Portland Mayor Sam Adams arrives at City Hall in Portland, Ore., Monday, Jan. 26, 2009
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Adams says he isn't commenting on the allegations because of an ongoing inquiry by Oregon's attorney general. But despite calls for his resignation made by the Oregonian, the local police union and Just Out, a local gay periodical, among others, Adams says he is staying on. He does appear contrite. When asked if the media hold public officials to an impossible moral standard, he simply says, "No," then adds, "I knew what I was getting into when I decided to run for public office. So I'm not complaining about it now."
Scandal aside, the new mayor has his work cut out for him. The city is grappling with the local effects of the nationwide recession, and residents have been unnerved by a recent tragic shooting. Adams' contrition is playing reasonably well with Portland's famously tolerant citizens. In a poll conducted for TV station KATU, 52% approved of the job the mayor was doing, while respondents were evenly split on whether he should step down. Still, making up for his indiscretions "is something between Sam and Portland," says Wiener. "Sam's got some repair work he needs to do."
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