I dunno about the dealer/user punishment thing. But I do know that Meth is bad news...here's the story of one life ruined:
Private troubles, public downfall
Kelley Wirth A death, a divorce and finally a drug charge push a once-promising lawmaker to resign
Sunday, October 16, 2005
JEFF MAPES and JANIE HAR
Kelley Wirth entered the Oregon Legislature in 2001 as an articulate young woman with detailed knowledge of local planning issues and a passion for children and families.
Colleagues, however, watched her self-destruct over the next four years as she struggled with the painful death of her father, a bitter divorce and the difficulties of being the single parent of two young girls.
In the 2005 session, Wirth routinely missed committee sessions and floor votes and, many observers say, became more disjointed in her public speeches and unable to focus. In recent weeks, her problems, once inside-the-Legislature gossip, became bizarre headline news.
Last month, she was seriously injured when she was hit by a car driven by a woman who claimed that Wirth was sexually involved with her boyfriend, a janitor at the Capitol. And on Thursday, Wirth was cited on a charge of possession of methamphetamine that police said they discovered as a result of the collision.
Wirth has denied an amorous relationship with the janitor and has not commented on the drug accusation. On Friday she announced her resignation, effective Nov. 15, citing her "current legal and health problems." She has declined to comment further, despite repeated attempts to contact her.
"This job takes a terrible toll on your personal life no matter what your circumstances are, and she had a lot going on," said Rep. Patti Smith, R-Corbett, who has served with Wirth on two committees, "and at times she just seemed overwhelmed."
Wirth graduated from Corvallis High School and received a political science degree from Oregon State University. She earned a master's degree in systems management from the University of Southern California. In 1990, she married Tom Wirth in Corvallis. They had two daughters, now 8 and 10.
Corvallis Mayor Helen Berg said Wirth served on a number of city boards, including the Corvallis Planning Commission, as well as the League of Women Voters. She appeared a natural candidate when the House seat in her district came open in 2001.
That first legislative session, Smith said Wirth seemed like a smart person who asked a lot of questions -- perhaps too many, the Corbett lawmaker joked -- and had a terrific knowledge of her district. Rep. Mary Nolan, D-Portland, said Wirth was passionate about children's issues and women's rights.
That commitment to women and children grew when her marriage fell apart in 2002. Wirth often noted she was the only single mom with young children in the 90-member Legislature. Currently, Wirth and her children live with her mother.
Freshman Rep. Deborah Boone, D-Cannon Beach, said Wirth was one of the harder members to get to know.
"I actively tried to be a friend of hers at times, but it was hard, and she was not talking. . . . I just got the sense she was always very busy and maybe disorganized or something."
Sometimes her floor speeches were disjointed, Boone said, and "I got the sense at times she didn't know what to say."
But Jack Graham, a recent University of Oregon graduate who interned for Wirth this year, said that Wirth went out of her way to make sure he had a good internship and that she solicited his opinion on issues.
The lawmaker, he said, was worried about being spied on by others.
"She felt as though she was always under watch," Graham said. "I didn't see anything strange, but she told me to watch out for strange stuff."
A lonely vote on meth bill
Wirth was the only legislator to vote against a bill toughening penalties for meth-related crimes, including a provision allowing judges to suspend child visitation rights for parents using meth.
Rep. Greg Macpherson, D-Lake Oswego, a chief sponsor of the bill, said Wirth told him she was worried that provisions in the bill could hurt children by cutting off food stamps to some parents convicted of meth-related crimes.
"She's an outspoken legislator in the positions she stakes out in defense of disadvantaged people," Macpherson said.
Rob Bovett of the Oregon Narcotics Enforcement Administration said he gave up trying to lobby Wirth on legislation aimed at cracking down on meth.
"I couldn't get where she was coming from," he said. "It seemed like she was trying to find issues where there weren't any."
Friends and legislators said they hope Wirth will now be able to concentrate on rebuilding her life.
"I just want these allegations not to cloud the good work she has done," said Marti Barlow, a Wirth friend and spokeswoman. "We sent her back two times because we had that faith in her, and we need her constituents to stand behind her. We're all human beings . . . and it's time for us to stand behind her."
Reporter Michelle Cole and researcher Margie Gultry contributed to this report. Jeff Mapes: 503-221-8209;
jeffmapes@news.oregonian.com Janie Har: 503-221-8213;
janiehar@news.oregonian.com
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