Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has announced that she has decided not to create an Office of the First Spouse position for her wife, Aimee Kotek Wilson, who suffers from mental illness.
After widespread public scrutiny, Wilson will no longer hold the position of first spouse, a formal position created just for her by the governor.
in a Press conference held Wednesday, Kotek said his wife’s responsibilities will be limited to ceremonial appearances and listening to groups of locals.
Kotek said he is awaiting direction from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission to more clearly define what his wife’s role might be.
His comments follow more than five weeks of ambiguity and controversy surrounding his wife’s growing position.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (pictured) announced she decided not to create an Office of the First Spouse for her mentally ill wife, amid public scrutiny.
For the time being, Kotek (pictured right) stated that his wife Aimee Kotek Wilson’s (pictured left) responsibilities will be limited to ceremonial appearances and listening to groups of locals.
Kotek (pictured left) said he is awaiting direction from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission to more clearly define the long-term role of his wife (pictured right).
“I take responsibility for not being more thoughtful in my approach to exploring the role of the first spouse,” Kotek said in a statement.
“I’m sorry for the way this conversation between my office and you started.”
Except for staff members who have been delegated formal responsibilities, Kotek said Wilson will not have a chief of staff or directly manage any other employees.
Meliah Masiba, whom Kotek hired temporarily last month to investigate the possibility of establishing the Office of the First Spouse, will remain in her position.
According to Masiba’s job description, he oversees Wilson’s programs, plans public engagement activities and represents Wilson at local, state and federal events, among other duties similar to those of a chief of staff.
Masiba, who earns $144,000 a year, was listed as the first lady’s chief of staff in documents announcing her move from the Department of Administrative Services to the governor’s office, according to emails obtained by the governor’s office last week.
Yasmin Solorio, who has been on the first lady’s agenda since last year, will take on a new role in the governor’s office, Kotek confirmed.
‘Between now and when we learn more from (the ethics commission), the first lady will continue to accompany me and attend events on behalf of the governor’s office, such as tribal visits and ceremonial events, and will listen to Oregonians on the issues they impact them the most, especially in the area of mental health and addiction,” Kotek said.
Wilson announced in March that he is recovering from alcoholism.
Wilson’s comment comes as news organizations have been questioning his new role in Kotek’s administration, which includes a state-funded security detail (pictured: Kotek at Wednesday’s press conference).
The couple is seen with Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff.
Wilson announced in March that he is recovering from alcoholism but did not specify what type of mental illness he lives with, according to reports Oregon live.
“I share this information about myself now, and have done so in the past, in the hopes that it will make a difference and reduce stigma,” Wilson said in a statement.
“Too often, people have remained silent about their experience out of shame, pain and fear… And that’s why it’s so important for me to do my part to reduce the stigma around addiction and mental health”.
News organizations have been questioning Kotek Wilson’s new role in his wife’s administration, which includes a security detail while she attends events on the governor’s behalf. The funds to pay for the additional security were initially supposed to come out of the current governor’s budget.
The governor’s wife, who previously worked as a social worker, has reportedly been attending some weekly policy meetings on mental health and addictions initiatives.
Wilson has also participated in most of Kotek’s meetings with mental health and substance abuse providers on the topic.
Additionally, three of Kotek’s top advisers, including his chief of staff, left his office over tensions with Wilson.
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission revealed in March that it received a complaint related to Kotek and opened a preliminary review of the complaint.
The commission will later vote on whether to open an investigation into the matter.
DailyMail.com has contacted the governor’s office for comment on this story.
Questions about Kotek’s inclusion of Wilson in his administration arise after former Gov. John Kitzhaber and his fiancée Cylvia Hayes were accused of ethical concerns.
The commission will vote later on whether to open an investigation into the matter.
Hayes played an active role in Kitzhaber’s third term, attending meetings, communicating with state officials and helping him push environmental and clean energy policies.
At the same time, he carried out consulting work for several organizations involved in similar policies.
Kitzhaber was forced to respond to reports that Hayes was paid $118,000 over two years for a scholarship with a green energy group, money that may not have been reported on her taxes.
Hayes ultimately agreed to pay $44,000 for ethics violations.
