Former state Sen. Avel Gordly signed up for a role today as chief petitioner and spokesperson for the second attempt to recall Mayor Sam Adams.
Gordly, 62, retired from the Legislature in 2008 after 17 years of service and now teaches at Portland State University. Her new prominent role in the second recall could thrust Gordly back into the kind of partisan battles she decried as a lawmaker. But she’s among a group of Portlanders who believe voters should have another chance to decide who should be mayor, given that Adams acknowledged lying about his relationship with then 18-year old Beau Breedlove in order to win the mayor’s seat in 2008.
During Gordly’s tenure in Salem, she earned a reputation for independence. In 2006, she left the Democratic Party and became the only lawmaker not affiliated with either major party in protest over what she saw as excessive partisanship. (She became a Democrat again in 2008 to vote for Barack Obama in the presidential primary).
Gordly joins a nascent effort that began earlier this month after the first recall campaign failed to gather the 32,183 signatures required to place a recall on the ballot.
In the last week, The Portland Tribune and The Oregonian have identified two local business leaders -Tim Boyle, the CEO of Columbia Sportswear; and car dealer Ron Tonkin- as two of the deep pockets interested in backing a second recall campaign.
Here’s a brief interview WW conducted with Gordly late Tuesday afternoon.
WW: Why did you agree to get involved with the recall?
Gordly: I remain convinced that Portland voters should have an opportunity to decide whether the mayor should stay in office.
WW: You’re likely to face criticism from the mayor’s supporters. Was it a difficult decision to get involved in the recall?
Gordly: No. I’ve thought long and hard about the issue and believe strongly that we’re at a crossroads at the city and state. This is about the character and values of our city—not just about one person. It’s about how we move forward. And I don’t think we can diminish the importance of voters having their say.
WW: Some people say that recall proponents had their chance and now it’s time to move on and deal with the pressing issues Portland faces.
Gordly: I disagree. This is unfinished business. It’s about what we as a city communicate to the rest of the nation and the world about our values.
I recognize that we have a “status quo” culture in this city that would like us to be satisfied [with the failed recall attempt] and move on. But what are the missed opportunities that are not coming to our city as a result of crippled leadership? We can’t move on until we finish the business of defining who are we are and what the values are that set us apart in this city and this state.
- Two More Business Leaders Join Sam Adams Recall Two more
- Mayoral Recall Effort To Go Forward A spokesma
- Week To Go in Sam Adams Recall Effort In case y
- Recall Sam Adams Campaign Opens Its New Office The Commu
- Updated: Real-Estate Magnate Joe Weston Supports Recall Campaign American
Tags: Avel Gordly, Portland, recall, Sam Adams
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Right on, someone who understands the importance of and believes in character and values, I’m with Avel.
So she’s cool with spending millions of taxpayers money on an election that the first effort couldn’t even get enough signatures to approve and wouldn’t even change things.
Avel…ummm…you’re dismissed. I’m glad she bailed out of Oregon politics. Worthless. She can now hang out with Jasun Wurster and Tim Boyle in his bunker in Vancouver.
Garret,
A recall election cost about $350K. Also, I live in Portland and am not going to be bullied by your lies and disinformation… or your master who’s play book you are using, Sam Adams.
jasun
Remember when you said your stupid little recall was going to be successful? Remember when all your backers were big wimps and let you take all the heat? Remember when you lied and said you had 30,000 signatures? Oh wait, you didn’t lie? Pony up the signatures bud.
Oh but hold on…let me insert your answer. “Sam Adams is such a bully that he’ll bully 30,000 people.”
Go away.
The election won’t cost millions. What is it costing us to have Adams in office? Too much.
Garrett,
Remember the many times I offered to meet you in person for coffee to talk about the recall civilly? The offer still stands and all you have to do is call me at 503-799-7919.
jasun
Garrett – “Oh but hold on…let me insert your answer. “Sam Adams is such a bully that he’ll bully 30,000 people.”
Yes Garrett, imho Sam is retaliatory and every bit the bully he’s been reported to be.
Take the 2nd income tax he rallied for and eventually instituted that certainly stood to impact one real estate developer Sam Adams had already very publicly retaliated against, a real estate developer by the name of Bob Ball, also a “credible and responsible” whistle-blower against Sam Adams self-admitted inappropriate relationship with a minor….and how about other 27,000 real estate developers and real estate brokers that also are in line to pay the price of Sam Adams grudge for transactions that closed in Portland proper.
Did Adams lobby for and assess the same 2nd income tax against other independently employed individuals such as; Insurance Agents, CPA’s, Physicians, Dentists, Chiropractors, Financial Consultants, Stock Brokers, Auto Brokers, Home Remodelers, Interior Designers, etc? No, he didn’t. Why just real estate developers and real estate brokers? I think the answer is pretty obvious.
Wake-up and smell the out-house Garrett!
In reply to Garrett’s “Oh but hold on…let me insert your answer. “Sam Adams is such a bully that he’ll bully 30,000 people.”
Really? Sam Adams has proven he’s a bully. Take the bullying and retaliation one local real estate developer and “credible and responsible” whistle-blower who reported Sam’s self-professed inappropriate relationship with a minor experienced, and all the other 27,999 real estate developers and brokers in Oregon who felt the backlash of Sam’s wrath, when closing a transaction in Portland proper.
The 2nd income tax Sam lobbied for, and went on to institute in Portland proper. An additional 10-13% from every closed real estate transaction.
Certainly Bob Ball, who’d already been publicly retaliated against, would have noticed the “special tax” and felt additional harassment from Sam in his pocket-book, as for the other 27,999 real estate developers and realtors? I guess they were just collateral damage for Sam’s hate. Maybe all the RE Developers and Realtors should join in a class action suit against Sam for “discrimination”.
What’s he got against real estate developers/brokers that he doesn’t against all the other independent contractors in Portland. He didn’t lobby for this same tax against; stock brokers, auto brokers, Chiropractors, Doctors, Home Remodelers, Insurance Agents, Interior Designers, etc.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to identify IMHO, sheer evil and a rather obvious targeted abuse of power. Can you cite a better example of bullying behavior? I just outlined 28,000.
Wake-up and smell the “Out House” Garrett!
Now this is the best news I have heard all week.
I signed before and I’ll sign again. Every day you read the paper there are more reasons to recall and reform the entire city government.The bread and circuses have to stop here in Rome. Soccer stadiums, leaf pickup taxes,bioswales instead of parking, guns for the water police , Made in Oregon going dark, money for bikes but fees for the Sellwood bridge. Let’s elect Thomas Pynchon instead!His universe is more coherent than ours!
Avel needs to read the Kroger report. This is finished business. Question: who is paying her for this work?
The mounting cost here is the avid distraction from city business. Now that would be an interesting story: consider the history of the Clinton administration after Whitewater and quantify what crippling another city hall administration will cost us in lost opportunity.
Are you saying that attempting to recall Adams makes him unable to do his job?
Using that logic, you’re saying that Adams hasn’t done “city business” during the past six month recall effort, because it “distracted” him.
Huh?
The Kroger report reached the conclusion that there was not sufficient evidence to charge Adams with having sex with a minor.
They concluded this because they found Breedlove to be unreliable as a witness, due to the fact that his earlier statements contradicted his later ones.
Those prior statements were made while Breedlove was being advised to lie by Adams and Adams’ lawyer, neither of whom suggested that Breedlove get his own lawyer.
Among the many issues that Kroger did not pursue was the abuse of office in hiring a Mercury reporter who had no qualifications; whether there may have been some lesser crime committed and/or any other witnesses to Adams’ “affair” with Breedlove; or whether Adams and his attorneys tampered wih a witness in a criminal investigation.
“Finished business”? Hardly.
Beyond the legalities, the AG’s office is not the appropriate entity to make a decision on Adams overall ethics, his despicable smears against Bob Ball or his cynical use of the “homophobia” card against criticisms we now know to have been essentially true.
That decision belongs to the voters of this city, and I look forward to making it when this recall qualifies.
JJ
Finally! A community leader willing to take on Sam Adams.
Exactly. Though, thanks to Wurster, his volunteers and everybody who signed a petition, Gordly must know that hers is a pretty safe and widely supported position.
Right on! Now maybe the media will report on the real issues with the recall versus Jasun Wurster, how much money he raised or how many votes he collected. We need to be talking about Sam Adams’ ethics, not the petition drive. Even the WW dropped the ball. Nigel, please write more about AG investigation, Sam’s stonewalling, and the campaign to discredit Bob Ball. Also, there are people who know the truth about Sam in the bathroom – this needs to be delved into and reported on.
Norm! says:
October 21, 2009 at 7:56 am
Finally! A community leader willing to take on Sam Adams.
Reply: In this place, her role will draw a bunch of fire…Don’t mess with Avel is my thinking.
Nigel, please write more about AG investigation, Sam’s stonewalling, and the campaign to discredit Bob Ball. Also, there are people who know the truth about Sam in the bathroom – this needs to be delved into and reported on.
pdxrocks is so correct on his above.
I don’t care what Sam did in the bathroom. I don’t care whether he told the truth, or didn’t, about his personal relationships. It has no bearing on his conduct as an elected official.
I didn’t vote for him before, and after seeing how he’s handled several issues since becoming mayor, I probably won’t vote for him in the future, but nothing he’s done, that I can see, rises to the level of recalling an elected official.
BRAVO!
If Adams doesn’t resign he really is going to be recalled.
I’ve heard that one before.
Have you heard the one about the Mayor who lied to get elected, slandered several political opponents, falsely accused one of rape, lied to several of his staff, and admitted to all of it?
I love that one.
I’m surprised you can hear anything considering where your head is.
“Democrats for Gordon Smith” figurehead Avel Gordly.
Yawn.
This recall is too negative. Portland just needs to get over it.
Strangely, the recall effort was positive–it was the fluffy-headed critics who were negative.
How ironic–people who express unreserved hate for other people trying to hold politicians accountable.
And how profoundly sad.
Gordly is a hero for stepping forward. Adams wasn’t cleared of anything. Kroger just couldn’t prosecute because Adams lawyers beat his investigators to the witness and got him to sign a statement that contradicted a statement that Breedlove’s earlier attorney (an Adams supporter) had him sign. I recently read all of the Kroger papers. Interesting reading.
Adams:
- Groomed a minor for sex
- Trashed another gay man whistleblower who brought his concerns public
- Lied to the press and public
- Asked the young man to lie for him
This is not ‘private’ behavior. Adams did it all in a public way and kissed a minor in a city hall bathroom (which was a crime if Adam’s lawyers hadn’t gotten to Breedlove.) He did this while he was a city councilman.
The point is that we all now know that Adams would behave like this and will do anything to further his agenda. He doesn’t care about the City of Portland at all. He only cares about his own power and should step down. Adams supporters claim that the recall is distracting but it’s really Adams that is the problem. Adams has caused all of this and needs to end it by resigning.
Jack Peek…Stalker Jack Peek?
http://pdxsucks.com/2009/10/14/poking-fun-at-the-illiterate-right/
Oh and Jack…why don’t you face the fact the miserable little recall failed once already. Let it go.
This recall is too negative. Portland just needs to get over it. Bryan
Yes it is negetive…and to GARRETT, why don’t you face the fact, we have someone who cannot be trusted, his skills to govern, are not there, he continues to explore areas that cost money we don’t have, he allows himself exposure to put the city in a harmful light,he refuses to see daylight in the dark of being “drunk” on power, and lastly, SAM, really isn’t a nice person, when it comes to representing ALL of us.
You people point out the good he has done, and I don’t mean cater to a very narrow segment of the entire city, that cannot be done.
Jasun did what he could, but a real chance for people to be heard will happen if it all goes together.
What was really a shock(really I guess it wasn’t) was the hundreds of people in the Metro-area, that wanted to sign, and were turn away.
Yeah ..yeah,I know, they were not inside the city limits…but if you think SAM/RAAADY,and the rest’s decisions to not impact them…you’re dead wrong, and if the decision did allow them,he would be collecting unemployment.
Tim Boyle, Ron Tonkin – and now Avel Gordly – will be remembered as heroes once this mess is behind us.
Looking forward to more community leaders doing the right thing– Zidell? Pamplin? Schnitzer?
No kidding. The recall is legit; it’s safe to come out now.
Winkler? Goodman? Moyer?
Wurster came very close on a shoestring budget in the middle of the summer season … this renewed effort will be successful … and when it is, Portland will have the opportunity to elect a mayor in an open, objective environment … if Sam then wins – good for him … it will be a clear cut victory with all the cards on the table …
I love this woman! Can we clone her? Seriously. This little lady doesn’t just talk, the talk…she walks, the walk. And she’s one of the few current and former officials who broke ranks, and had the moxie to speak-out strongly about the need for “ethics” in our local government. She cares about our city, and about the young people who reside in it.
Love her, love her, love her.
I’d say Avel for Mayor, but actually I believe that job is beneath her. Avel for Governor!
Sam Adams has summed the various justified reasons for his recall in a very concise manner himself and in various WW articles with Nigel:
Take Nigel’s: Adams’ Admission Reaction: Hear Mayor Sam Adams Deflect the Bathroom Question
2:39 PM January 29th, 2009 by Nigel Jaquiss;
NIGEL JAQUISS: At any time in 2005, were you and Beau Breedlove ever in the same City Hall bathroom?
SAM ADAMS: Oh, yes, I heard about this email [an anonymous email sent to numerous newsrooms suggested Breedlove and Adams were together in a City Hall bathroom] from–went out to people. Um, I–maybe, I don’t know. If it was, it wasn’t–it wouldn’t be for very long.
Adams’ Admission Reaction: Mayor Repentant at City Hall Press Conference – 3:23 PM January 20th, 2009 by Nigel Jaquiss
“But he repeatedly apologized to his constituents, his colleagues and Breedlove, now 21, whom he says he instructed to lie to reporters.”
“Asked whether he was treated differently from other politicians because he is gay, Adams said no. “I think this is an issue about a public official lying,” he says. “Not an issue of sexual orientation.”
“One person Adams says he does not owe an apology is Pearl District developer Bob Ball, the man who originally brought forth information about Adams and Breedlove in 2005.”
Repost of Sam’s letter smearing Ball, a “credible and responsible” whistle-blower:
Dear Portlander,
As you have probably seen in the media, I have been the target of a nasty smear by a would-be political opponent. I will not dignify the substance of this smear by repeating it – if you read the accounts you will see there is no foundation to it. The reason is simple: it is untrue.
This kind of ugly politicking may be commonplace in other cities and at the national level, but Portland and Oregon largely has been blessedly free of it. It saddens me that it has been introduced here, and I have faith that Portlanders’ rejection of it will mean that this incident is an anomaly.
About this attempted smear, here is what I want to say.
I have in the past, and I will in the future, respond to people who reach out to me for help and advice. This is especially true when it comes to young people.
Growing up in Newport and Eugene, Oregon I remember when I was a teenager and I had nobody who I felt I could talk to at a time I desperately needed someone to give me advice and perspective about coming to terms with being gay. I came through it. Not everyone does.
Gay youth suicide rates, homelessness and depression are still too high. And adequate services have been lacking: Reasons why I co-founded Portland’s Q Center, served on the Boards of Cascade AIDS Project, Basic Right Oregon and lobbied the state legislature in support of statewide non-discrimination laws.
I didn’t get into public life to allow my instinct to help others to be snuffed out by fear of sleazy misrepresentations or political manipulation. I understand the need for good judgment, and I keep within the bounds of propriety — as I did in this case.
I’m glad that people consider me as a person they could come to for help, understanding and support. I work at it. And I hope that you do too. Local programs needing mentors have long waiting lists.
About my political future: this attempted smear will not deter me from serving Portland in the best way I know how. Soon I will be with sharing with you my future political plans.
With warm regards,
Sam
“I didn’t get into public life to allow my instinct to help others to be snuffed out by fear of sleazy misrepresentations or political manipulation.”
Interestingly, Sam Adams has no trouble using sleazy misrepresentations and political manipulation to destroy his opponents and save his own skin… Sam is a master manipulator and a sleazy politician, which is why he needs to be recalled. He lied and manipulated his way into office.
The fact that he sees no reason to apologize to Robert Ball speaks volumes about this man’s selfish character and lack of integrity.
Dear Portlander,
As you have probably seen in the media, I have been the target of a nasty smear by a would-be political opponent. I will not dignify the substance of this smear by repeating it – if you read the accounts you will see there is no foundation to it. The reason is simple: it is untrue.
This kind of ugly politicking may be commonplace in other cities and at the national level, but Portland and Oregon largely has been blessedly free of it. It saddens me that it has been introduced here, and I have faith that Portlanders’ rejection of it will mean that this incident is an anomaly.
About this attempted smear, here is what I want to say.
HEY SAM: His words were honest, and yours…well, they were not.
As someone who knows you better then alot of people(no we don’t hang out)I have seen your real side, the side you show, as you walk away from a photo op.
The real person, who never, ever thinks about how your actions will impact this city, otherwise, you would have resigned.
Power is a drug, as sure as you inject in into your veins, and once “hooked” YOU CAN’T LET GO.
The second coming of this recall, won’t be like my recall of your “godmother, where we had no money to do it right, or the last one on you.
Major players are meeting…the courage to clean this mess up, its led by people you have impacted….and they will “get some!” this trip.
My Mom, so strongly believe in the old say, “What goes around, comes around.”
Me…I prefer Karma is a B-word.
That’s right, genuinerisk – we’ll keep working to hold Sam accountable for his ethical transgressions and to have an honest and fair election, rather than sit apathetically by and watch him get away with his corrupt behavior. You can choose to look the other way of you want to, but don’t expect the rest of us to ignore to the lies.
Sam is an admitted liar — how can we ever trust anything he ever says?
We won’t let Sam forget that we know the truth about him.
A quote for Sam Adams and all the other local unethical officials like him;
“It takes less time to do a thing right, than it does to explain why you did it wrong.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
OMG This city is NUTS! Portland is such a fucking INSANE ASYLUM!
Are you referring to Portland being “weird”?
Yes this city is nuts-its rolled over like a wet rain soaked noodle and allowed an admitted liar and conspiritor for others to lie to govern our city. The thing that shocks and disgusts me most is that 40% of this city and our very own city commissioners thinks this its ok, therefore have sent a message to every student, city employee, man, woman and child that its ok to lie away-there will be no reprocussions. Go ahead city employees steal from the city and lie about it-no problem. Go ahead little Suzy, seduce one of the commissioners but just wait until your 18(several minutes after is ok)to consummate your relationship and then lie about it. Also agree to lie about if the Commissioner asks you too. Nothing will happen to either one of you!!! EVERYTHING is ok as long as you eventially admit it, apologize and promise to ‘work hard’. The disgust is as fresh now as it was in January and this now includes every member of our dusyfucntional group of Commissioners.
Yes it is negetive…and to GARRETT, why don’t you face the fact, we have someone who cannot be trusted, his skills to govern, are not there, he continues to explore areas that cost money we don’t have, he allows himself exposure to put the city in a harmful light,he refuses to see daylight in the dark of being “drunk” on power, and lastly, SAM, really isn’t a nice person, when it comes to representing ALL of us.
Garrett: And you think my writing is an issue..that dope you and Bobbie smoke…is tainted by a pig with the flu.
Name me one politician in the history of the western world that was capable of representing “ALL of us” and I’ll sign the new petition right now. There’s always going to be a handful of people who feel that they aren’t being adequately represented and those people are always going to feel that anyone who doesn’t see thing their way are wrong. What else is new?
Further, the flu ridden dope that I’m supposedly smoking isn’t an excuse for your piss poor spelling. That’s just plain bad edumacation there Jack. I’d tell you to write your congressman but I have a feeling that your various government officials have probably been dead sick of hearing from you for the last decade or two.
Jack Peek: Stalker extraordinaire.
Fact of the matter is Avel Gordley supported a gay hating Mormon. She left the Democratic Party and sided with that Republican. Yes the Mormon church hates the gay. Prop 8 in California anyone? Not surprised here she doesn’t like a proudly gay mayor.
Hey Jack…learn to spell and then command of the English language. Quit writing like religious tracts, quit e-mailing the media community like an idiot, and quit respewing whatever the Republican party has told you to respew.
Avel Gordly Will Take A Top Role In The Second Effort To Recall Mayor Sam Adams.
Dear PDXSUX: The thread topic is above “Boobie”…the it is a fact, the topic is SAM…NOT,my spelling.
You brag…you’re a doper, so light up, CHILL, and debate,or perhaps..stick to the topic.
The other fact, is when you have lost a debate..You ” Tree-Hugging, Birkenstock-Wearing, Dope Smoking, Red-Headed Sustainable Stepchild of the Pacific Northwest” NOT MY WORDS….YOURS, Your kind resorts to personal attacks…Now Bob/Garrett, be nice, or don’t play at all.
Dear moderator: Please remind Mr.BOB,that I’m trying to stay on topic,I just was allowed on here, perhaps he needs sometime out.
This recall has nothing to do with whether Sam Adams represents you or me. If you love in Portland city, he does. Regardless whether you voted for him, for someone else or voted not at all. This recall is about whether we, the people represented by Sam Adams, wish to have him continue in office or not. That simple.
I know where I stand, but I do not vote. As to whether the mayor should be recalled or whether he will face a recall election, well that is a matter for those people who choose to put up their time and effort to go through this process.
It is a valid and vigorous process. I believe the process should be respected, regardless of one’s politics. Just remember,next time the shoe may be on another foot.
I particularly enjoyed the part in which the old lady leading the recall says that she prayed really hard before deciding on joining the second attempt. This is precisely the divine guidance that the Portland politics badly needs. With a little more piety and harder prayer, we can have a non-stop recall for years to come: WW will get to “report” on it daily, and old ladies will be kept busy.
And of course, one cannot ignore a nice little vignette: after her prayer session, Ms. Gordly decided to join forces with several right-wing businessmen, including one Ron Tonkin who has just been accused by the Oregon attorney general of massively defrauding his customers. With folks like Tonkin and Boyle, righteousness will certainly roll down like a mighty stream and cleanse the morally impure Portland.
My Dearest Student,
Adams himself summed-up, in a very compelling and concise manner, the reasons for community leaders like; Avel Gordly, former Mayor Tom Potter and his wife, Tim Boyle, Ron Tonkin, Joe Weston, Ted Wheeler, etc. feel that the vote for a Recall of him should have been put back before the “peeps”:
Adams’ Admission Reaction: Mayor Repentant at City Hall Press Conference – 3:23 PM January 20th, 2009 by Nigel Jaquiss
“But he repeatedly apologized to his constituents, his colleagues and Breedlove, now 21, whom he says he instructed to lie to reporters.”
And for tactically defend Adams by claiming he’s a victim of bias, consider Sam’s own assessment of why community leaders and citizens wanted a Recall: “Asked whether he was treated differently from other politicians because he is gay, Adams said no. “I think this is an issue about a public official lying,” he says. “Not an issue of sexual orientation.”
Adams supporters are so predicable in their smearing of citizens who are asking for responsible and accountable leadership for the city of Portland. Weren’t the ugly politics and smears Sam engaged in, a large part of why he found himself in this predicament in the first place?
And why are you so opposed to a “fair” vote being put before the people? You come across as being self-assured that the citizens want Adams to remain in office. Yet the hate and vitriol you spew contradicts your self confidence? Take a good hard look within yourself. My guess is that you will see that your opposition to Sam Adams recall is fear-based.
You and other Sam Adams supporters might want to re-tool your approach, because obviously it hasn’t put the fire out. If anything, your feeding it.
In a democratic process, the common people are to be considered as the primary source of political power. The democratic process also is centered on the principles of social equality and respect for all the individuals within a community. Some people are just not satisfied with dishonest local government.
Sam Adams admits he misled the taxpayers. Many feel disrespected. Obviously no one could feel that disrespect and dishonesty as much as Bob Ball and Beau Breedlove do, but disrespected just the same.
And for citizens who actually care about our city, the protection of it’s citizens and the unquestionable desire for our city leaders to; act with integrity at all times, protect our the city and it’s inhabitants, honor his/her oath of public office and certainly not to intentionally engage in abuses of power which harm our citizens, we have a right to demand redress, when we believe an injustice has been done. It’s our inherent right.
Sam is a public servant whom we elected to honor his oath of office, the assurances that got him into office, our expectations of him, and to work for our city and it’s citizens, not against them. Instead what we got was a city leader who arrogantly breached his oath of office and continued to breach his oaths of office by abusing his power to maintain his position.
If you do not understand the broad-reaching ramifications of Sam Adams misconduct, and how those acts divided our city and changed Portland’s entire political landscape, than trying to reason with you is just wasting your time. And I am sorry for that.
This recall has nothing to do with whether Sam Adams represents you or me. If you love in Portland city, he does. Regardless whether you voted for him, for someone else or voted not at all. This recall is about whether we, the people represented by Sam Adams, wish to have him continue in office or not. That simple. JW
Dear JW: The guy does not represent all of us, the comment “that he can’t is simply wrong.
We all know whom he caters to, and no I CARE beans he’s gay, but those factions and the bike community rein supreme, and working class people EAST, and the business community be damned.
Then, it’s arrogance,it’s miscues on spending money, it really more then everything, destroying a friend, directly lying numerous times,and not resigning for it.
The city ethics laws are there for a resason..if there not..delete them from the city laws, and just say the city has no reason for them.
Avel is right..it’s time we define who we are, because right now, accountable for nothing seems about right ,and that is wrong.
It seems to me that the security guard who caught Sam and Beau in the act should man up and tell the truth. I’d do it sooner than later, because he’s a huge liability for the Adam’s power players and I imagine they’d like to silence him for good before the truth comes out. It must be hell for him living under these conditions, because he has to constantly watch his back and also deal with his own conscience. Please just come forward and tell the truth security guard and let’s clean up this mess once and for all; you’ll feel better and safer yourself and also help Portland move on through these tough times.
The city ethics laws are there for a resason..if there not..delete them from the city laws, and just say the city has no reason for them.
Avel is right..it’s time we define who we are, because right now, accountable for nothing seems about right ,and that is wrong.
“The city ethics laws are there for a resason..if there not..delete them from the city laws, and just say the city has no reason for them.”
Repeal the law, if no body is held accountable…GET RID OF THE WORDS!
If Randy wants to be the “big Cheese” in all matters..he needs to say what I said.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”
-Dr Martin Luther King
A supporter of the inevitable recall, I’m reminded of the movement to end apartheid.
Portland is being oppressed – under the rule of an autocrat and admitted liar, elected to office under false pretense after willfully deceiving the Citizens of Portland.
The most disturbing aspect of this ordeal is that City Council members have remained silent – in effect condoning and enabling our mayor’s tragic behavior.
Just as the oppressed rose to end apartheid, Portland will rise and end this injustice:
“You can blow out a candle
But you can’t blow out a fire
Once the flames begin to catch
The wind will blow it higher”
-Peter Gabriel, ‘Biko’
You’re seriously quoting Peter Gabriel?
Yes Garrett, it appears Portland Native included a quote from Peter Gabriel in his post. And appropriate it was. You know Peter Gabriel was abused by someone older when he was a child, didn’t you? I believe that abuse was the beginning of “The Innocence Project”.
And when it comes to unethical local officials who abuse their oath of public office and the power of those offices with taxpayer subsidized government resources and actually bring harm to “Credible and responsible” citizen whistle-blowers and/or those who’ve fallen out of favor with them, I offer the following lyrics.
“Please come here
Come right on over
And when we collide we’ll see what get’s left over.
- Gomez “How we operate”
Garrett says:
October 23, 2009 at 1:28 pm
You’re seriously quoting Peter Gabriel?
Dear Garrett:
It seems like the truth is a B-word around this town, you and a few others condone an unethical,lying person in a position of power,not to mention a guy who spends money like he has a gold plated AMEX card.
The money isn’t his, there isn’t a never ending supply of it(he’s like BHO)and we are broke just to do that old truth thing again.
It still amazes me why there are ethics laws for this city..simply amazing, it really is.
I just found this in the dictionary…
Jack Peek: Creepy dude who sends out stupid e-mails or Oregon’s media CAPITALIZING everything like right wing propaganda or religious tracts. His thoughts are antiquated and dismissed by all members of the media. Takes a statement such as “You’re seriously quoting Peter Gabriel?” and then goes off on another tangent completely.
Jack, you’re dismissed.
Garrett says:
October 23, 2009 at 2:49 pm
I just found this in the dictionary…
Jack Peek: Creepy dude who sends out stupid e-mails or Oregon’s media CAPITALIZING everything like right wing propaganda or religious tracts. His thoughts are antiquated and dismissed by all members of the media. Takes a statement such as “You’re seriously quoting Peter Gabriel?” and then goes off on another tangent completely.
Hey Garrett..no matter what you think…your boy is going down, in fact, he will resign before to long.
Again…everything you said. I’ve heard that before. How did it work out the first time?
Garrett: What about those ethic laws?
Are you saying we don’t need them?
Student, you need to spend more time studying the issue and less time attacking the messengers. This would be a good place for you to start:
http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=13924
It’s not the messenger’s fault Sam did what he did – he’s solely to blame and should have turned in the resignation letter he wrote in January. The above editorial articulates why perfectly.
Dear pdxrocks:
Will you please remind Garrett that either SAM resigns, or the city ethics laws get tossed.
We have these idiots stick to them, or toss them out.
CAPITALIZED for EMPHASIS just like the religious tracts and right wing web sites taught you?
Don’t mean to possibly offend you Garrett, but you’re beginning to sound like someone yourself who was raised in the Bible Belt, confused and throwing tantrums. Be careful that you don’t go transferring anything of your own background onto others.
This cat, Jack Peek, doesn’t come across like he’s reflecting “religious tracts and right wing web sites”. Better watch yourself man. You give off the impression it’s you who are at the crossroads of fanaticism.
Garrett says:
October 25, 2009 at 3:30 pm
CAPITALIZED for EMPHASIS just like the religious tracts and right wing web sites taught
Garrett: Topic/thread….or —-!
When is anyones writings an issue?
My style, my ENGLISH…is not the topic.
All it proves GARRETT/BOOBIE WAGNER,is that dope your so proud of smoking is going to be mostly legal.
Add that to the topic here, you have added everything else.
PS: WHAT ABOUT THOSE CITY ETHICS LAWS..MAYBE YOUR HARD OF HEARING, ALONG WITH A HOST OF OTHER THINGS.
Hey Garrett..no matter what you think…your boy is going down, in fact, he will resign before to long.
Reply
Garrett says:
October 25, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Again…everything you said. I’ve heard that before. How did it work out the first time?
garrett: Like it should have with no money, this time…M-O-N-E-Y,is the there.
And knowing what I know…HE WILL RESIGN.
Garrett, you’re doing the same thing Sam Adams did – attack the messenger to deflect attention from the real issue. This is a rather right-wing tactic. Can you make a logical defense for Sam remaining in office without attacking those of us (and we are a very diverse group of citizens) that want him held accountable?
Fact: Sam Adam lied to get elected. It was a fraudulent election. If you’re so sure about Sam, why are you afraid of him running again in an honest and fair election?
An interesting “theory” I’d like to throw out to Nigel for consideration:
Had the MCDA done the job that we pay them to do with regard to Sam Adams, instead of citing a “conflict of interest”, we would most likely not even be having these discussions because “they” would not have been able to discredit Beau Breedlove, like the DOJ was able to.
In my opinion the AG was the only one “clean enough” to discredit a whistle-blower. Which I personally view Breedlove as being.
I find it rather disingenuous though that “the system’ we rely on to mete-out justice can determine one of our citizen’s claims are without merit because if was found he was caught “shoplifting” AFTER Sam Adams had engaged in the self-admitted inappropriate relations with the minor and given INSTRUCTIONS for that same minor to lie, which accounts for the “changes in statements” later used to discredit the witness.
All of which amazingly resulted in Adams being; able to move forward without any consequences, and in the end, allowed to remain in the office of Mayor.
******While a branch of that same prosecutorial arm, under different leadership (the MCDA), allowed another very well-known known “shoplifter that actually became violent when busted” to be hired at the MCDA’s office, and was allowed to go on, to actually PROSECUTE our citizens. WTH?
In essence we’ve had offending prosecutors who’ve exercised extremely poor judgment, prosecuting our citizens, for similar conduct. Am I the only one who has a problem with this?
Had the MCDA investigated Sam Adams acts, we could have forced accountability, by pointing the finger right back at those within the DA’s own ranks who have misrepresented facts and committed incredible lapses of judgment and yet were deemed credible enough, not to just make statements about others, but to actually prosecute them before a jury of their peers.
Follow the attached link to just one of the many examples of those from within that office who were held to a different standard than those they “judged”….our fellow citizens;
http://wweek.com/editorial/2930/3969/
and consider the following statements MCDA employees made about just one of their own prosecutors lapses in judgment (in Bradley’s statement he eluded to others) but specifically;
“John Bradley, Schrunk’s recently retired second-in-command, says they weren’t overly concerned by the shoplifting charge.
“Everybody has made mistakes in their life. Some of our best attorneys have,” says Bradley.” Huh?!
*****And yet we find our own citizens statements and integrity, like Beau Breedlove’s when under the same microscope, are held to a higher standard, and in fact discredited entirely, with no credit being applied to the circumstances or the fact that everyone makes mistakes in life. WTH?
Unlike some of the employees from the MCDA’s office,
1) Beau never committed acts of violence against our citizens
2)Beau has never been accused of prosecutorial misconduct with judges concurring the attorney committed ethical violations
3)Beau has never been accused by his supervisor of having a drive to win which causes him to “needlessly push every issue to the thin edge of propriety.”
4)- prior to instructions from Sam Adams to lie to media and investigators, Beau never had repeated questions raised about his ethics.
5) Beau was not the cause of some defense lawyers claims the rise and fall of one prosecutor shows that in the culture of the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, winning is ultimately more important than ethics.
*And despite knowing these things about the above prosecutor as late as 1997, Schrunk and Bradley said they still thought his assets outweighed his liabilities.
6) Nor has Beau ever been reported to have been the perpetrator of domestic violence, like the above prosecutor who in 1997 became involved in in the first of two allegations of domestic violence, but has no history of ever being charged or prosecuted, despite what in reports appears to include a second allegation with no charges or record of prosecution.
7) Three months later that same prosecutor threatened his neighbor and her brother with a gun, which the neighbor reported was because the prosecutor was mad at her for disclosing personal information about inappropriate conduct he’d engaged in.
9)Breedlove has never been involved in a civil small-claims action as sophisticated as the one filed in March 2000 in the name of Kylyn Whitaker, a friend of prosecutor’s. Whitaker claimed that a woman named Contesa Diaz had duped her into investing $5,000 into an illegal pyramid scheme (see “The Sisterhood Scam,” WW, Jan. 19, 2000).
That same month, Diaz called the Portland Police Bureau to complain that Portland Police Officer John Scruggs had served her with legal papers related to Whitaker’s civil claim. Diaz’s complaint was investigated because police officers are not supposed to get involved in civil cases.
Scruggs, who has also served as Mayor Katz’s bodyguard, told the police investigator that it was the prosecutor who had asked him to serve the papers, telling him they were part of a criminal fraud case.
“He had me contact this person who he said was the subject of a fraud investigation,” Scruggs told WW. “But as it turned out, that was a personal business deal that he was involved in. I felt totally violated that he had used me in that way.”
Diaz also told investigators that she had never met Whitaker and did not owe her money. She suspected the claim was an effort by a local prosecutor to get back $5,000 that she said he had given her to invest in the pyramid scheme.
The investigation soon cleared Scruggs and began to focus on the prosecutor.
According to reports obtained by WW under Oregon public-records law, Diaz told investigators that prior to Whitaker’s civil claim being filed, this same prosecutor had been demanding his $5,000 from her. On one occasion, she said, she noticed her purse had been stolen shortly after he left her house. She told police that someone subsequently forged a $4,500 check to Whitaker under her name. It bounced.
The bounced check, along with a note purportedly written by Diaz admitting that she owed Whitaker $4,500, was included in the small-claims action filed under Whitaker’s name. Diaz said the handwriting was not hers.
Tamara Townsend, the lawyer handling Whitaker’s small claim against Diaz, told police she had never actually spoken to Whitaker and had filed the claim, which Richardson had for the most part written, at the prosecutor’s request because he didn’t want his name on the case.
By this point, the investigation had turned criminal. Misusing a public position for personal gain is a crime called “official misconduct.”
Diaz, an airline flight attendant, told WW it took eight months and several thousand dollars in lawyer fees to unravel what this MCDA prosecutor did to her. “He’s an awful person,” she says.
May 26, 2000 the prosecutor resigned in exchange for no further investigation into his alleged misconduct. He then set-up shop as a defense attorney with “special insight” into the local DA’s office.
2002 – another allegation of domestic violence was made against him. He denied the charges and again was not prosecuted.
Two allegations of witness tampering were supposedly investigated with no prosecutions on record.
In 2003 Schrunk was reported as taking issue with the notion that, albeit with the best of intentions, he helped spawn a legal “monster” who learned he could get away with bending the rules. He doesn’t deny, however, that the events of 2000 led to some “soul-searching” or could he possibly have meant “Sowle-searching”?
He mentioned his office was asking questions; “What could we have done differently? What is our commitment to the community? ****Really?
“Maybe there’s a failure,” Schrunk continues. Duh?! “Maybe there was something that we could have done. Sure, there’s always regret. I regret the fact that you and I are having this conversation. ****I bet. And I wish there was something we could have done differently.” *****What somehow manage to suppress all these disturbing acts?
But in defense of the above former prosecutor, who it appears was repeatedly given passes, it is my opinion that he was simply acting in a manner that was consistent with the culture going-on behind that thick-veiled curtain of secrecy at the MCDA’s office. My guess is that this is a culture of; “the rules only apply to some” those being “them” and “those” they take a liking to!
So who can really fault the above former prosecutor? Unfortunately there’s always someone who has to fall on a sword over there eventually.
With no prosecutions in the above matters this former prosecutor went on to participate in the theft of a dying woman’s home, and was recently sentenced to two years in prison.
Were there huge “red flags” that were reported and authorities chose to ignore? Yes, in my opinion there were.
And again consider that there have been other prosecutors who have engaged in inappropriate conduct while working there, while in the position of judging others (our citizens) conduct and pursuing overzealous prosecutions against them. Again, am I the only one who has a problem with this?
In my opinion things would have been, and in the future could be different, in terms of true justice for many of our citizens, if the “scales” of justice were made of metal, instead of decades old well-connected snake skin. I personally am doing my part to see this sad fact change.
If you by chance ever find yourself in the position of being at odds with an overzealous prosecutor from MCDA, just know that in Multnomah County, “It’s not about what you do”. “It’s ALL about who you know.”
Therein lies the only “conflict of interest” I see in the Sam Adams matter.
And for pete’s sake if you’re a non-union and catch a union employee engaging in similar risky and/or possibly dangerous activity in one of these government workplaces, don’t do the gallant thing and report it. It’s not worth your health, your career, your reputation and the toll that will be exacted on you, your pocketbook, your family, your friends and your neighbors, at taxpayers expense. Just note it and begin looking for a safer job elsewhere.
Just doing my part to help the “peeps” by educating them on how “the system” in Multnomah County REALLY works. I believe it’s only fair. It’s too bad other people who’ve gone through the smearing and harassment didn’t take the time to post the facts so there is a more readily available paper trail of their activity online. It’s coming together though, and it’s not pretty.
Let’s continue to shine a bright light on this “stuff” and do our part in order to save others from legal harassment and it’s subsequent damages.
Every time you see official misconduct, give a shout-out. Eventually someone will connect all the dots and put it before the people and let them judge what’s best for our citizens.
Peace-out!
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