Updated: Nov. 13, 10:56 a.m.

Jefferson Smith has resigned less than two weeks after being chosen as executive director for the left-leaning Oregon think tank Oregon Center for Public Policy, according to a report from Willamette Week.

Smith is the founder of the Bus Project, executive director of XRAY.fm and a former mayoral candidate who lost to Charlie Hales in 2012 after a report that he punched an 18-year-old woman at a party at University of Oregon in 1993 when he was 20.

The hiring of Smith to lead the think tank was controversial. Former Gov. Ted Kulongoski and attorney Thane Tienson both quit the board when it appeared Smith would be chosen over former Portland city councilor Steve Novick.

In a statement to Willamette Week, Oregon Center for Public Policy board chair Will Neuhauser said, "After alerting the board with increasing urgency of his concern through last week, Jefferson stepped aside as three of his and his wife's parents are all in very difficult end of life situations which is time- and emotion-consuming."

"Ultimately he felt he wouldn't be able to give the organization the effort it requires for an undetermined amount of time," Neuhauser added. "I'm very sorry to lose his talent and drive for OCPP and we wish him and his family the best through this difficult time."

According to Willamette Week, the resignation comes days after the Oregon Center for Public Policy received a letter signed by 15 women and five men, including the executive director of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, the executive director of Emerge Oregon and the former executive director of Basic Rights Oregon, saying the decision to hire Smith "sends a damaging and destructive message to women in Oregon."

"Hiring a man with such a clear and publicly known history to lead a progressive organization signal to the women of our movement that they do not matter," the letter read. "That a person who displays such behavior can continue to be elevated into positions of power says to every young woman and man getting involved that this behavior is not only acceptable, but effective."

Smith and the Oregon Center for Public Policy did not immediately return requests for comment.

Since The New York Times published an explosive story detailing sexual abuse and harassment accusations against film executive Harvey Weinstein in early October, a wave of women and some men have come forward with accounts of harassment and assault. In Oregon, multiple lawmakers have been accused of harassment and Portland's former mayor, Sam Adams, has also been accused.

Correction: An earlier version of this story said Smith was the founder of XRAY.fm. That is not accurate. He is the founder of Bus Project and the Executive Director of XRAY.fm.

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052

lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker