(The Center Square) – First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson will not have an expanded role in the administration of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek.
Kotek announced this Wednesday after reports that the governor was pursuing having an Office of the First Spouse as a part of her administration.
“After listening to and reflecting on the concerns of Oregonians who have contacted my office, as well as the advice of staff, I want to be clear about these things: There will not be an Office of the First Spouse,” Kotek said in a press release issued by her office. “There will not be a position of Chief of Staff to the First Spouse. Other than staff that is assigned to support the First Lady in her official duties, no state staff will report to her or be supervised by her.”
The governor said Kotek Wilson will not have staff to report to her. Yet, she will continue to attend ceremonial events and have access to the governor’s suite of offices in the Oregon State Library.
“Between now and when we learn more from OGEC, the First Lady will continue to accompany me and attend events representing the Governor’s Office, such as Tribal visits and ceremonial events, and she will listen to Oregonians about the issues most impacting them, especially in the area of mental health and addiction,” Kotek said in the release. “Your trust is important to me. I will continue to work hard to solve problems so that every Oregonian can have what they need.”
The controversy started after several members of the Kotek administration resigned, partially over disagreements about the First Lady’s role in the administration, according to several news reports.
Multiple news outlets report that former administration members were concerned that Kotek had assigned State Police to her wife, even when the governore was not around.
Additionally, Kotek Wilson, a trained social worker, was revealed to have involvement in policy discussions surrounding mental healthcare despite not having an official role in the administration; Kotek Wilson has a mental illness and is a recovering alcoholic, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Kotek announced she was considering creating an Office of the First Spouse on March 25, three days after three of her staffers had left office.
However, the next day, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission confirmed that Kotek had an ethics complaint filed against her. That complaint has yet to be made public, according to Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Kotek reportedly sent the ethics commission questions about her ability to expand the First Lady’s role in the administration last month. However, the commission cannot answer those questions until it resolves the complaints it received, several reports said.
Kotek also said she looked to the National Governors Association for guidance about this matter.