Adams recall campaign warms up petitions, volunteers

Committee expects to file paperwork Tuesday kicking off plan to oust mayor

By Jim Redden

The Portland Tribune, Jul 6, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (30 Reader comments)

Tribune File Photo

The recall campaign aimed at Mayor Sam Adams begins in earnest Tuesday.

The campaign to recall Mayor Sam Adams begins in earnest this week.

The campaign expects to file its committee papers and proposed petition statement with the city auditor's office on Tuesday, July 7, according to organizer and spokesman Jasun Wurster.

“The groundwork is laid and we’re ready to start,” said Wurster, a college student and campaign consultant.

The proposed statement will be a 200-word explanation of why the committee believes Adams should be recalled. Wurster said it will state that Adams subverted the democratic process by lying to voters about his relationship with a teenage former legislative intern.

"The recall campaign is a chance for voters to hold Adams accountable," said Wurster.

Once the statement is filed, the committee will have 90 days to collect 32,183 valid signatures from registered Portland voters. If it succeeds, Adams will have five days to resign or face a recall election this fall.

Wurster said the committee has more than 500 volunteers who have said they will circulate the petitions once the statement is certified by the auditor, which could occur within days of it being filed.

Several training sessions for volunteers will be held in the homes of committee members before the end of the week. One or more outdoor locations are also being considered for drive, bike and walk through signature gathering sites. Volunteers will also collect signatures at the Northeast Sunday Parkway event on July 19.

“Our plans are to collect 50,000 signatures within 90 days because we know some are going to be thrown out,”

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