The second effort to recall Portland Mayor Sam Adams failed this week just as I suspected it would. Sure, I hoped that Portlanders would wake up and sign a petition to vote to recall a man in his 40’s who groomed a 17 year old for sex and was there—panting—at his 18th birthday party— for him to turn legal. You know the rest of the story: the lies to voters; the statements to the media tossing other gay leaders under the bus; Sam’s attorney cornering erstwhile paramour, Beau Breedlove, in a late night–literally 11th hour– appeal to get him to sign an affadavit stating “nothing happened.” It was pretty tawdry stuff. Sam wouldn’t resign, though he’d written a draft of such a letter. The coerced 11th hour letter (which was so outrageous that it cost the attorney a judgeship) from Breedlove gave Attorney General John Kroger the fig leaf of ‘legality’ he was desperate for so he wouldn’t have to indict the mayor. Profiles in courage this ain’t.
Sad.
The man who claims education as one of his “top priorities” though it’s not the city’s job (we actually hire people for that, they’re called a SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT), wasn’t even there for the hand off. Mayor “Education” couldn’t even bring himself to set an example for the kids, be a person of character, do the right thing by the people you supposedly serve and resign. Apparently teaching these fundamental lessons wasn’t what Sam had in mind when he stated education was a priority. Oops, my bad, how silly of me.
Portland deserved better but Sam’s ego took priority. He pretended preserving the mantle of being Portland’s First Gay Mayor was more important than actually being a good mayor.
Official Portland’s reaction to Sam’s outrageous acts was to, as Commissioner Amanda Fritz did, shake a reproving forefinger at the media and remind them that ‘everyone makes mistakes.’ Commissioner Dan Saltzman laughably proclaimed that nobody but Sam could run this city and grab that federal stimulus money (so what do we need you for?). Randy Leonard took it personally–as he always does–and ‘forgave’ Sam on behalf of all of Portland. Another example of Randy’s grandiosity and ego winning out over common sense. Nick Fish, a father, sat mute (fire him!). Sam’s mentor, former mayor Vera Katz, officially said nothing. Friends of hers said she was ‘angry’ and had ‘spoken to’ Sam–whatever that means. The Portland Business Alliance showed their irrelevance in a chorus of crickets. Pink Martini front man Thomas Lauderdale lamented that we needed to preserve the FGM (First Gay Mayor) no matter the cost. Only Just Out, a gay news publication, had the juevos to act embarrassed by Sam and demand his resignation.Willamette Week broke Pulitzer Prize winning Nigel Jacquiss’ story then the publisher went back to his usual City Hall jock strap sniffing.
A quixotic band of signature gatherers–including bicycle enthusiasts, and disgusted citizens– Tim Boyle of Columbia Sportswear (a hearty Thank You for standing up for what’s right!) and car mogul, Ron Tonkin (God Bless You), couldn’t get past the collective apathy and lack of leadership by city leaders. That collective apathy includes the leadership of the second recall effort.
Oh, sure there were those of us who spoke at council–many times, but without official Portland providing leadership there was never enough traction to oust the mayor.
Lacking leadership, the public yawned, sipped their lattes and continued to comb the Help Wanted section of Craig’s List.
I can’t say much about this second recall attempt. It was supposedly put together by former mayor Tom Potter and his wife. They were silent partners with well known Portland politico Avel Gordly. Silent being the operative word.
These are no sour grapes, but it would have been nice if they’d come on the show occasionally to fill us in on what was going on with the second recall. Only midway through the recall did they allow their spokeswoman on the program. Things were getting so dire that they actually allowed Beau Breedlove to talk to me. But Gordly wanted nothing to do with me or my show. She made her first appearance on Tuesday, the day the recall died.
If the two recall groups could have combined efforts we probably would be talking about FORMER Mayor Sam Adams right now.
Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com