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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Channeling your inner teenager ... Police Reports ... Ticket Availability ... Channeling your inner teenager ... Police Reports ... Ticket Availability ... LOCAL TAKE Should Gov. Kitzhaber resign due to his fiancee's entanglements? Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Feb. 11, 2015 at 6:09 PM Updated Feb 13, 2015 at 7:13 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Feb. 11, 2015 at 6:09 PM Updated Feb 13, 2015 at 7:13 PM » RELATED CONTENT What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter. » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter . • LOCAL TAKE: Do we need daylight saving time? • Should the city regulate outdoor pot growing? • What are your hopes for the new governor? • Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation • Oregon secretary of state: Meeting with governor 'strange' • Are you prepared for the next great Cascadia quake? • What do you do with money saved from cheap gas? • What are you doing on Super Bowl Sunday? • What do you think of the state of the city? • Have we recovered from the Great Recession? » Social News Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber has been a popular and effective governor, able to plan and execute on both sides of the aisle, signing into law many major changes for Oregonians, especially in the field of health care, where he has spent much of his life as a medical doctor.  He was just reelected to an unprecedented fourth term by a wider margin than his third term. He was the first Oregon head of state to serve more than two terms.  But of late, “Kitz” is making headlines, not with visionary legislation, but because of his life partner Cylvia Hayes, many of whose past activities have fallen in a gray area of propriety or possibly even legality.  These include getting paid $5,000 for a “green card marriage” to an Ethiopian and investing in a marijuana farm, both in 1997. She ran unsuccessfully in 2002 for the Oregon House, then became involved with Kitzhaber, who is 20 years her senior. Hays ran a consulting business, focused in renewable energy. She was active in his 2010 campaign, then became a policy advisor in green energy and economic development, without salary, in the governor’s office.  In 2011, the live-in couple announced that Hayes was to be known as Oregon’s “First Lady.” They said they would legitimize their bond with marriage in the summer.  Portland media in January reported she was paid $118,000, unreported, for consulting work while working inside the governor’s office. After that, Kitzhaber announced that all of Hayes’ ties with the governor’s office were severed.  In recent weeks, The Oregonian called for Kitzhaber’s resignation, noting the scandals are too much of a “distraction” for him to govern effectively. Kitzhaber said he would not resign, but he did request an investigation by the Attorney General.  On Wednesday, Secretary of State Kate Brown suddenly hurried home from an important conference in Washington, D.C., offering no explanation. Then Kitzhaber canceled an Oregon birthday event set for Saturday, setting tongues wagging about an imminent resignation. Brown would succeed the governor if he quits.  We asked Ashlanders what they thought of the scandals, the governor’s actions around his “first lady” and whether he should resign.  Robin McKenzie — Yes, he should resign. He’s shown he has real bad taste in women. She’s really corrupt and has done totally illegal things that everyone else goes to jail for, like tax evasion with her consulting job. To have her as First Lady when they’re not married, I mean really, she should be First Girlfriend or First Shackup.  Darrell Bohn — (declined photo). Yes, he should resign. The situation he has with his so-called mistress or fiancee or whatever she is. She’s involved with the lobby and still getting paid by the government and he’s running the government. I don’t think that’s quite ethical. Then not filing income tax and several different things. You could understand one thing, but not several.  Brian Johnson — He should think about resigning. She’s pretty shady. All the scandals and lobbying while in government. He’s deflecting blame to her by saying he didn't know anything.  Marvyl Reaves — No, he shouldn't resign. He’s done a good job. The woman is using him. What she does shouldn’t have any bearing on what he does. It’s a case of an older man getting tied up with a younger woman. She’s a user, a smart, cagey, crafty one. But we keep voting for Kitzhaber. Reach Ashland freelance writer John Darling at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Feb. 11, 2015 at 6:09 PM Updated Feb 13, 2015 at 7:13 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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