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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 2015)
Page 8 The Portland Observer Black History Month February 18, 2015 Governor Kitzhaber Resigns Says no laws broken, but scandal turned to liability (AP) — Long-time Demo- cratic Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber on Friday announced his resignation amid allegations his fiancee used her relation- ship with him to enrich herself. In a lengthy statement re- leased Friday, Kitzhaber said he broke no laws and said his res- ignation would be effective on Wednesday. "Nonetheless, I understand that I have become a liability to the very institutions and poli- cies to which I have dedicated my career and, indeed, my en- tire adult life," he said. The decision capped a wild week in which Kitzhaber seemed poised to step down, then changed his mind, but ultimately bowed to calls from legislative leaders that he quit the state's top job. The announcement is a stun- ning fall from grace for the state's longest-serving chief executive. Secretary of State Kate Brown, a Democrat like Kitzhaber, was expected to as- sume the office and become the first openly bisexual governor in the country. Unlike most states, Oregon does not have a lieutenant governor, and the state Constitution puts the secretary Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber (middle) is sworn in for an unprecedented fourth term by Senior Judge Paul J. De Muniz in Salem on Jan. 12, 2015. Standing next to Kitzhaber is his fiancée, Cylvia Hayes. (AP photo) of state next in line. her revealing that she accepted Kitzhaber called Brown back about $5,000 to illegally marry to Oregon from a conference in a man seeking immigration ben- Washington, D.C., earlier this efits in the 1990s. Later, she week. People close to Kitzhaber admitted she bought a remote say he asked her to come back property with the intent to grow after deciding to resign in the marijuana. wake of the influence-peddling Though questions about allegations involving his fian- Hayes have swirled for months, cee, a green-energy consultant. the pressure on Kitzhaber in- But he then changed his mind, tensified in recent weeks after saying he wouldn't step down, newspapers raised questions which led to a Wednesday meet- about whether Hayes reported ing between Kitzhaber and all her income on her tax re- Brown that she described as turns. She has not publicly ad- "strange." dressed the allegation and By Thursday, the leaders of Kitzhaber has declined to. Ear- the state House and Senate said lier this week, Oregon Attorney he had to go. Other top officials General Ellen Rosenblum said in the overwhelmingly Demo- she was launching a criminal cratic state also said Kitzhaber investigation. should resign. Kitzhaber has consistently "I finally said, 'This has got maintained that he and Hayes to stop,'" Senate President Pe- worked hard to avoid conflicts ter Courtney said after he met between her public and private with Kitzhaber. "I don't know roles. what else to do right now. It A fiercely private person, seems to be escalating. It seems Kitzhaber has been forced to to be getting worse and worse." answer embarrassing and per- Kitzhaber handily won re- sonal questions about his rela- election in November to a fourth tionship. In response to ques- term after surviving the botched tions at a news conference last rollout of Oregon's online health month, Kitzhaber told reporters care exchange, which turned that he's in love with Hayes, but into a national embarrassment. he's not blinded by it. But the allegations surround- Kitzhaber, 67, met the 47- ing his fiancee Cylvia Hayes' work year-old Hayes before the 2002 were more harmful, dominating election, when he was governor headlines in the state following and she was a candidate for the his victory. state Legislature. She lost her A series of newspaper reports race, but they later reconnected since October have chronicled after Kitzhaber's term ended. Hayes' work for organizations After eight years out of of- with an interest in Oregon public fice, Kitzhaber was elected gov- policy. At the same time, she was ernor again in 2011. Hayes used paid by advocacy groups, she the title "first lady," though the played an active role in Kitzhaber's couple never married, and she administration, a potential con- took an active role in his admin- flict of interest. istration. They were engaged The spotlight on Hayes led to last summer.