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9A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 Kitzhaber: Four Oregon governors have resigned since 1859 Brown: Kitzhaber situation ‘bizarre’ Continued from Page 1A Courtney said he and Kotek made the same request when they met Tuesday. Kotek said Kitzhaber requested the Tues- day meeting. Courtney said he had ex- pected Kitzhaber to announce his intentions Wednesday, when Secretary of State Kate Brown — the next in line in succession ²ÀHZEDFNHDUO\IURPDFRQ- ference in Washington, D.C. at the governor’s request. But instead, Kitzhaber — through his lawyer, his press of- ¿FHDQGLQFRPPHQWVZLWK3RUW- land television station KOIN — said he had no such intent. Courtney said his call for res- ignation was less about the spe- FL¿FDOOHJDWLRQVDQGPRUHDERXW the distractions they cause, even though lawmakers are moving ahead with budgets and bills. “It just seems to me that the perceptions and distractions have reached a point” where Kitzhaber cannot interact with lawmakers effectively, he said. State Treasurer Ted Wheeler, in a separate statement, minced no words in calling on Kitzhaber to resign. “Unfortunately, the current situation has become untenable, and I cannot imagine any sce- nario by which things improve,” he said. “Oregon deserves a governor who is fully focused on the duties of state. “I hope the governor will do the right thing for Oregon and its citizens.” Although four governors have resigned since Oregon statehood in 1859, the most recent instance was in 1952 — when Gov. Douglas McKay was appointed U.S. Interior sec- retary — and none has involved a scandal. The most recent midterm va- cancy for Oregon governor was LQ ZKHQ 3DXO 3DWWHUVRQ died of a heart attack. Kitzhaber was sworn in for a fourth term Jan. 12. After voter rejection of his proposed tax overhaul in May 1973, Gov. Tom McCall vowed he would resign, but was talked out of it. He completed his term in January 1975. told me he was not resign- ing, after which, he began a discussion about transition.” SALEM — Secretary of Brown did not provide State Kate Brown says she any further details of their is unsure what to make of discussion about a transi- a meeting between her and tion. The Oregonian and Gov. John Kitzhaber, who is 7KH $VVRFLDWHG 3UHVV KDYH reported Kitzhaber planned under pressure to resign. Brown, who will succeed to resign late this week, Kitzhaber if he resigns, said but changed his mind after the governor asked her this speaking with his personal week to return to Oregon DWWRUQH\DQGZLWKKLV¿DQFpH as soon as possible from a Cylvia Hayes. “I informed the governor conference in Washington, D.C., to discuss a transition that I am ready, and my staff will be ready, should he re- in the governorship. But when Brown arrived sign,” Brown wrote. “Right home Wednesday afternoon now I am focused on doing my and was whisked into a pri- job for the people of Oregon.” News of the meeting left vate meeting with the gov- ernor, Kitzhaber questioned observers scratching their why Brown cut short her trip heads. “I am stunned,” says for- and said he had no plans to mer Gov. Ted Kulongoski, resign. Brown recounted the se- Kitzhaber’s successor and ries of events in a statement predecessor, who otherwise Thursday morning, after her did not want to elaborate abrupt departure from the on Brown’s statement af- conference fueled rumors ter it was read to him by that Kitzhaber planned to phone. “This is not the John Kitzhaber I know.” resign. 3DXO *URQNH D SROLWLFDO “This is clearly a bizarre and unprecedented situa- science professor at Reed tion,” Brown wrote in the College, said Brown was attending a conference of statement. Kitzhaber issued a state- the National Association of ment Wednesday afternoon, Secretaries of State, where ZKLOH %URZQ ZDV À\LQJ she was to give an address back from Washington, on Oregon’s motor voter D.C., saying he did not plan bill. She is president of the organization. to resign. “It’s not a small thing to Brown said Kitzhaber called on Tuesday afternoon leave a meeting like that in and “asked me to come back the middle,” she said. “That to Oregon as soon as possi- is a big important meeting ble to speak with him in per- and you don’t just leave it on a lark,” he said. “Now why son and alone.” Brown arrived in Oregon would you call the secretary of state back on an emer- at 3:40 p.m. Wednesday. “I was escorted direct- gency, overnight expensive ly into a meeting with the ÀLJKW WR WHOO KHU \RX¶UH QRW governor,” Brown wrote. resigning? “That is just not credi- “It was a brief meeting. He asked me why I came back ble,” he said. “It’s strange.” — The Capital Bureau is early from Washington, D.C., which I found strange. a collaboration between EO I asked him what he wanted Media Group and Pamplin to talk about. The governor Media Group. By HILLARY BORRUD Capital Bureau AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney walks the hallways of the Capitol after a news conference on Thursday in Salem. Courtney urged Gov. John Kitzhaber to resign saying he cannot lead the state effectively amid a growing ethics scandal involving his fiancée. determined to be incapacitated and unable to do the job. The provision for voluntary leave allows the governor to estimate the period of disability, provide for temporary succes- sion, and set a return to duty. Kulongoski said he asked for the provision to cover instances such as surgeries like the eye op- eration he had in 2010. Kulongoski said he never contemplated a scenario such as the one Kitzhaber faces. The changes were really prompted by a 2007 nation- E.J. HARRIS — EO Media Group DOVHFXULW\H[HUFLVHLQ3RUWODQG Democratic officials Thursday called on Gov. John when Kulongoski said there was Kitzhaber to resign. a debate over who could declare the governor incapacitated. At Rosenblum said Monday that criminal investigation is pend- that time, just three people could her agency was conducting an ing — and commission director make such a declaration — the investigation of potential crimi- Ron Bersin said Thursday that chief justice of the Oregon Su- nal violations. he received such notice Wednes- preme Court, the “dean” of Or- Kulongoski said he is not ad- day. egon Health & Science Univer- vising Kitzhaber. He also says he Unlike the ethics commis- sity, and the medical director of does not know what Kitzhaber sion, which has deadlines in the the Oregon State Hospital. will ultimately decide. A 2007 revision of the Or- law to determine its proceed- He did say that he sent an ings, the Department of Justice egon’s government ethics law email a few weeks ago offer- has no such limits. ² ZKRVH ÀRRU PDQDJHU ZDV ing any assistance, but that Ethics-law violations are Brown, then the Senate majority Kitzhaber declined in a re- punishable by a maximum leader — does allow for public sponse. ¿QHRQHDFKFRXQWSOXV RI¿FLDOVWRVHWXSOHJDOGHIHQVH Hayes has reportedly re- personal gain. The law bars use funds separated from campaign tained a criminal lawyer, sepa- RISXEOLFRI¿FHIRUSHUVRQDO¿- funds. rate from the lawyers who were nancial gain. Bersin said lawyers for the jointly representing Kitzhaber governor made inquiries via Other options and Hayes in ethics-law com- email Wednesday. Other options under state plaints. Kitzhaber has retained “We have been asked to pro- ODZ\HUVIURPWKH3RUWODQG¿UP law are a voluntary leave of ab- vide information, but we have of Ball Janik, which does not sence — in which case Brown not received a request” to create would step in for Kitzhaber for such a fund, Bersin said. specialize in criminal defense. The Department of Justice DGH¿QHGSHULRG²DQGDOHJDO He said the provision is rare- normally investigates potential defense fund. ly invoked. The Oregon Constitution criminal violations, which are Changed nature of a different magnitude than the provides for succession not only Former Gov. Ted Kulon- ethics-law complaints against upon the death or resignation of goski said that Kitzhaber must Kitzhaber and Hayes that were a governor, but also upon a dis- be considering all his options pending before the Oregon Gov- ability. in addition to resignation — ernment Ethics Commission. Under a 2009 change, which Only and that the nature of the alle- Under the ethics law, the Kulongoski requested when he gations against Kitzhaber and commission must suspend its ZDVJRYHUQRUVWDWHODZVSHFL¿HV ily +D\HV FKDQJHG VLJQL¿FDQWO\ proceedings when the Depart- how a governor may take a vol- Ch eck out our d a after Attorney General Ellen ment of Justice informs it that a untary leave for disability or be Enter to win prize s DAY LEFT 1 GR AN D P R IZE 3-Minute W estern Family Sh opping Spree s pe cia ls YEAR OF THE RAM $ 5 , 792 $39,680 -$2,000 -$500 -$3,292 MSRP Consumer Cash Truck Month Bonus Lum’s Discount S PECIAL P RICE Total Savings $ 9 , 1 82 2014 Crew RAM 15 00 SLT Cab, 4x4, V8 Hem i MSRP Consumer Cash Truck Month Bonus Lum’s Discount S PECIAL P RICE Total Savings $ 8, 552 Stock #394097 2014 RAM 25 00 SLT Crew Cab, 4x4, Cu m m in s Diesel 2014 RAM 3 5 00 Trad esm an , Crew Cab, 4x4, Cu m m in s Diesel MSRP Consumer Cash Truck Month Bonus Lum’s Discount S PECIAL P RICE Total Savings $ 8 , 442 2014 RAM 25 00 SLT Crew Cab, 4x4, Cu m m in s Diesel 2014 RAM VAN Trad esm an Caravan MSRP Consumer Cash Truck Month Bonus Lum’s Discount S PECIAL P RICE Total Savings $ 3 , 572 $ 38,888 * Stock #394088 S PECIAL P RICE Stock #394075 Stock #394059 Total Savings MSRP Consumer Cash Truck Month Bonus Lum’s Discount $ 45,888 $ 43,888 $ 7 , 672 $54,330 -$3,000 -$500 -$4,942 * * $46,560 -$3,000 -$500 -$4,172 MSRP Consumer Cash RAM Truck Bonus Truck Month Bonus Lum’s Discount $ 34,888 * Stock #394086 $ 8, 082 $43,440 -$2,000 -$2,000 -$500 -$4,052 S PECIAL P RICE $ 3 1 ,888 $51,970 -$3,000 -$500 -$4,582 MSRP Consumer Cash RAM Truck Bonus Truck Month Bonus Lum’s Discount $ 34,888 * * Total Savings $43,070 -$2,000 -$2,000 -$500 -$3,682 $24,460 MSRP -$2,500 Consumer Cash -$1,072 Lum’s Discount S PECIAL P RICE $ 20,888 * Stock #394036 COME SEE US FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR SPECIALS! 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