Article

The Columbia Development Authority board in eastern Oregon is contemplating rehiring state Rep. Greg Smith as executive director, offering a proposed salary of $294,000 annually through 2028. This consideration follows a ruling from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission that found Smith violated state laws by securing a $66,000 pay raise without board approval.

Smith has served as executive director since 2014, and the board's decision is expected before the new year. The proposed salary is less than the $430,000 Smith previously suggested, which included compensation for his wife.

Smith has not repaid over $33,000 owed to the board after an unauthorized pay increase was discovered. The federal defense office has ceased funding the authority due to these issues, which previously provided approximately $800,000 annually. Smith has faced multiple ethics investigations this year, and public concern regarding his employment and compensation continues to grow.