State Rep. Vicki Berger Files Ethics Complaint Against First Lady Cylvia Hayes

Oregon First Lady Cylvia Hayes
By NIGEL JAQUISS

State Rep. Vicki Berger (R-Salem) today filed a complaint with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, seeking answers to a series of questions about the role of First Lady Cylvia Hayes has played in the administration of her fiancee, Gov. John Kitzhaber.

As WW reported last week, Hayes has served both as first lady and a policy adviser to Kitzhaber on energy and economic development. At the same time, she has landed contracts from private groups seeking to influence policy in those same areas, leading to the appearance of conflicts of interest.

Berger's complaint comes on the heels of a request for an ethics review Kitzhaber filed earlier this week and complaints filed yesterday by the Oregon Republican Party.

In her six terms as a lawmaker, Berger has built a reputation for moderation. Berger, who is not seeking re-election, has for instance endorsed Chuck Lee, the Independent Party candidate for her seat, rather than supporting the Republican nominee, radio talk show host Bill Post.

She is a second-generation legislator. Her father, Richard Chambers, wrote what became Oregon's bottle bill in 1969.

Here is the statement Berger released today: 







Here is the complaint Berger filed yesterday:


 

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