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{{Short description|American firefighter and politician from Washington}} |
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{{about|the politician from Washington state|the screenwriter|Richard Curtis (screenwriter)}} |
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{{Infobox officeholder |
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|name = Richard Curtis |
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|image = |
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|state_house = Washington |
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|district = [[Washington's 18th legislative district|18th]] |
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|term_start = {{start date|2005|01|10}} |
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|term_end = {{start date|2007|10|31}} |
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|predecessor = Tom Mielke |
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|successor = [[Jaime Herrera Beutler]] |
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|office1 = [[La Center, Washington|La Center]] [[City Council]], Position No. 1 |
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|term_start1 = {{start date|2002|01|01}} |
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|term_end1 = {{start date|2005|02|09}} |
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|predecessor1 = Arvilla Bowen |
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|successor1 = Bill Birdwell Jr. |
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|birth_name = Richard L. Curtis |
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|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|03|08}} |
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|birth_place = [[New Mexico]], U.S. |
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|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] |
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|spouse = Deborah |
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|children = 2 |
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|residence = [[La Center, Washington]] |
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|alma_mater = [[Clark College (Washington)|Clark College]]<br>[[Portland Community College]]<br>[[Portland State University]]<br>[[University of Arizona]]<br>[[Western Oregon University]] |
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|profession = [[Fire captain]]<br>[[Paramedic]]<br>[[Small business owner]] |
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|allegiance = {{flag|United States}} |
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|branch = [[File:Seal of the US Air Force.svg|25px]] [[United States Air Force]] |
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}} |
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'''Richard Curtis''' |
'''Richard L. Curtis''' (born March 8, 1959) is an American firefighter and politician from [[La Center, Washington]]. He served as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the [[Washington State House of Representatives]] from Washington's 18th legislative district in Position 1 from 2005 to 2007. The district is located in rural [[Clark County, Washington|Clark]] and [[Cowlitz County, Washington|Cowlitz]] counties. |
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== Election and voting record == |
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Curtis was elected to the La Center City Council. |
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He was elected to the State House of Representatives on November 2, 2004, succeeding Republican [[Tom Mielke]]. Curtis faced no primary opposition, and won the general election with 56.5 percent of the vote in a race against [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] candidate Pam Brokaw. He took office in January 2005 and was re-elected in 2006, winning with 59.1 percent of the vote against his Democratic opponent Jonathan Fant. |
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On [[October 30]], [[2007]] the [[The Spokesman-Review|Spokane ''Spokesman-Review'']] reported that Curtis and a man named Cody Castagna - who previously had posed for [[gay pornography]] - met at an [[adult bookstore]], and that they later had annal sex in a local hotel room.<ref name="Spokesman-Review">{{cite news |
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| last = Morlin |
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| first = Bill |
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| coauthors= Nick Eaton |
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| title = Curtis allegedly had encounter at bookstore |
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| work = [[The Spokesman-Review]] |
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| language = English |
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| date = October 31st, 2007 |
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| url =http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=12164 |
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| accessdate =2007-10-31 }}</ref> Curtis was also alleged to have been seen previously and on that occasion [[crossdressing|clad in women's clothing]], wearing them underneath his own.<ref name="Spokesman-Review"/> After the encounter, Castagna - according to the statement from Curtis - attempted to [[blackmail]] $1,000 from Curtis so prevent revealing his "gay lifestyle" to his family, and Curtis brought [[extortion]] charges against Castagna.<ref name="Spokesman-Review"/> Further investigation by the [[Spokane Police Department]] revealed the details of the incident. Contradictorily, Castagna has denied all accusations of the extortion (which is a Class B [[felony]]) and a statement by his lawyer further claimed, "This is an extremely low-level situation that's being blown out of proportion by somebody who is trying to save themselves."<ref name="Columbian"/> and that, "this guy (Castagna) didn't do anything wrong - at that level, anyway,"<ref name="Columbian">{{cite news| last = Mize | first = Jeffery |
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| title = Curtis admitted tryst | work = [[The Columbian]] |
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| language = English | date = October 31st, 2007 | url =http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/10/10312007_Report-Curtis-admitted-tryst.cfm | accessdate =2007-10-31 }}</ref> Curtis first denied having had sex with the man, contradicting his own statements to police.<ref>{{cite news |
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| last = Strupp |
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| first = Joe |
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| title = State Legislator Gave Paper False Account Of Sex Incident |
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| work = [[Editor and Publisher]] |
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| language = English |
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| date = October 31st, 2007 |
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| url =http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003665722 |
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| accessdate =2007-10-31 }}</ref> He later resigned on [[October 31]] [[2007]].<ref name="AP">{{cite news |
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| last = La Corte |
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| first = Rachel |
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| title = GOP State Rep Resigns Amid Sex Scandal |
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| work = [[Associated Press]] |
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| language = English |
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| date = October 31st, 2007 |
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| url =http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hi5eZOrtHs2NAhldX5tp4so8EROgD8SKHU800 |
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| ⚫ | | |
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| title = Republicans move to limit damage from Rep. Curtis' sex scandal |
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| work = [[The Olympian]] |
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| language = English |
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| date = October 31st, 2007 |
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| url =http://www.theolympian.com/campaigntrail/story/258706.html |
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| accessdate =2007-10-31 }}</ref></blockquote> The Republican leadership in the State has now moved to attempt to control the damage of Curtis' resignation, issuing statements of their own.<ref name="Olympian"/> |
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| ⚫ | Curtis, who is married with two daughters, built up a socially conservative voting record while in office. In 2006, he opposed a [[gay rights]] bill that banned [[discrimination]] on the basis of sexual orientation. In spring 2007, he voted against [[domestic partnership]]s for gay and lesbian couples.<ref name="AP"/> |
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<div class="references-small"><references /></div> |
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== Resignation == |
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{{Washington-politician-stub}} |
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On October 30, 2007, the ''[[The Spokesman-Review|Spokesman-Review]]'' newspaper for the city of [[Spokane, Washington|Spokane]] released the results of an investigation that established that Curtis had met another man, Cody Castagna, in an [[adult bookstore]], with whom he later had sex in a local hotel room.<ref name="Spokesman-Review">{{cite news |last=Morlin |first=Bill |author2=Nick Eaton |title=Curtis allegedly had encounter at bookstore |url=http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=12164 |work=[[The Spokesman-Review]] |date=2007-10-31 |accessdate=2007-10-31}}</ref> Curtis was also alleged to have been seen previously and on that occasion [[Crossdressing|clad in women's clothing]], wearing them underneath his own.<ref name="Spokesman-Review"/> |
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According to a police statement from Curtis, Castagna attempted to extort $1,000 from him after the encounter in return for not revealing his "gay lifestyle" to his family.<ref name="Spokesman-Review"/> Based on this statement, Curtis brought formal [[extortion]] charges against Castagna.<ref name="Spokesman-Review"/> Castagna has denied all accusations of the extortion, which is a Class B [[felony]]. A statement by his lawyer asserted, "This is an extremely low-level situation that's being blown out of proportion by somebody who is trying to save themselves."<ref name="Columbian">{{cite news |last=Mize |first=Jeffery |title=Curtis admitted tryst |work=[[The Columbian]] |date=2007-10-31 |accessdate=2007-10-31 |url=http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/10/10312007_Report-Curtis-admitted-tryst.cfm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102025440/http://columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/10/10312007_Report-Curtis-admitted-tryst.cfm |archivedate=2007-11-02}}</ref> The lawyer stated further that "this guy (Castagna) didn't do anything wrong – at that level, anyway."<ref name="Columbian"/> Curtis at first denied having had sex with the man, contradicting his own statements to police.<ref>{{cite news |last=Strupp |first=Joe |title=State Legislator Gave Paper False Account Of Sex Incident |url=http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003665722 |work=[[Editor and Publisher]] |date=2007-10-31 |accessdate=2007-10-31}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | He resigned from the Washington State House of Representatives on October 31, 2007,<ref name="AP">{{cite news |last=La Corte |first=Rachel |title=GOP State Rep Resigns Amid Sex Scandal |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |date=2007-10-31 |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hi5eZOrtHs2NAhldX5tp4so8EROgD8SKHU800 |accessdate=2007-10-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102204138/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hi5eZOrtHs2NAhldX5tp4so8EROgD8SKHU800 |archivedate=November 2, 2007}}</ref> and issued a statement: <blockquote>Today I submitted my letter of resignation to Governor Gregoire effective immediately. While I believe we've done some good and helped a lot of people during the time I served in the Legislature, events that have recently come to light have hurt a lot of people. I sincerely apologize for any pain my actions may have caused. This has been damaging to my family, and I don't want to subject them to any additional pain that might result from carrying out this matter under the scrutiny that comes with holding public office.<ref name="Olympian">{{cite news |title=Republicans move to limit damage from Rep. Curtis' sex scandal |url=http://www.theolympian.com/campaigntrail/story/258706.html |url-status=dead |work=[[The Olympian]] |date=October 31, 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-31 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140913224155/http://www.theolympian.com/campaigntrail/story/258706.html |archive-date=September 13, 2014}}</ref></blockquote> |
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According to analysis by ''[[The Olympian]]'', the Republican leadership in the state moved to attempt to control the damage of Curtis's resignation, issuing statements of their own. State House Republican Leader [[Richard DeBolt]] said he was "disappointed" and that Curtis "can no longer effectively represent the constituents who elected him".<ref name="Olympian"/> |
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{{reflist}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category:1959 births]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:Washington |
[[Category:Republican Party members of the Washington House of Representatives]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Portland Community College alumni]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:21st-century members of the Washington State Legislature]] |
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Latest revision as of 10:38, 12 December 2024
Richard Curtis | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 18th district | |
| In office January 10, 2005 – October 31, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Mielke |
| Succeeded by | Jaime Herrera Beutler |
| La Center City Council, Position No. 1 | |
| In office January 1, 2002 – February 9, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Arvilla Bowen |
| Succeeded by | Bill Birdwell Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard L. Curtis March 8, 1959 New Mexico, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Deborah |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | La Center, Washington |
| Alma mater | Clark College Portland Community College Portland State University University of Arizona Western Oregon University |
| Profession | Fire captain Paramedic Small business owner |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Air Force |
Richard L. Curtis (born March 8, 1959) is an American firefighter and politician from La Center, Washington. He served as a Republican member of the Washington State House of Representatives from Washington's 18th legislative district in Position 1 from 2005 to 2007. The district is located in rural Clark and Cowlitz counties.
Election and voting record
[edit]Curtis was elected to the La Center City Council.
He was elected to the State House of Representatives on November 2, 2004, succeeding Republican Tom Mielke. Curtis faced no primary opposition, and won the general election with 56.5 percent of the vote in a race against Democratic candidate Pam Brokaw. He took office in January 2005 and was re-elected in 2006, winning with 59.1 percent of the vote against his Democratic opponent Jonathan Fant.
Curtis, who is married with two daughters, built up a socially conservative voting record while in office. In 2006, he opposed a gay rights bill that banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In spring 2007, he voted against domestic partnerships for gay and lesbian couples.[1]
Resignation
[edit]On October 30, 2007, the Spokesman-Review newspaper for the city of Spokane released the results of an investigation that established that Curtis had met another man, Cody Castagna, in an adult bookstore, with whom he later had sex in a local hotel room.[2] Curtis was also alleged to have been seen previously and on that occasion clad in women's clothing, wearing them underneath his own.[2]
According to a police statement from Curtis, Castagna attempted to extort $1,000 from him after the encounter in return for not revealing his "gay lifestyle" to his family.[2] Based on this statement, Curtis brought formal extortion charges against Castagna.[2] Castagna has denied all accusations of the extortion, which is a Class B felony. A statement by his lawyer asserted, "This is an extremely low-level situation that's being blown out of proportion by somebody who is trying to save themselves."[3] The lawyer stated further that "this guy (Castagna) didn't do anything wrong – at that level, anyway."[3] Curtis at first denied having had sex with the man, contradicting his own statements to police.[4]
He resigned from the Washington State House of Representatives on October 31, 2007,[1] and issued a statement:
Today I submitted my letter of resignation to Governor Gregoire effective immediately. While I believe we've done some good and helped a lot of people during the time I served in the Legislature, events that have recently come to light have hurt a lot of people. I sincerely apologize for any pain my actions may have caused. This has been damaging to my family, and I don't want to subject them to any additional pain that might result from carrying out this matter under the scrutiny that comes with holding public office.[5]
According to analysis by The Olympian, the Republican leadership in the state moved to attempt to control the damage of Curtis's resignation, issuing statements of their own. State House Republican Leader Richard DeBolt said he was "disappointed" and that Curtis "can no longer effectively represent the constituents who elected him".[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b La Corte, Rachel (2007-10-31). "GOP State Rep Resigns Amid Sex Scandal". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 2, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
- ^ a b c d Morlin, Bill; Nick Eaton (2007-10-31). "Curtis allegedly had encounter at bookstore". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
- ^ a b Mize, Jeffery (2007-10-31). "Curtis admitted tryst". The Columbian. Archived from the original on 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
- ^ Strupp, Joe (2007-10-31). "State Legislator Gave Paper False Account Of Sex Incident". Editor and Publisher. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
- ^ a b "Republicans move to limit damage from Rep. Curtis' sex scandal". The Olympian. October 31, 2007. Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved 2007-10-31.