Pressure mounts for Kitzhaber to resign

Gov. John Kitzhaber's resignation appeared imminent on Thursday as Democratic leaders took the unprecedented move of calling for him to step down, and word spread that he was considering a transition plan.

Senate President Peter Courtney and Speaker of the House Tina Kotek met with Kitzhaber personally Thursday morning to ask him to resign.

"It has become clear that the ongoing investigations surrounding the Governor and Cylvia Hayes have resulted in a loss of the people's trust and undermined his ability to effectively lead as our state's chief executive," Kotek said.

Treasurer Ted Wheeler also issued a statement requesting the same.

Kitzhaber met with Secretary of State Kate Brown on Wednesday afternoon to discuss stepping down. Then on Thursday morning, he sent private notes to both Kotek and Courtney explaining he was developing a plan to resign.

If the governor does resign, he will be the first in Oregon history to do so under pressure.

Brown, as Secretary of State, is Kitzhaber's successor and will become governor if he leaves office.

Brown, Courtney and Kotek all said Kitzhaber intended earlier in the week to resign and create a plan to do so.

The governor met with both Courtney and Kotek on Tuesday, and Courtney told reporters he believed the governor was planning to resign. Courtney had written a statement to be read upon the governor's stepping down.

It appeared Kitzhaber changed his mind some time between asking Brown to return from a conference in Washington, D.C. and her meeting with him Wednesday afternoon.

"He asked me why I came back early from Washington, D.C., 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," Brown said in a written statement Thursday. "This is clearly a bizarre and unprecedented situation."

After Kitzhaber talked with Brown about a transition plan on Wednesday evening, he told Courtney and Kotek about it Thursday morning.

Courtney said he did not know any specifics about it.

If Brown becomes Oregon's governor, she will have to appoint a replacement for herself. If that person holds a public office, he or she will need to be replaced as well, and so on.

Kitzhaber was adamant on Wednesday afternoon that he did not intend to leave office.

"He was upset," Courtney told reporters. "He is defiant."

On Thursday, he remained in seclusion. At least some of his senior staff members stayed at home.

The governor is under criminal investigation by Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum. He and his fiancee, Cylvia Hayes, is also the subject of a review by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, which is on hold until Rosenblum completes her probe.

Hayes has been scrutinized for apparently using her public role in Kitzhaber's office for private gain, using her policy position to secure contracts for her private consulting firm.

Meanwhile, Kitzhaber has been criticized for apparently giving highly paid jobs to people who gave Hayes contracts.

At least two groups have made plans to start a recall effort against Kitzhaber, which cannot start until July. The legislature appears to have no authority to remove him, should its members grow tired of the situation.

"There is no further step," Courtney said. Oregon has no impeachment process. "We have no powers... He's gonna do what he's gonna do."

hhoffman@statesmanjournal.com, (503) 399-6719 or follow at twitter.com/HannahKHoffman

What Oregon's political leaders had to say

"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."

—Secretary of State Kate Brown

"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."

—Treasurer Ted Wheeler

"He served in the Oregon House as a Representative. 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."

—Senate President Peter Courtney

"This morning the Senate President and I met with Governor Kitzhaber and asked him to resign.

"It has become clear that the ongoing investigations surrounding the Governor and Cylvia Hayes have resulted in a loss of the people's trust and undermined his ability to effectively lead as our state's chief executive.

"Our fundamental priority is to accomplish the people's work throughout our state. I'm committed to moving ahead and having a productive legislative session focused on supporting our schools, balancing our budget, tending to our transportation needs, and expanding opportunity for all Oregonians. Our actions today and our focus going forward will be rebuilding the public's trust in state government."

—Speaker of the House Tina Kotek