( CNN ) -- The fiancee of Oregon Gov . John Kitzhaber lived on property that was to be used for growing marijuana , and married an illegal immigrant for money during a period in her life when she was `` associating with the wrong kind of people and making mistakes , '' according to a statement she released Tuesday . Cylvia Hayes , 47 , admitted to living on a property in Okanogan , Oregon , in 1997 that was supposed to become a marijuana growing operation , but she said it never materialized . `` I am not proud of that brief period of time - I was involved in an abusive relationship with a dangerous man , '' Hayes said . The man who sold the property to Hayes and her boyfriend told CNN affiliate KOIN that the couple stopped making payments . Public records show Hayes gave up her interest in the property in April 1998 . Hayes said she did not put any money into the property . `` In the spring of 1998 I began to make plans to get away . In July 1998 I moved to Central Oregon and began building a life and career that I am very proud of , '' Hayes said in a statement . She runs an environmental consulting company . From 1997 until 2002 she was married on paper to an Ethiopian immigrant , a fact she said her husband-to-be did n't know about until it came to light last week . `` This is the most painful part for me , '' Hayes said in a news conference in Portland on Friday confirming the sham marriage . `` John Kitzhaber deserved to know the history of the person he was forming a relationship with . The fact that I did not disclose this to him meant that he has learned about this in the most public and unpleasant way . '' Fraudulent green card marriages are a federal offense . Hayes said she needed the money at the time , when she was 29 . `` The money I had received in July 1997 for entering a fraudulent marriage was used to purchase a laptop and pay school expenses , '' she said . Kitzhaber is running for re-election next month , and addressed his fiancee 's actions during a gubernatorial debate Tuesday evening . `` What we know is that 17 years ago , before I know Cylvia and she knew me she was involved in some illegal activity . I wish it had n't happened , but it did , '' Kitzhaber said . `` The fallout of that set of activities and how we deal with that fallout is really a personal matter between Cylvia and myself . '' Kitzhaber has already served three nonconsecutive terms . The Democrat was first elected in 1994 and remained in office until 2003 . In 2010 , he was elected to a third term , and he 's now seeking a fourth in a race that he has been expected to win . He won his last election with 65 % of the vote . While Kitzhaber and Hayes are n't married , they 've been a couple for more than a decade and engaged since this summer , according to local news reports . Hayes has been officially referred to as Oregon 's first lady during Kitzhaber 's latest term .
Oregon : Oregon governor says his fiancee 's past illegal activities are a private matter . Oregon 's ` ` first lady '' Susan Hayes admits involvement in a plan for a pot farm in 1997 . She says she worked with the ` ` wrong kind of people '' at the time . The same year she also married an attorney for Oregon .