Reports: Oregon Guv Was Planning To Resign But Changed His Mind

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, right, and his companion Cylvia Hayes react to a welcome from attendees at the awarding ceremony of the Enjoy Oregon Wine Fair in Tokyo Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011. Kitzhaber is on a three-day... Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, right, and his companion Cylvia Hayes react to a welcome from attendees at the awarding ceremony of the Enjoy Oregon Wine Fair in Tokyo Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011. Kitzhaber is on a three-day trip to Japan. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) MORE LESS
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Oregon. Gov John Kitzhaber (D) announced Wednesday that he would not step down, despite an ongoing ethics scandal enshrouding himself and his fiance. But, according to multiple reports, the governor had originally decided to resign before abruptly changing his mind at the last minute.

Kitzhaber and Hayes have been contending with allegations that the governor’s aides helped secure Hayes employment at organizations that seek to influence public policy in Oregon.

The Associated Press and The Oregonian, both citing anonymous sources, reported that Kitzhaber had initially told his staff that he would leave office. The AP reported that he had made the decision Sunday and asked the Secretary of State, Kate Brown, Tuesday to return to Oregon from Washington, D.C., so that she could succeed him. The next day, however, Kitzhaber defiantly declared that he would not resign.

It isn’t clear exactly what changed his mind, although The Oregonian’s report offers some additional details. Kitzhaber had been meeting with leading state officials over the last few days in anticipation of his stepping down. As early as Wednesday morning, the governor’s staff was still preparing for his resignation.

But then Kitzhaber met with his fiance, Cylvia Hayes, and his attorney, Jim McDermott, according to the newspaper, and they argued against resigning. It isn’t clear exactly what argument they made, but it seems to have swayed him.

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  1. Avatar for okay okay says:

    What a man will do for a piece of a**.

  2. It’s obvious that the Governor’s attorney argued that resigning before the ethics probe was completed would be hasty. The Governor decided to wait until the findings come out. If the investigation finds no crimes or misdemeanors committed, Governor Kitzhaber will use that as justification for continuing his term. If the probe reveals say, multiple counts of wrong-doing by the Governor, I suspect he’ll resign soon after with the Secretary of State assuming the role of Governor. Of course, there is the possibility of a recall election, but I don’t think it would succeed, imho, without a determination of criminal wrongdoing by the investigation.

  3. Avatar for sooner sooner says:

    I doubt that a recall vote will take place but with the The Ozoneian out there beating the drums who can say.
    However one notable resignation has taken place.

    Our family resigned from subscribing to The Oregonian last week.

  4. Kate will do a fine job I think. Kitz blew it, and it’s taking him time to come to terms with it. Again.

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