Dept. of Energy promoted firm run by Kitzhaber’s girlfriend


State criminal investigators are looking into a Department of Energy push to hire a firm run by Kitzhaber’s girlfriend.

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State criminal investigators are looking into a Department of Energy push to give federal money to a firm run by former Gov. John Kitzhaber’s long-term girlfriend, Cylvia Hayes.

The department encouraged R.W. Beck to hire Hayes’ company, 3EStrategies of Bend, as a subcontracter after they lost the bid for an energy contract.

At the time, some Energy Department staff members raised concerns about the way Hayes’ company was promoted by the agency after losing the bid, and findings by state auditors triggered the criminal investigation, sources familiar with the investigation say.

Hayes is the longtime girlfriend of former Gov. John Kitzhaber, a Democrat who’s again running for governor. Her company promotes sustainable energy efforts and has state contracts with at least three state agencies on energy projects. There’s no indication that Kitzhaber is a subject of the investigation.

Read more at OregonLive.com.

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