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Actually, the Washington state age of consent is 16.

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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As a homosexual mentor I can say that no one would question me taking my mentee to dinner. The questionable behavior has to do with the fact that this mentor had sex with the mentee. And then used city funds to hire a consulting firm to cover the behavior and the subsequent lies.

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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I agree and can not believe this point was not brought to the fore in the discussion. I want to know more about this very important component of the story. If city funds were used to orchestrate a cover up, that alone is enough for me to ask Sam to resign.

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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Let's not miss the point here. The young man was a legislative intern at the time that Sam was a city Commissioner. How is this not abuse of power? Also, let's raise the question of the private consulting firm hired by Sam to cover this story and coach Mr. Breedlove to lie.

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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Are you kidding? You may suggest that I have internalized homophobia and you would be missing the point. I'm proud to be gay and have been since the age of 10. I've never been ashamed of my sexuality. And yes, I do hold public officials to a greater standard of TRUTH than the average male. If I wanted the average male as mayor I would have voted republican. The point is, this situation undermines Mr. Adam's ability to lead. And it proves that he is a LIAR. Most importantly, he coerced someone else to lie for him! Its not about the age differential. I've had sex with people much younger than myself (though of unquestionable legal age) and 20 years older as well. I would not trade these experiences for anything. Sam should have just said when asked about this 2 years ago, "its none of your business." Or better yet, "yes, we had a relationship, and lucky me!" But he lied to the public over and over. He hired a consulting firm to cover it up and he asked the young man to lie for him. He has embarrassed the gay community and those who don't see that are not seeing the bigger picture. I want a mayor with integrity. Portland deserves that much at least. He should resign.

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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The following is the text of a letter which I have sent to the mayor.

Dear Mr. Mayor,

I am writing as a concerned citizen of Portland to respectfully ask that you immediately resign your post as mayor.

Your capacity for leadership has been compromised beyond repair by the campaign of lies that you told to the public regarding a sexual relationship with a barely legal teenager. You apparently went to great lengths to cover the facts of your relationship with Mr. Breedlove and you persuaded him to lie on your behalf. This blatantly dishonest behavior is inappropriate and inexcusable.

Your attempt to ?come clean? in yesterday's (1/20/09) press conference is disingenuous on it's face. You told the truth only after the truth was told about you. This is not an issue of personal relationships in the political spectrum. This is an issue of honesty, integrity and leadership.

Let it be stated that I am not invoking a double standard because you are gay. I am also gay. If you had persuaded a young woman in the same manner and then lied about it, I would be equally disappointed and angered.

This situation, though not technically illegal, is offensive in the following ways:
1)You apparently cultivated a sexual relationship with a legislative intern, Mr. Breedlove, while he was underage though you state that the relationship was not consummated until after the young man's 18th birthday. Legal technicalities aside; this is an abuse of power.
2)I am a mentor to teenagers. I take these relationships seriously while always remembering that I am the adult and acting the part. You admit to mentoring Mr. Breedlove regarding his emerging and questioning sexuality. Mentors do not have sex with the sexually vulnerable mentored. Again, this is an abuse of power.
3)You orchestrated a public campaign of lies around this situation to protect yourself from scrutiny. You encouraged the young man, Mr. Breedlove, to lie to protect you even against his own better judgment. This is dishonest and an abuse of power.

Had you told the truth from the beginning I may have been able to conjure some measure of respect for you, but you did not. You lied. Lacking any measure of integrity, you also persuaded someone else to publicly lie for you.

You explained that you ?had to lie? to cover false rumors. This begs the question: what else would you be willing to lie to the public about? Furthermore, are you capable of laying down your own ego to protect the interests of the people of Portland and the state of Oregon? Would you tell the truth in an emergency or during a budget crisis? Would you massage the truth to advance a pet project? This is an issue of trust.

In these difficult times, the city of Portland needs a leader we can trust. You are not that person. The city of Portland needs an effective mayor that can get the job done. This situation greatly undermines, if not completely negates, your capacity to be that person.

I will be advocating for your recall as soon as is legally possible. In the meantime, I will advocate for your resignation.

Please Mr. Adams, do the honorable thing; for the city, the state, and yourself. Resign your post as mayor. I will personally thank you the next time I see you at the Cup and Saucer or The Fresh Pot.

Do not further humiliate our city (not to mention the gay community) by stubbornly refusing to resign. The world has enough Rod Blagojevich's. Portland is my hometown and I will work to protect it.

With all due respect,
In North Portland

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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