Smith agrees to pay fine, loses a subcommittee co-chairmanship
By Terry Murry on Monday, August 17th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
SALEM – Oregon State Rep. Greg Smith (R-Heppner) is settling charges of two violations being heard by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) it was announced late last week. Also, on Friday House Speaker Julie Fahey replaced Smith as co-chair of the Interim Joint Ways and Means General Government Subcommittee, but appointed him to continue serving on that panel.
OGEC says part of the agreement is that Smith has released, settled, and compromised any and all claims against Smith without the lawmaker having to admit any intentional violations. The commission’s investigation alleged that Smith applied for a federal grant that included a pay raise for him when no such pay raise had been approved by the Columbia Development Authority (CDA).
The second violation alleged that Smith’s vacation time cards for CDA “appeared to exceed anything authorized under either the CDA’s policies or the Port of Morrow’s policies. Smith signed and approved the time cards that cost the CDA more than $50,000 over three years.
Smith is the longest serving member of the Oregon House of Representatives. He also is vice co-chairman of the Joint Ways and Means Committee and, until Friday, was co-chair of Ways and Means subcommittee on general government. House Speaker Julie Fahey replaced him in that position, but retained him as a member of the subcommittee.
That subcommittee is empowered to investigate and oversee the management and conduct of state institutions, departments, officers, and activities that receive state appropriations, according to Oregon laws.
The Columbia Development Authority is a publicly funded organization to develop the site of the former Umatilla Chemical Weapons Depot. Oregon lawmakers’ positions are part time. Smith is a full time economic development director who was serving as the director of CDA. He has since resigned.
File photo of Rep. Greg Smith
