Cylvia...!

In her role as Oregon's first lady, Hayes has depicted her life story as a sort of fairy tale: Poor girl bootstraps her way to success, falls in love with a powerful man, together they save the world.

But a closer look suggests something more reminiscent of Greek tragedy. Friends, fellow environmentalists and political allies describe a woman with a desperate need for affirmation, a weather eye on the next opportunity and a giant blind spot when it comes to how others might perceive her.

She was 29 when she accepted $5,000 to marry an Ethiopian man hoping to stay in the United States, and 30 when she and a boyfriend bought property in rural Okanogan County, Washington, hoping to set up a pot farm.

Kitzhaber told campaign staff to treat Hayes as his spouse and the presumptive first lady. Democratic activists who did not, felt the irritation of both the candidate and his companion. Hayes expected respect, she repeatedly told people within the party. She'd earned it.......  Yet  personal email accounts relating to state business derailed her ambition....      Just a thought.