Aimee Kotek Wilson, the Oregon governor鈥檚 wife, will get a state-funded adviser this week as the governor considers establishing the 鈥淥ffice of the First Spouse鈥� in a move some have linked to the departure of three top aides.
Meliah Masiba, a staffer currently with the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, will join the governor鈥檚 office as an adviser on temporary rotation starting March 25, according to Elisabeth Shepard, a spokeswoman from the governor鈥檚 office.
鈥淭his six-month rotation will be to help explore the establishment of the Office of the First Spouse, a program that has been established in many states,鈥� Shepard said in an email to OPB Saturday. 鈥淭his position would also assist and support the current first spouse in her official capacity in support of the administration.鈥�
Willamette Week first reported of the arrangement.
Kotek鈥檚 chief of staff Andrea Cooper, deputy chief of staff Lindsey O鈥橞rien and special adviser Abby Tibbs are all departing the office in the coming weeks. Cooper鈥檚 last day will be March 29, Kotek鈥檚 office said, while Tibbs will transition to Oregon Health & Science University two days later. O鈥橞rien will go on leave April 5.
The changes create a leadership vacuum in the governor鈥檚 office at a time Kotek is attempting to address massive crises facing the state, from housing to addiction. The three women make up three of four senior aides Kotek鈥檚 office lists as 鈥渆xecutive鈥� team. The fourth, deputy chief of staff Chris Warner, will assume the role of chief of staff.
, sources with knowledge of the governor鈥檚 office said the shakeup was largely due to personality conflicts between staff and Kotek鈥檚 wife. None of the sources said Kotek鈥檚 wife is trying to gain financially from her role as first lady, but many said it echoed other elements of the , which led to the resignation of Gov. John Kitzhaber. In that case, Hayes was leveraging the office for her own financial interest. Staff urged Kitzhaber to have clearer boundaries between his work life and personal life, which he did not do.
Kotek Wilson, the governor鈥檚 wife, currently attends meetings with staff to discuss behavioral health initiatives. Kotek Wilson has professional experience as a social worker. Kotek Wilson also has her own 8 x 8 office in the governor鈥檚 office building space.
鈥淭he governor makes all policy decisions on behalf of the office,鈥� Shepard wrote.
This story may be updated.
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