Tina Kotek’s wife was deeply involved in administration long before governor began push to expand her role

Smiling governor on the left, first lady in a colorful patterned cape on the right. They are outside under a gray sky with a few other people standing behind them.

Gov. Tina Kotek and First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson meet with representatives from the city of Estacada on the governor's every-county listening tour. Kotek Wilson was active in her wife's administration long before the governor began pushing to elevate her role this spring. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

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Oregon First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson has been deeply involved in her wife’s administration since early last year, meeting regularly with top staffers in the governor’s office and external parties and officials in the behavioral health sphere, her calendar shows.

Her involvement didn’t appear to generate serious pushback from staffers until this spring, however, when Gov. Tina Kotek insisted on moving quickly to create an Office of the First Spouse despite concerns from her top advisers, records show.

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