Former Gov. John Kitzhaber admits to violating Oregon ethics laws, agrees to pay $1,000 fine
Oregon's former Gov. John Kitzhaber admitted that he violated state ethics laws and will pay a fine of $1,000, under a settlement the state ethics commission is scheduled to consider on Friday.
The violations that Kitzhaber admitted stem from former first lady Cylvia Hayes' paid work advocating for green energy and economic policies for various clients, through her consulting business 3E Strategies. Kitzhaber listed 3E Strategies as a source of income on his state financial disclosure forms for 2011 through 2013. Hayes, who held an unpaid position as an official advisor to Kitzhaber on green energy and economic policies, faces an ongoing state ethics investigation.
According to the final order the commission will vote on Friday, Kitzhaber had a potential conflict of interest from 2011 through 2013 when he made "policy decisions and public appearances in his official capacity as Governor of Oregon where those policies and appearances overlapped with the issues for which 3E Strategies was receiving payment for its advocacy, writing, and speaking." Kitzhaber should have publicly announced those potential conflicts.
"Dr. Kitzhaber was met with potential conflicts of interest because his policy decisions and public appearances could have resulted in a financial benefit or detriment to 3R Strategies," ethics commission staff wrote in the stipulated final order.
Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/11/john_kitzhaber_admits_to_viola.html