Scott Wiggam

Scott Wiggam is the state representative for the 1st District of the Ohio House of Representatives. He is a Republican. The district consists of Wayne County.

Scott Wiggam
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 1st district
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded byRon Amstutz
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Katie Wiggam
ResidenceWooster, Ohio, US
Alma materAsbury University
University of Akron
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceAir Force

Life and career

Wiggam is a graduate of Asbury University with a bachelors and of the University of Akron with a masters in political science. He formerly was a small business owner, operating a restaurant. A veteran of the United States Air Force, Wiggam did a four-year active duty tour where he was honored with an Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service.[1]

Wiggam formerly served three terms as a county commissioner for Wayne County. He is married with three children and resides in Wooster, Ohio.

Ohio House of Representatives

State Representative Ron Amstutz, who was serving as Speaker pro Tempore, had served in both the Ohio House and Ohio Senate for over thirty years before being term-limited in 2016. As a result, Wiggam was one of two Republicans to seek the nomination to replace him.[2] With the district being made up of Wayne County, which Wiggam had represented as a commissioner for three terms, he defeated opponent David C. Kiefer by a 66% to 34% margin.[3]

In the general election, he defeated independent Stephen R. Spoonamore with 67% of the vote.[4] He was sworn into office on January 3, 2017.

Ohio Nuclear Bribery Scandal

Scott Wiggam has been associated with Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives Larry Householder since he was elected to the House of Representatives in 2016. Wiggam received $3,000 from the FirstEnergy PAC (listed as Company A in the complaint) in 2019 and another $4,000 in 2020[5]. Wiggam also received $500 from Juan Cespedes, who was arrested along with Householder. Wiggam is a member of both the Public Utility & Energy & Natural Resource committees and voted to have Householder as Speaker of the House. Despite formal opposition from the Orrville Utilities Board[6], which represents a municipal-owned power plant in his district, Wiggam still voted in support of HB6.

Sexist and Racist Behavior Complaint

In January 2019, Wiggam's former legislative aide Marissa Reyes wrote a two-page letter to her Ohio General Assembly Representative Kristin Boggs accusing certain GOP lawmakers and staff of racist and sexist comments.[7] In the letter, also posted to her Twitter account, Reyes claims that during her time in Wiggam's office, "I had to endure months of unacceptable treatment and was forced to listen to the Representative’s opinions that painted myself, my family and other Hispanics in a demeaning light. When I respectfully disagreed with the Representative about an issue, I was told that ‘women do not think logically, they think with their hearts not with their brains.’" She also claims that Wiggam referred to her as "the good kind of Mexican".[8]

At least some of the complaints were submitted to the House Administrative Office in Sept 2018. In January 2019, the House Administrative Office released its findings, which found no legal wrongdoing, but resulted in a warning being issued to another legislative aide accused of discriminatory behavior in the complaint.[9]

References
  1. "Ten things about the new Ohio General Assembly". Retrieved 2017-01-26.
  2. "2016 candidates filing early in Wayne County". Retrieved 2017-01-26.
  3. "Our Campaigns - Race Detail Page". Retrieved 2017-01-26.
  4. "Our Campaigns - Race Detail Page". Retrieved 2017-01-26.
  5. "Scott Wiggam". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  6. Writer, Emily Morgan Staff. "Orrville Utilities board opposes House Bill 6". The Daily Record. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  7. Balmert, Jessie (2019-01-07). "Aide details racist, sexist behavior from Ohio GOP lawmakers". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
  8. https://twitter.com/Marissavreyes/status/1081997803914780673
  9. Hancock, Laura (2019-01-31). "Ohio House aide who said she was harassed, discriminated against hopes for improved culture". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
Political offices
Preceded by
Ron Amstutz		 Ohio House of Representatives, 1st District
2017–present		 Incumbent
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