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Oregon’s longest serving lawmaker, Rep. Greg Smith (R-Heppner), faces an expanded ethics probe over side jobs and a grant to substantially raise his salary.
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission earlier this week voted unanimously to extend the investigation by 30 days, until January 8, 2026.
The extension will give investigator Casey Fenstermaker time to gather additional information.
Investigator Fenstermaker said at Tuesday’s meeting that she had insufficient evidence to prove Smith’s guilt, and needed additional time to establish if he had violated state law by failing to disclose a conflict of interest when negotiating with a federal office for a salary hike, and if he abused his position to secure a substantial pay rise.
The investigation began in June into violations of state laws by Smith, about using a public position for financial gain and conflicts of interest.
A state legislator since 2000, Smith supplemented his income with consulting contracts and other side gigs in eastern Oregon.
He is now under investigation while working as an executive director of the Columbia Development Authority, involved with the redevelopment of a former military base.
The agency, which had been granted federal funding of $800,000, had the grant revoked in February, following an investigation into Smith’s salary and working hours.
The Columbia Development Authority is a federal agency consisting of members from Umatilla County, Morrow County, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
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