Public reacting to Adams' actions

UPDATE • Saltzman tells Friday press conference: Everyone should ‘calm down’

By Jim Redden

The Portland Tribune, Jan 22, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (127 Reader comments)

L.E. BASKOW / Portland Tribune

About 400 people jammed in front of Portland City Hall Friday evening showing their support for embattled Mayor Sam Adams. The pro-Adams rally was one of two held at City Hall Friday. A handful of anti-Adams protesters marched in front of the building during the morning.

Portlanders are splitting over whether Mayor Sam Adams should stay in office.

Hundreds of Adams' supporters rallied outside City Hall Friday afternoon. The mostly young crowd listened to several speakers who compared Adams to former President Bill Clinton, saying he only lied about sex, which everyone does. The crowd chanted "Get back to work" several times during the half-hour gathering, their way of telling Adams not to resign.

The rally ended around 6 p.m. after a speaker urged the crowd to call and email City Council members and the media in support of Adams.

Ealier in the day, Commissioner Dan Saltzman and dozens of Adams' supporters encouraged Adams to stay in office while the Oregon Attorney General is investigating his behavior with the teenager.

Speaking at a noon Friday press conference inside City Hall, Saltzman said, "Let's calm down, let the process work and let Adams come back to work."

The press conference was organized by musician Thomas Lauderdale, who said Adams approved the effort Thursday night.

Lauderdale said he had originally taken the authorization as meaning Adams had decided against resigning. At the press conference, he said he did not know what Adams would do.

"I get a little carried away sometimes," Lauderdale said.

Earlier Friday, a handful of people showed for an announced 10 a.m. rally outside City Hall to demand Adams' resignation.

Also on Friday, the head of the Portland Police Association posted an open letter to Adams on the organization's website accusing the mayor of violating the city Code of Ethics. Sergeant Scott Westerman previously called for Adams to resign on Tuesday.

In the letter, Westerman apologized to Adams for not talking to him first, then accused him of violating three sections of the code. They include: using the powers of his office for personal benefit; engaging in behavior that gives the appearance of impropriety; and preventing voters from making an informed choice on the candidates in the race for mayor.

"With protests mounting on both sides of this issue, I think you can see that there is a division being created here that is not in the best interest of Portland. Please, for the benefit of Portland, consider resigning immediately. Don't drag this issue on for months," said the letter posted at www.portlandpoliceassociation.com.

As pressure grows on Adams to resign, Portland is entering uncharted political waters with no obvious successor waiting in the wings.

Revelations this week that Adams lied about having sex with a former legislative aide have led to a chorus of calls for his resignation, the beginnings of a recall effort and speculation about both the process and the personalities involved in selecting Portland’s next mayor.

Although Adams earlier this week said he has no plans to resign, only city Commissioner Amanda Fritz was offering him unqualified support. Commissioners Leonard and Nick Fish called for an independent review of the facts in the case.

Before Friday's press conference, Saltzman had been diplomatic about Adams' future.

"I'm certainly not taking the position that he should resign," Saltzman said. "I'll withhold judgment until the investigation is done. I'm obviously disappointed in his public misstatements, but I also weigh that against the fact that he has the potential to be a great mayor and this is a time we need his leadership, his smarts. The public will have to weigh what comes out of the investigation against that, and decide whether to give him a shot at redemption or not. He obviously has some soul-searching to do, as well."

Would Saltzman be interested in the job of mayor if Adams stepped down or was recalled? "I wouldn't rule it out on a transitional basis, but I don't want the job full-time," he said.

On Wednesday, Oregon Attorney General John Kroger agreed to "undertake a criminal investigation into matters pertaining to Portland Mayor Sam Adams that have recently come to public attention." Although Kroger would not comment on the scope of the investigation, it could involve whether the male legislative aide was younger than 18 when Adams and he had sex - a crime in Oregon. Other potential offenses include official misconduct.

When rumors of Adams' relationship with the young man – Beau Breedlove – first surfaced in the fall of 2007, Adams denied he had anything other than a platonic "mentoring" relationship with Breedlove.

Adams acknowledged earlier this week, however, the had sexual relations with Breedlove, but only after Breedlove turned 18.

At the Friday morning rally encouraging Adams to resign, one of the participants, Rondine Ghiselline, said she was offended both by the sexual relationship and the lying.

Ghiselline said that Adams acted like a predator when he asked the teen to lie about the relationship, even if he was 18.

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