Wheeler, top lawmakers urge Kitzhaber to resign

Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler and legislative leaders called Thursday on Gov. John Kitzhaber to resign in the midst of a growing ethics scandal involving his fiancee Cylvia Hayes and her involvement in energy policies.

Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney told reporters Thursday that he and House Speaker Tina Kotek had asked for Kitzhaber to give up the office.

Here’s the text of Courtney’s news release:

Senate President Peter Courtney read the following statement while meeting with members of the media in his office at the Oregon State Capitol Thursday afternoon.

“He served in the Oregon House as a Representatives. He served in the Oregon State Senate. He was the President of the Oregon State Senate for a record number of years. He was elected and has served as Oregon’s governor for more than 12 years – longer than anyone else. No public servant has given more to Oregon.

“And there is another side. He is a friend. He is a son. He is a brother. He is a father. He is a human being.

“It is all of these things for which I hope he is remembered. I hope all of these things are his legacy. He deserves that. Governor John Albert Kitzhaber, MD. I am sorry.

“I know that together Oregon and her people will get through this.”

Meanwhile, Treasurer Ted Wheeler released the following statement around noon Thursday:

“It is with deep sadness that I ask Governor John Kitzhaber to resign his position as Governor of Oregon. He has accomplished many great things during his long career, and history will be kinder to him than current events suggest.

“Unfortunately, the current situation has become untenable, and I cannot imagine any scenario by which things improve. 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.”

Earlier Thursday, Secretary of State Kate Brown said related a “strange” and contradictory conversation with the embattled and said she is ready to take over as governor, should he resign over the ethics scandal.

Kate Brown says the governor had asked her to fly back to Oregon from a conference in Washington, D.C. But in a statement issued Thursday, she said when she arrived, he asked why she had returned.

Brown said she found the question “strange” and called it “clearly a bizarre and unprecedented situation.”

She said Kitzhaber told her he’s not resigning, but then began a discussion about a transition.

Brown would become governor if Kitzhaber steps aside in the wake of influence-peddling allegations involving his fiancee, a green-energy consultant.

Here’s Brown’s full statement:

“Late Tuesday afternoon, I received a call from the Governor while I was in Washington, DC at a Secretaries of State conference. He asked me to come back to Oregon as soon as possible to speak with him in person and alone.

“I got on a plane yesterday morning and arrived at 3:40 in the afternoon. I was escorted directly into a meeting with the Governor. It was a brief meeting. He asked me why I came back early from Washington, DC, which I found strange. I asked him what he wanted to talk about. The Governor told me he was not resigning, after which, he began a discussion about transition.

“This is clearly a bizarre and unprecedented situation.

“I informed the Governor that I am ready, and my staff will be ready, should he resign. Right now I am focused on doing my job for the people of Oregon.”