of Salem. No statement was made by Wirth or her attorney, Sgt. Scanlon said.
Aiken’s office referred calls to attorney Janet Hoffman of Portland. Hoffman, representing Wirth, was out of the office Thursday.
Wirth’s cell phone mailbox was full, she did not return a call to her pager, and no one answered the door during a visit to her residence.
The substance in Wirth’s car has not been confirmed as methamphetamine. Scanlon expected a result back from the state crime lab in four to eight weeks and noted how many other samples of the drug the lab gets submitted for testing.
Scanlon described the substance as a “personal use amount” and said there won’t be further investigation on the legislator.
“It’s a possession charge. There’s not believed to be anything more than that,” he added.
Possession of methamphetamine is a class C felony.
Wirth was the only member of the House to cast a negative vote against a bill to toughen punishments for methamphetamine-related crimes in the recently concluded legislative session.
The 40-year-old Wirth was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2000. District 16 includes Corvallis and Philomath.
The woman who allegedly rammed Wirth with her car, Lisa Temple, 22, of Salem, has been charged with attempted murder, but she has yet to enter a plea.
An hour before the assault at the Capitol, police were called to Temple’s home in Salem, after she called police to report that Wirth was bothering her.
Wirth has denied a romantic involvement with the man in question, Fernando Mendez.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Kyle Odegard covers Philomath and rural Benton County. He can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523.
It could also be her bottom.
Rightly so. Meth is not alcohol.
Or propel her to the upper echelon of the Democratic Party.
Ahhh yes....Another Lampost of Massachusrres
Democrat integrity and honor...No doubt, the
Dims with rush to her defense, and lift her
up on their shoulders, as yet another innocent
victim of heartless Republican persecution, of
her "weaknesses", and disregarding all the
"good" she has done....HAH! Dims are completely
devoid of any real morals or scruples.
Can anyone spell Berry, Clinton, Kennedy, or Kerry?
Certainly possible. I hope so, for her sake.
EXCELLENT. He's been mopping up on the 40 year old hag'rat croud. I understand Lysol aftershave is all the rage.
I was expecting that to be her excuse. Dems usually scream "set up".
So is this why our elected officials don't close the borders? They will miss their next FIX?
Nice mug shot
Well........so much for the culture of corruption.
This should propel Wirth to frontrunner status for democRAT nominee for President.
She sounds like the poster-child for the new Democratic Party ... I wonder why she is resigning ... My heart goes out to her. Sometimes you have to hit rock-bottom before you see the light, and it sounds like she's half-way there.
ROTFLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Custodial maintenance engineer.
This will not become major news.
Lets see if liberals and the liberal media attack her the same way that they attacked Rush (even though Rush's drug were prescriptions drugs).
It's all Bush's fault!!
In many professions if you aren't acting "right" your employer can ask for a drug screen. These people elected , work for us and I'm asking for a drug screen on all of them.
Wonder if the janitor was her hook up?
I guess you have to be no drugs to be a Democrat.
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