In an exclusive interview with the Vancouver Columbian' s editor Lou Brancaccio, former state Rep. Jim Jacks (D-49) said that he resigned to get treatment for alcoholism, and that he had not committed any misconduct on the job.

Jacks' sudden resignation last month led to speculation that there was more to his decision than "personal reasons," the official reason he left office.

Jacks' unequivocal statement to the Columbian : No one will come forward in the future to say he behaved inappropriately while drinking. Reporters have been unable to find any paper trail indicating misconduct by Jacks.

Columbian editor Brancaccio reports:

Being an alcoholic is a difficult thing in and of itself. But oftentimes, having one too many also results in bad behavior.

So I asked Jacks if his drinking resulted in his doing anything inappropriate. At first he wasn’t exactly sure what I meant.

“I have no criminal record. I’ve gotten no DUIs. I’m sure I’ve driven when I should not have been driving. But I resigned because I had to fix my problem. I resigned because I’m an alcoholic.”

Still, I pressed him further. Notwithstanding the drinking while driving, is it possible that someone might show up later and say you did something inappropriate to them while you were drinking?

He said no.