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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Weeders turn out to head off pesticide use Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Successor Kate Brown must run for election in 2016 Emergency services, Feb. 14 Community leaders saddened by governor's departure Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, Feb. 14 Police arrest robbery suspects who wore underwear as masks Purple Parrot robber sentenced Busy burglar still at large in Medford Sheriff's lieutenant may face misconduct charges over ticket dismissals Politics and Elections Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Successor Kate Brown must run for election in 2016 Community leaders saddened by governor's departure Read Gov. John Kitzhaber's statement on his resignation Education Logos to receive a slice of Wes Howard Memorial Sports Park Medford School Board OKs full-day kindergarten Former superintendent sues district, board member Sharing black culture SOU board names officers, committees Environment Coho salmon road trip Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow Company fined for illegally dumping asbestos in White City Solar pavilion going up at Coyote Trails GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban State News Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Read Gov. John Kitzhaber's statement on his resignation Top Democrats call on Kitzhaber to resign Legislative leaders join in call for Kitzhaber resignation (updated) Oregon secretary of state calls meeting with governor 'strange' Nation - World Obituaries Richard Lester Spencer Arlene M. (Ryan) Mills William J. 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Mangino: The government has access to your emails Letters to the Editor, Feb. 13 Our View: Time to end the vaccine exemption Guest Opinion: Weed killers should not be sprayed on streams, homes Editorials Our View: Time to end the vaccine exemption Our View: Hemp hemp, hooray — old crop is new again Our View: Maintaining a major community asset Our View: A small contribution to fairness Our View: Call for resignation is premature Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 13 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 12 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 11 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 10 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 9 Columns Guest Opinion: Weed killers should not be sprayed on streams, homes Dana Milbank: Bobby Jindal's unpleasant record George Will: The Pence paradox Kathleen Parker: Brian Williams' six-mile stare Guest Opinion: Understanding Wes Cooley Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Weed killers should not be sprayed on streams, homes Guest Opinion: Understanding Wes Cooley Guest Opinion: Smokers: Quit before this happens to you Guest Opinion: Our public school system is a stew pot of clashing ingredients Guest Opinion: How long will we look the other way? Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: Your Brain on Love She needed time to think The zwickels shall flow David Murdock: Take a nice little walk Looking Up: The sky on Valentine's night Food The zwickels shall flow Community blog: Custard mashup omits scary step for amateurs Season Stepp: Prepare a steakhouse meal at home Tammy Kelly: Healthy at-home Valentine’s Day meals (and desserts) for two Donna Knight: Meatloaf holds lessons Home and Garden Repair or replace your garage door panel? Dear Monty: Hot markets change agent behavior Carol Link: How to make sure yucca plants are gone Home Help: Repurposing garage doors into stunning walls with a view Landscape lighting for beauty, safety and value Health Community blog: Your Brain on Love Health Watch: The rise of wearable fitness tech Community blog: Are You Losing or Gaining on Your Investment in Health? Community blog: Simple Solutions Health Watch: Simple swaps for a healthy lifestyle Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Religion News: Church of England consecrates first female bishop Religion briefs Religion briefs, Jan. 23 Milestones and Achievements New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Soo Rah Korean Cuisine Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ayron Jones and The Way play Rocky-Tonk Brett Dennen plays the old Ashland Armory Blues Jam at The Little Brown Jug in Talent Theater Le Cirque presents 'City Walk' 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' 'Dames at Sea' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre Camelot presents Playwright Richard Manley's 'A Question of Words' Classics, premiers highlight '15 season for OSF Music Live Music in Local Clubs Roy Zimmerman's 'The Faucet's on Fire" Victor D. Infante: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, some favorite breakup songs Ayron Jones and The Way play Rocky-Tonk Brett Dennen plays the old Ashland Armory Community Events Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Paula Poundstone performs at the Craterian Dining The zwickels shall flow Soo Rah Korean Cuisine Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Sandwiches and burgers are hits at The Rogue Chef The Vine offers a taste of Italy Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Weeders turn out to head off pesticide use ... Get Up & Go: Saturday, Feb. 14 ... Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins ... Weeders turn out to head off pesticide use ... Get Up & Go: Saturday, Feb. 14 ... Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins ... KITZHABER Community leaders saddened by governor's departure Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 13, 2015 @ 6:15 pm Updated Feb 13, 2015 at 7:07 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 13, 2015 @ 6:15 pm Updated Feb 13, 2015 at 7:07 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Read Gov. John Kitzhaber's statement on his resignation • Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins • Successor Kate Brown must run for election in 2016 » Social News Gov. John Kitzhaber’s resignation Friday stunned local community leaders who, like many throughout the state, described the event as a sad day for Oregon. Al Densmore, a former legislator and former Medford councilor, said the governor’s resignation and the events leading up to it are unprecedented. “It’s an ethical scandal we haven’t seen on this scale in the state,” he said. “I really can’t imagine a sitting governor during a legislative session stepping down.” Kitzhaber, a Democrat, tendered his resignation after a week of damaging allegations surfaced about his fiancée, Cylvia Hayes. Densmore said he hopes everyone can set aside partisanship and develop a good working relationship with the new governor, Secretary of State Kate Brown, a Democrat who will be sworn in Wednesday. “She needs to do a good job reconstructing the administration and putting together a team that Oregonians can have confidence in,” Densmore said. Bill Thorndike, a Medford businessman who had been appointed to various commissions by Kitzhaber, said the “maelstrom” of allegations and events created a difficult situation for the governor. “It is very, very tragic,” he said. Thorndike said he hoped efforts started by Kitzhaber to reform education and health care would continue. The president of Medford Fabrication, Thorndike is involved in the Oregon Prosperity Project that is developing programs to reduce poverty. He said he hopes that effort continues under Brown. Local Democratic legislators continued to show their support for Kitzhaber. “It’s a sad day for the state,” said Sen. Alan Bates, D-Medford. “It’s a sad day that a governor can be hounded out of office by a newspaper.” Bates, who last talked to the governor two weeks ago in Medford and considers him a personal friend, said the Oregonian’s call for Kitzhaber to resign helped undermine his support. At this point, Bates said, he’s not inclined to believe Kitzhaber did anything unethical, based on their 30-year friendship. Bates said Kitzhaber’s erratic behavior, described in an email by Brown, likely was the result of the governor not sleeping for a week as he faced increasing calls to step down. Brown said Kitzhaber asked her to return from a conference in Washington, D.C., then asked why she had left early when she arrived. “He’s probably mentally and physically exhausted,” Bates said. “The pressure on him is a complete nightmare.” Both Bates and Kitzhaber are doctors. Rep. Peter Buckley, D-Ashland, said there had been a strong desire to support the governor among legislators, but the events of the past week evolved so quickly it caught everyone off guard. “Everyone was trying to figure this out but there was a lot of confusion,” Buckley said. “The governor had found himself in a situation he’d never been in before.” Buckley said the governor’s decision to resign was based on his love for Hayes and his love for this state, and he said Kitzhaber said as much in his resignation announcement. He said the governor realized that dealing with an attorney general’s investigation would consume a lot of staff time and divert energies away from running the state. As the revelations mounted over the past few months, Buckley said, the governor continued to believe he had acted in an ethical manner. “He never foresaw there was a conflict,” Buckley said, adding that the media played a part in the pressure for Kitzhaber to resign. But Buckley said the tipping point came when new revelations surfaced over the past two weeks that Hayes received money for her consulting work but apparently didn’t report it on her tax returns. Hayes was out of the country and couldn't answer questions about the consulting money. Even though Buckley said he sees Kitzhaber's resignation as a sad time for the state, he said Brown will be an effective governor who can readily assume her new duties, though there will be a transition period of about a week that could briefly slow up the legislative process. At the same time Kitzhaber announced his resignation Friday, legislators received cookies with the state seal commemorating Oregon’s 156th birthday on Saturday. Rep. Sal Esquivel, R-Medford, said the timing of the governor’s resignation and the cookies added a peculiar sadness to the event. “I’m glad it’s over one way or another,” Esquivel said, while expressing hope that the Legislature develops a good working relationship with the new governor. But he noted the ordeal is not entirely over, as Kitzhaber still faces the scrutiny of an attorney general’s office investigation. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/reporterdm .   By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 13, 2015 @ 6:15 pm Updated Feb 13, 2015 at 7:07 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. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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. 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