YES, HE’S RUNNING for reelection. And by “he,” I mean Mayor Sam Adams—even if the mayor has yet to actually cop to it when asked. (And with the midpoint of his tumultuous first term finally having arrived, it’s a question he’s been asked A LOT.)
The latest piece of the puzzle dropped into place Friday, January 7, when Adams called a (two-reporter) press conference to talk about a seismic shakeup among his senior aides. Out as chief of staff was the controversial Tom Miller, a guy whose roughhousing political style helped entangle Adams in distracting snits last year with City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen, and the Oregonian.
Replacing Miller is his deputy, the well-liked Warren Jimenez, Adams’ quietly effective point person on public safety and the budget—two issues key to the mayor’s chances in 2012. But most significant was who got Jimenez’s old job: arts policy guru Jennifer Yocom, Adams’ campaign manager in 2008 and another bright star in the firmament of city hall.
And as a reward for his five-plus years of service, dating back to Adams’ days as a commissioner, Miller will take over the Bureau of Transportation, an outfit close to Adams’ heart. Miller, a bike advocate, gets a giant raise and a chance to ride herd on another of the mayor’s policy priorities.
Observers around town see the moves as a sure sign Adams is getting serious about reelection. Adams practically admitted as much Friday, stressing Yocom’s “keen” and “helpful” political instincts as he explained how she would be divvying duties with Jimenez.
The timing is about right. Adams has 16 months or so before the 2012 primary election—just enough time for Yocom and Jimenez to buff up a political reputation still tainted by the Breedlove scandal (which people should just get over already). And the shakeup comes amid persistent rumors that Cogen, ex-commissioner Charlie Hales, and others are seriously weighing a challenge, even making sub rosa inquiries in search of campaign cash.
Adams, in his presser, was mum about his future. But, tellingly, he compared himself to another struggling politician, also shaking up his staff and girding for a bruising reelection fight: President Barack Obama.
“When I look at what President Obama is facing,” Adams said, “by comparison I feel incredibly fortunate.”
denis, denis, denis….
ok, i’ll bite. i mean, this is what you were searching for, correct?
well, why don’t you just give adams his endorsement as well, regardless of who his challenger will be? by the tone and content of your writing it seems a done deal already.
i take exception to your flip remark ‘(which people should just get over already)’ obviously the remark was designed to anger many of us, correct?
well, why should i?
it is still the most defining aspect of his term…even considering his bike lanes, etc etc. adams knows this too, and will certainly run again, if for no other reason, to get the asterik off his legacy that a second term will give him.
i still cannot forgive his moral indignation when the accusations became public – the way he attacked ball…. what was it he said?
something like these ‘lies’ are especially hurtful coming from another gay man when all he was to beau was a mentor — and something like these things feed into the notion that you cannot trust your children around gays, right?
wow, that took alot of fucking nerve to frame a denial in such a way, huh? it worked in shaming ball out of the election though, didn’t it? ‘swift-boated’ his ass.
and then he ran the campaign against sho with similar ruthlessness.
i find it very ironic to see him comparing himself to Obama in any fashion, first off because he had to skip the inauguration party to come back here to fess up, and then ‘tellingly’ getting dissed by Obama when he came through pdx last.
boy, it sure would be nice to have a Mayor our President would like to meet, eh?
Denis, one thing you may want to get over is the notion that only fuddy duddies that give a fuck about the Beau Breedlove issue are the only ones that dislike Adams.
There are many of us that voted for Adams either for City Council or Mayor, who also happen to care less about the whole Breedlove thing, that really aren’t interested in a second Adams term.
Was there any doubt that Sam was going to run again? He doesn’t know how to do anything but suckle from the public teet.
Irrespective of the Breedlove ickyness, I’m shocked at what a complete corporatist Adams turned out to be. No way I’d vote for him again. Most progressives I know feel the same way. Unless, god forbid, someone even worse runs in the primary.
Lulu nailed it.
Let’s be realistic, people. For all the hype and arguments and media coverage that will inevitably take up the next two years, there’s no way in hell Sam is going to lose the re-election. Because there’s nobody else on council who would stand a chance against him. For all the missteps he’s made, he’s done more good than bad in the eyes of most of the Portland-living public (and people who don’t live within Portland don’t matter for this). Steve Novick is the only person out there who could beat him, so I’ll happily reappraise if he says he’s running against Sam; I’d also be extremely surprised. So, save your fight for something you might have a chance of winning. Like, unseating certain city commissioners…
Adams is alot weaker than you think Stu. ALOT.
Realisticly, almost anyone could beat him.
Just watch….