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Oregon governor planned to quit but changed his mind

FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2014, file photo, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber speaks during a gubernatorial debate in Portland, Ore. As an ethics controversy heats up around Kitzhaber, the person who would be next in line if he resigns is abruptly returning from a conference in Washington, D.C. It was not clear whether the unscheduled return Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, of Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown has anything to do with influence-peddling allegations surrounding Kitzhaber’s fiancee, Cylvia Hayes. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File) FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2014, file photo, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber speaks during a gubernatorial debate in Portland, Ore. As an ethics controversy heats up around Kitzhaber, the person who would be next in line if he resigns is abruptly returning from a conference in Washington, D.C. It was not clear whether the unscheduled return Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, of Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown has anything to do with influence-peddling allegations surrounding Kitzhaber’s fiancee, Cylvia Hayes. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)

By Associated Press February 11, 2015 1 min read

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Sources with direct knowledge of the situation say embattled Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber had reached a decision to resign because of an ethics scandal surrounding him and his fiancée, but he changed his mind for reasons that are unclear.

The sources spoke Wednesday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about private discussions.

They say Kitzhaber informed some of his aides on Sunday that he was going to resign and on Tuesday he asked Oregon’s secretary of state, Kate Brown, to rush back from a conference in Washington, D.C. Brown would become governor if Kitzhaber resigns. Both are Democrats.

Brown’s abrupt and unexplained return to Oregon sparked speculation that Kitzhaber planned to quit, but he issued a statement saying he would stay put.