Ore. governor to undergo surgery for infected gallbladder

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski will have his gall bladder removed at Salem Memorial Hospital on Saturday. Doctors diagnosed an infection this week.

Kulongoski, a 68-year-old Democrat, had been scheduled to attend a Western Governors Association meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyo., this weekend.

AP file photo

Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski speaks at a previous press event.

Instead, he'll spend Saturday night in the hospital, and he will be out of the office for most of next week recovering.

Anna Richter Taylor, a spokeswoman, said the surgery is routine and a full recovery is expected.

While Kulongoski is under anesthesia, Secretary of State Bill Bradbury will be the acting governor.