Mayor Sam Adams returned to work Monday, January 26,
promising Portlanders to “work harder than I ever have in my life.”
He’s currently under investigation by Attorney General John Kroger for
his role in covering up an affair with former legislative intern Beau
Breedlove.
Adams made his way through a media scrum Monday morning, telling
reporters he was “happy to answer questions about city business,”
before taking a seat in council chambers at a historic joint meeting
with the Metro Regional Council to discuss lane and toll options for
the proposed Columbia River Crossing on the I-5 freeway.
The scandal around Adams may have distracted from what might
otherwise be a raging controversy over the possibility of charging
motorists up to two dollars a pop to drive between Vancouver and
Portland during rush hour—a decision on the bridge’s lanes and
tolls is expected to be reached on Friday, February 6.
As of now, it remains unclear whether Adams’ long-term ability to
lead Portlanders on pressing issues like sustainability, the economy,
and the environment may have been compromised by the scandal.
Adams met with his fellow commissioners on Saturday, January 24, in
closed one-on-one sessions at city hall, following a rally in his
support attended by approximately 500 people outside the building on
Friday night.
City Commissioners Dan Saltzman and Amanda Fritz have expressed
support for Adams since the scandal broke. City Commissioner Nick Fish,
too, has mentioned several times that he’s focused on “doing the work
of city council”—but his words are hardly a ringing endorsement
of Adams, who was his 2004 rival for a seat on council. Fish refused to
divulge details of their conversation to reporters on Saturday
afternoon. Then on Saturday night, the Oregonian broke news,
based on an interview with Breedlove, that Adams had kissed Breedlove
twice when he was 17—once in Adams’ car, and once in a restroom
at city hall.
City Commissioner Randy Leonard broke ranks with Adams for the first
time on Sunday, January 25, telling the Mercury that Adams had
said during their office meeting that “there were no more revelations
to come concerning his relationship with Mr. Breedlove.
“When I picked up the paper this morning, I realized he had once
again been less than truthful with me,” Leonard wrote, in an email to
the Mercury. “This does little to help repair the damage my
relationship with Sam has suffered, both on a personal and professional
level.”
Adams’ ability to get the job done as mayor over the coming months
will depend largely on his relationship with his fellow city
commissioners—but also, with the city’s bureau heads, who are
staying tight-lipped on the subject.
On Tuesday, January 27, Portland Water Bureau’s David Schaff,
Portland Department of Transportation’s Susan Keil, Bureau of
Sustainability and Planning’s Susan Anderson, Police Chief Rosie Sizer,
and Carole Smith of Portland Public Schools all declined comment on
whether Adams’ ability to accomplish his agenda has been affected by
the scandal.
“We’re pleased that the mayor is back to work,” say’s Portland
Developement Commission boss Bruce Warner. “And we’re looking
forward to continuing to work with him and Council on his 100-day plan
and the city’s economic stimulus package.”
The Portland Business Alliance, meanwhile, said over the weekend
that its members were “deeply disappointed by the mayor’s admissions
and are concerned about his ability to be effective.”
Others close to the situation are keen to talk about the impact of
the scandal on the condition of anonymity.
“It’s going to be tough for him,” says an unnamed staffer in one of
Adams’ bureaus. “He already grated on people before, because of his
hard-nosed style. He was like an over-demanding, unreasonable coach.
But he had support because he championed ideas that people in the city
supported. But other people, more credible people, can champion those
same ideas, and this is just one more reason for people to turn away
from him. It’s going to be hard for people to believe anything Sam says
in the future.”
Another city staffer says: “Hiring [former Mercury News
Editor] Amy Ruiz showed a lack of judgment, because she was involved in
the story in the past. And leadership requires good judgment.”
Meanwhile, Adams’ director of communications, Wade Nkrumah, resigned
Tuesday morning, January 27. Nkrumah could not be reached for comment
by press time, while Adams’ chief of staff, Tom Miller, declined
comment.
A grown man cheating on his wife with an 18 yr old woman would garner next to NO media coverage. A catholic priest raping an 8 yr old would be COMPLETELY IGNORED. But Sam Adams having CONSENTUAL sex with an 18 yr old GROWN MAN is somehow a 2 week front page sensation. What gives?!
Btw,
I’d just like to add that i think it’s pretty damned cowardly & two-faced how many in the Gay community, including all of JUST OUT’s editorial board, would soo avidly turn there backs on Adams & demanding he resign, damn traitors!
Yeah real cowardly, what with putting their names on the editorial and expressing an opinion that might jeopardize their dwindling readership.
What gives is he is an elected leader that lied to get elected. It directly impacts those who trusted him.
The example man you speak of an older man with a 17/18 year old woman I believe would elicit press and scandal. I don’t believe it would be ignored, especially with the questionable age difference.
Religion is fairly offlimits in this country. You cannot attack religion. Sad, but true.
So he lies about having sex with an 18-yr-old-man,.. so what?! If some sleazy reporter asked Adams about the condition of his prostate & he lied about that, i wouldn’t hold THAT against Adams either! Because what on Earth would it have to do with the business of running a major city?
I also find it quite telling that THIS warrents a 2-week sensation, but the random murders of two teenagers in dt Portland barely regesters on the news reel.
Gosh, if only Bush were held to the same scrutiny as Sam Adams was, we could’ve gotten rid of that p.o.s. years ago!
DamosA – It’s not about sex. It’s not about consenting adults. It’s not about Sam’s personal life.
It is about repeatedly lying. Lying to close co-workers and public officials and getting them to lie for you so you could win an election. Lying and smearing an accuser and competitor in a public election, causing a bruise to that competitors reputation and thus one less choice for voters.
It is about coaching a teenager to lie for you- someone you claimed on record to be “mentor” to, and it is about sexual contact with a 17 year old minor in a bathroom at City Hall while on the job – something any other staff person would be seriously reprimanded for, if not fired.
It is about potentially hiring unqualified staff over other more qualified people based on patronage, friendships and close connections to your office. It’s about a staff that can not lead in your absence, thus showing even more incompetency.
It is about not showing up to work, not showing up to important Council Meetings, hiding, disappearing and not being available to your staff without any word while business of the City is in chaos. It is about putting your own emotions and feelings about City work. It is about not standing up immediately and issuing a statement after 2 people were murdered nightclub in downtown Portland, something any other mayor in the US would have done.
It is about lack of leadership, eroding trust within your own bureaus and constituents, and lack of professionalism. It is about hypocrisy and lack of ethics.
It is not about consensual sex between adults or Sam’s personal life.
@ ExCityEmployee – YES! I voted for Sam, and couldn’t care less about who or how many people he sleeps with, but his total lack of integrity renders him unsuited to be our mayor.
You say it’s not about sex, someone’s personal sex life, whatever – that it was just the lying, but c’mon. This IS about Adam’s sex life; that’s what he was lying about in the 1st place. Everybody loves a good, messy scandle, right?
So i’ve gotta say, i’m just not feelin’ all that uppity & rightous about it. And i question whether all the pho`outrage soo many people have been “expressing” is really all that sincere.
Maybe it’s me – b/c i’ve only only been here for 3/half years maybe i’m not yet getting it. B/c folks in this city suuure do fine some silly things to get “outraged” about.
Just lemme know when Adams starts f#@king with people’s money & lying about THAT. Until then, the economy’s Hell & i’m too broke to give a damn about [another] politician lying about who he nailed more than a year ago.
Looks as though Sam Adams has assimilated well into Hetero-sexual society – he’s proven he has flaws just like the REST of us. Ofcourse, if Gays were allowed to get married in this state, none of this would’ve ever happened.
Ok DamosA,
How bout this?
How do we KNOW he didnt have sex with Beau until the kid was 18???
TRUST HIS WORD???
“A grown man cheating on his wife with an 18 yr old woman would garner next to NO media coverage.”
If he were the mayor, there would be plenty of coverage.
“A catholic priest raping an 8 yr old would be COMPLETELY IGNORED.”
This was a prominent story for years and is still playing out across the country. It’s in the media.
Because based on what i’ve read/viewed in this story, whether this Beau guy was actually 18 when he [allegedly] has sex with Adams is in very little dispute. Obviously, most of us will never KNOW, but until it’s been proven otherwise, i’ll take Adams’ word on it.
Besides, 17 is close enough – especially when the next b-day is up in just afew weeks. Might as damn well at that point.
Oh goodness, if only Sam were a catholic priest, EVERYONE would’ve left him alone!
You’ve got to be kidding me! Sam is responsible for his actions and should be held accountable for them!. We shouldn’t take blame for his moral and ethical failings, quit making excuses for bad behavior that’s whats wrong with society today no one takes responsibility for their actions and everyone excuses it. Is this how our parents and their parents behaved , honestly everyone needs to look inside and be honest with yourself.
DamosA,
So you are cool with the KATU story below in which someone comes forward and says that Sam lied (yet again) and *was* having sex with a 17 year-old?
http://www.katu.com/news/38733737.html
As if KATU were a ligitimate News source, RIGHT!
And i’m all for people taking responsibility for their actions, & EVERYONE being held to account for what they do, no matter who they are. But that’s my issue with all this. None of it is in porportion!
All this Adams story makes me think of, is ALL the politicians who’ve told waaay bigger lies & have gotten clean away with it & hardly a peep of protest from anyone about it. All the sex scandals that were faaar worse that hardly anyone made any noise over.
Once again, Adams had sex with another grown man. Yeah, he lied about it – big deal – move on. I somehow get the feeling that if Adams were straight & were caught embezzling funds years into his term, this wouldn’t be as big a news story.
Sam Adams is a power hungry prick with poor impulse control. He is responsible for his own undoing. It’s not the media’s fault, it’s not Beau’s fault, it’s not Bob Ball’s fault.
He has nobody to blame but himself.