On paper, I don’t make a very good candidate for public office. As a Republican single man who dates, I am especially vulnerable to attacks about my personal life. I’m also a bit too libertarian for some social conservatives within my party. In addition, an 18-year contentious custody and visitation battle over my son made for juicy headlines when I ran for office the first time in 2008. In short, I’m an easy political target.

So why did I run in the first place? People who know me well know that I’m passionate about reforming the public education system and giving parents, especially low-income parents, more choices for their children. I believe strongly that no parent should ever feel trapped in a school they believe is failing to serve their child’s needs. That’s why I’ve helped to start new, innovative public schools that have given hope to thousands of Oregon students and their families. I’m very proud of that work.

Because I could not find anyone in the Legislature who would champion education reform, I made the decision to run in 2008. I knew full well that decision would come with a nasty campaign run against me focusing entirely on my private life and family. However, the ferocity of that negative campaign surprised even me. A half million dollars was spent filling the airwaves and mailboxes with vile personal smears.

At one point, my 92-year old grandmother called me crying because an attack ad had just run before one of her favorite TV shows. That was a pretty low moment for me. In the end, voters saw through the despicable tactics but memories of that campaign remain very strong for me and my family—most of whom are not very political.

In late May of this year, I became aware that a former girlfriend, and $800 a month staffer in my legislative office in 2010, had gone to two different law enforcement agencies making wild charges about our past relationship. Neither agency contacted me and both closed their cases without interviewing a single witness.

Let me be very clear that my former staffer did not tell the truth, a fact that she has willingly admitted. However, after nearly two years, I no longer have much of the evidence that would clearly prove the four-month relationship was consensual.

Sadly, it also became apparent to me that a small group of socially conservative and well-connected Republicans, including one local party official, had been deeply involved in encouraging that staffer to make claims against me and had also spent the last two years digging around in my private life looking for more mud to sling.

Needless to say, I was shocked and disappointed. I reassessed the pros and cons of running for office again and the impact that would have on my family and the voters. I had no doubt that the voters would, once again, see through the attack ads. In addition, every member of my inner circle wanted me to stay and fight. However, my family matters most and, looking into their faces, I could see that another bruising smear campaign would just be too painful for them. It was not a very difficult decision to make. Life is bigger and family more important than partisan politics.

I will forever believe that the overwhelming majority of Oregonians despise the “dirt digging” and “mud-slinging” that accompanies many campaigns. In this upcoming election, I would strongly urge both Republicans and Democrats to focus on the many critical issues that matter to Oregonians as opposed to sponsoring character assassinations to discredit their opposition. This “strategy” not only tarnishes the image of all involved in politics; it is also a barrier to attracting smart and talented candidates to seek elected office.

Am I perfect? No. Not even close. Have I made decisions that I now wish I hadn’t? Yes. That doesn’t make me a poor father, friend, legislator or a target for political detractors; it makes me a human being.

I am not a victim. I stepped willingly into the arena. I know how hard campaigns can be and how low some people will stoop to get their way. I am very proud of the education reforms we were able to accomplish in a very short period of time. Many of those reforms, including additional choices for parents, are just beginning to take effect. For that, and the many hundreds of friends I made along the journey, I will be eternally grateful.

Matt Wingard is a Wilsonville Republican representing Oregon House District 26.