Oregon governor ‘hurt’ by fiancee’s fraudulent marriage
PORTLAND – Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber said Friday he was hurt when his fiancee revealed she entered into a fraudulent marriage with an immigrant in 1997, and he rejected his election challenger’s demand for a special prosecutor to look into her consulting business.
Kitzhaber addressed the stunning confession by his fiancee, Cylvia Hayes, for the first time in a debate with his Republican rival. The confession came just days before voters begin casting ballots in Oregon’s all-mail election, complicating the Democratic governor’s drive toward a possible fourth term next month.
“I learned this three days ago,” Kitzhaber said at the City Club of Portland. “I was obviously very taken aback by it and hurt. I have some processing to do on that.”
Thursday, Hayes held a news conference to admit she broke the law and apologize.
Hayes was a 29-year-old college student when she married an 18-year-old man from Ethiopia. She said she was in need of cash at the time and kept the marriage secret from Kitzhaber because she was ashamed and embarrassed.
Kitzhaber said it took courage for Hayes to hold the news conference, and he’s proud of her. He indicated the wedding will still happen, “hopefully soon.”
“This is now a very personal issue,” Kitzhaber said. “And we just need some time to work through this together.”
Kitzhaber’s Republican opponent, state Rep. Dennis Richardson, treaded carefully on the marriage issue, trying to steer the conversation toward a story in the Willamette Week newspaper saying Hayes used her position as first lady to advance her consulting business.
Richardson called for Kitzhaber to appoint a special prosecutor to look into the allegations, a suggestion Kitzhaber rejected.
“You can’t be the governor’s adviser while you take money from those that want access,” Richardson said.
Hayes has helped Kitzhaber develop his energy and environmental policy, and she also has earned money from organizations that seek to influence state policy.
“We did not violate the law,” Kitzhaber said. “We have simply given a modern professional woman an opportunity to continue her career.”