SALEM, Ore. — Oregon first lady Cylvia Hayes, fiancee of Gov. John Kitzhabe, apologized Thursday for marrying an Ethiopian man 17 years ago so he could retain residency in the United States.

Hayes said she and Abraham B. Abraham, then 18, met through mutual acquaintances, saw each other only a handful of times and never lived together. For her part, Hayes admits she was paid $5,000

"It was wrong then and it is wrong now and I am here today to accept the consequences, some of which will be life changing," Hayes said in her statement. "And I cannot predict what direction this will go."

She said that Kitzhaber didn't know about the marriage until the Willamette Week reported it this week.

"John Kitzhaber deserved to know the history of the person he was forming a relationship with," Hayes said. "The fact that I did not disclose this to him meant that he has learned about this in the most public and unpleasant way. This is my greatest sorrow in this difficult situation."

Kitzhaber, a Democrat, is running for re-election and he's been taking heat from his GOP rival for Hayes' consulting work for organizations that want to influence state policy. The governor has said Hayes has done nothing wrong.

Kitzhaber is leading Republican Dennis Richardson, a state representative, by an average of 9.4 percentage points in recent statewide polling, according to Real Clear Politics.