Oregon’s new governor helped usher Kitzhaber out

Update: A special election to fill the remainder of Kitzhaber’s term will be held in 2016, not 2018.

Kate Brown’s path to political power almost stalled in its infancy. Appointed to the legislature in 1991, she had to run against her predecessor the following year. Outspent and with few public endorsements, Brown doggedly knocked on as many doors in her district as she could. She won, after a recount, by seven votes. Now, more than two decades later, Brown will move into Mahonia Hall, Oregon’s governor’s mansion, after John Kitzhaber (D) resigned amid ethics scandals...

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Governor John Kitzhaber announces his resignation

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber resigned effective Wednesday, Feb. 18, in a letter submitted to Secretary of State Kate Brown. "I am announcing today that I will resign as Governor of the State of Oregon," he wrote in a statement released just after noon Friday.

In just four months, a public corruption scandal involving Kitzhaber and his fiancee, Cylvia Hayes, has hobbled one of Oregon's most durable politicians. Kitzhaber, a public official for 37 years, was sworn in for a historic fourth term as governor just a month ago. Facing not only a state criminal investigation and an ethics review, Kitzhaber watched his support from fellow veteran lawmakers crumble this week.

The governor's resignation does not end either the criminal investigation or ethics review.

Brown, also a Democrat, will be sworn in as Oregon's 37th governor, but the timing of that ceremony is uncertain. Read more at OregonLive Read More......