VARIOUSLY DUBBED THE "RECALL RECALL," "recall 2.0," and the "Total Recall" after the film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, a second effort to recall Mayor Sam Adams appeared to be cranking up for a Wednesday launch when the Mercury went to press on Tuesday afternoon, January 19.

A previous all-volunteer effort following the Breedlove scandal crashed and burned last October ["Going... Going... Go, Already," Hall Monitor, Oct 1, 2009]. But Ross Day, co-owner of signature-gathering firm Voice of the Electorate, told the Mercury that his firm plans to hit the streets with 18 to 20 paid petitioners as soon as the campaign files.

"God love the volunteers, they did a great job, but we've got processes in place that will allow us to collect signatures more effectively," said Day, who does not yet have a signed contract with the campaign to gather the signatures. Last year, Day speculated that such a contract would be for between $150,000 and $300,000 ["Enter Puppeteers," News, Nov 12, 2009].

The timing of the effort is also interesting, in the context of efforts by Oregon conservatives to defeat Measures 66 and 67. Voice of the Electorate successfully gathered signatures for the no campaign on the measures, and a second recall campaign is likely to distract voter attention from the January 26 election.

"I think the citizens of Portland need to vote to determine whether or not they want to have Adams represent them," says Tim Boyle, boss of Columbia Sportswear, who has donated to the campaign. "It's important that we have a leader that citizens feel comfortable with, and who other government officials feel comfortable having their photographs taken with."

Meanwhile, all the other major players in the second effort were elusive on Tuesday. Spokesperson Avel Gordly did not return calls for comment, while wealthy auto dealer Ron Tonkin was asleep, recuperating from a month in the hospital after undergoing heart surgery, when the Mercury called him at his vacation home in Indian Wells, California. Also unavailable for comment were Stimson Lumber executive Andrew Miller and SKB real estate firm boss Peter Stott.

Mayor Adams was at a conference of mayors in Washington, DC.