Kitzhaber: I still love Cylvia Hayes, won’t resign

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber faced a barrage of questions from reporters Friday over the latest revelations involving fiancee Cylvia Hayes, saying they had tried to navigate uncharted waters to keep her professional work separate from her relationship.

He also said he won’t resign, still loves Hayes and that they still plan to marry, but also said the former Bend resident “will have no policy role and no political role” in his fourth term.

The governor — visibly nervous, his voice shaky at times — noted that when the first reports involving Hayes arose last year, he’d said her role would be “substantially different” than it was before, if he were to win an unprecedented fourth term.

“However, these issues have become such a distraction, I want to make it clear she will have no policy role and no political role in my administration over the next four years,” Kitzhaber said.

Answering most of the questions posed over 20 minutes, many from Portland talk-show host Lars Larson, the governor insisted they had tried to act properly in keeping Hayes’ work separate from her role as First Lady (a term that some dictionaries extend beyond married couples to include a head of state’s “hostess”).

As for one new allegation that Hayes might have falsified tax returns, he called them “very serious allegations” that Hayes would have to address, should she choose to do so after returning from a trip to Europe. He said they file separate returns and he has not reviewed hers. Later, he said he would have “nothing to say” on the issue of her taxes.

But Kitzhaber said he and Hayes “took steps to separate her professional role” from the political one as First Lady.

The governor said both he and Hayes are cooperating fully with the state Ethics Commission investigation of complaints that Hayes improperly commingled her work as a clean energy advocate and other business dealings with those of the state or improperly influenced state policy without due reporting.

Answering one question, Kitzhaber said: “I’m not going to consider resigning — of course not, I’ve been elected by the people of this state to do this job.”

“This may start sounding like an interview with (Seattle Seahawk) Marshawn Lynch,” he said, again explaining that they had “taken steps to separate activities” as best they could.

Another reporter asked the governor if he’s still in love with Hayes and if they still plan to marry.

“I’m in love,” he said. And to a follow-up question of whether he might have been “blinded by love,” the governor said. “I don’t believe I have been blinded. Eyes wide open. The marriage is still on.”

“Our intention has always been try to navigate this undefined role of First Lady,” he said. “We have taken steps to try to draw that delineation between the professional part of her life and her role as First Lady.”

Asked about her current travels, Kitzhber said she was “doing nothing for the state of Oregon. She is in Sweden on her own expense, visiting with friends,” followed by a trip to Berlin,

The another definition issue was raised: “I have no idea if she is legally a member of my household.” saying the state ethics panel will review that as well.

“We operated under an abundance of caution in areas that we were not clear of,” Kitzhaber said. “There is no legal definition of First Lady in the statute. … We were trying to err on the side of caution and transparency.”

The governor said they “tried to draw a clear line between her paid, professional work and volunteer work as First Lady.”

“I have no regrets about entering into a personal relationship with Cylvia Hayes. She’s a wonderful woman,” the governor said.

Asked if Hayes should pay back the consulting fees she got from a clean energy group, Kitzhaber said. “That’s a question you’d have to ask her.”