Shamed Oregon governor axes plans for taxpayer funded role for her mentally ill, alcoholic wife

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has announced she has decided not to create an Office of the First Spouse position for her mentally ill wife, Aimee Kotek Wilson.

After widespread public scrutiny, Wilson won't hold the Office of the First Spouse, a planned formal office created just for her by the governor.

In a press conference held Wednesday, Kotek stated that her wife's responsibilities will be restricted to ceremonial appearances and listening to groups of locals.

Kotek said she is awaiting direction from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission to more clearly define what her wife's role might be.

Her remarks follow more than five weeks of ambiguity and controversy around her wife's expanding position, which Kotek admitted to poorly communicating to the public how involved Wilson would actually be in governmental affairs.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek (pictured) has announced she has 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 the responsibilities of her wife Aimee Kotek Wilson (pictured left) will be restricted to ceremonial appearances and listening to groups of locals

Kotek (pictured left) said she is awaiting direction from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission to more clearly define her wife's (pictured right) long-term role

'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 am sorry for the way this conversation between my office and you has started.' 

Except for the staff members delegated to her for formal responsibilities, Kotek said Wilson will not have a chief of staff or directly manage any other employees.

Meliah Masiba, who Kotek hired on a temporary basis 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, she oversees Wilson's programs, plans public engagement activities and represents Wilson at local, state, and federal events, among other duties that are akin to that of a chief of staff. 

Masiba, who earns $144,000 a year, was referred to as the first lady's chief of staff in paperwork 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 the first lady's scheduler since last year, will take on a new position in the governor's office, confirmed Kotek.

'Between now and when we learn more from (the ethics commission), 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.  

Wilson announced in March that she is in recovery from alcoholism

Wilson's comment come as news organizations have been questioning her new role in Kotek's administration, which includes a security detail funded by the state (Pictured: Kotek at the press conference Wednesday)

The couple is seen with vice president Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff

Wilson announced in March that she is in recovery from alcoholism but did not specify what kind of mental illness she lives with, as reported by Oregon Live.

'I share this information about myself now, and have in the past, in the hopes it will make a difference and reduce stigma,' Wilson said in a statement. 

'Far too often, individuals have remained silent about their experience because of shame, pain, and fear... And, that is why it is 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 her wife's administration, which includes a security detail while she attends events on the governor's behalf. The funds to pay for the extra security were originally supposed to come out of the existing 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 addiction initiatives. 

Wilson has also taken part in most of Kotek's meetings with mental health and substance abuse providers regarding the topic.

Additionally, three of Kotek's top aides, including her chief of staff, have left her office over tensions with Wilson.

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission revealed in March it has received a complaint connected to Kotek and has opened a preliminary review of the complaint.

The commission will later vote on whether to open an investigation into the matter.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the governor's office for comment on this story.  

Questions regarding Kotek's inclusion of Wilson in her administration come after former Gov. John Kitzhaber's and his fiancée Cylvia Hayes were accused of ethical concerns.

The commission will later vote 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 for environmental and clean energy policies.

At the same time, she did 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 fellowship with a green energy group — money that may not have been reported on her taxes. 

Hayes eventually agreed to pay $44,000 for ethics violations.