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| In the wake of a sex scandal, Wingard fell from Republican power this past summer, and in an attempt to distance herself from the controversy, Berschauer told reporters she, "wasn't currently dating him." Her strategy failed when local Republicans nominated John Davis to fill the Wingard vacancy. |
Perhaps the two most controversial figures in Oregon Republican politics, held a small meeting today in Wilsonville with family members and a handful of supporters at the Wilsonville Holiday Inn. They were there to discuss arrangements and assign table captains for Wingard's upcoming Liberi Foundation fundraiser, a night of comedy they have aptly named: A Night of a Thousand Laughs.
The morning meeting took a strange twist when Wingard announced he and Berschauer were going to make a public announcement at the fundraiser that will make them, "the most powerful political duo that Oregon has ever seen." But he left the organizers confused when he said, "everyone will have to wait until the event to hear the details of the announcement."
Wingard, educated in broadcast journalism and a former news reporter in Wash., understands the news cycle and his truncated statement has left speculation that this is merely a publicity stunt aimed to promote the Thousand Laughs event.
That was until Deborah Hansen, Berschauer's mother who was present at the event, added heightened speculation about a possible wedding announcement when she raised her wine glass and said, "I love my future son-in-law's name WINE-guard. And don't the two look so good together?" The awkward statement added an uncomfortable air and more speculation. Berschauer quickly recovered when she said, "Mother, everyone has to wait until the event."
Wingard resigned his State Representative position this past summer under pressure stemming from a sex scandal. Samantha Berrier, who was serving as a legislative aid to Wingard, alleged he used his position to pressure her into having sex with him. He agreed they had a sexual relationship, but was adamant it was consensual.
After Wingard resigned, Berschauer threw her hat in the ring asking local Republicans to elect her as his replacement. Then it came out she was possibly dating Wingard. The Oregonian printed the story and Berschauer was quoted:
"I have seen Matt in the past socially," she said. "We are not currently dating." Asked if that means they used to date, Berschauer would only repeat herself, emphasizing the word "currently."
Sadly, that statement spelled trouble for Berschauer. In one instance she lost all trust with local Republicans and John Davis sailed to an easy nomination and was later elected to the position. It was an epic miscalculation when you consider Berschauer makes her living as a political consultant.
Berschauer may not have been currently dating Wingard, but she was--and is--currently the Executive Director of the Oregon Transformation Project. In that capacity, she has given money directly to Wingard's previous campaign, and Wingard has benefited indirectly from the campaign contributions Clackamas County Commissioner John Ludlow received from the Oregon Transformation Project, when Wingard's firm Beambo Consulting was hired by Ludlow.
All that campaign cash has been supplied by Stimson Lumber CEO Andrew Miller. When asked what Miller thought of the pending announcement he said, "I'm not CURRENTLY dating Lindsay, and I'm done with political affairs."
If Miller's cash machine isn't available as the Oregon Transformation's personal ATM, then how will the Wingard-Berschauer dynamic duo have any political gusto? Presumably, we will all have to wait until the Night of a Thousand Laughs to find out.
Samantha Berrier wasn't available for a comment about the possible Wingard-Berschauer engagement.
Bill Post refused to comment stating that, "Anything he said would be misconstrued by Berschauer as, offensive, chauvinistic and intolerant."
The couple aren't Facebook-official, yet.
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