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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 16, 2002)
1 on C ity H all TH E MARK OF Sam Adams considers running for council in 2004 SIM PLICITY. by T im o th y K rau se i(T atmosphere. There was a sense of privacy in love cit es,” Sam Adams says. which you don’t talk about these things.” “My passion is around city life Adams eventually did talk about him and making it better.” self, coming out to his friends and family at Adams has served as Port- age 23. land Mayor Vera Katz’s chief of From his own experience, he’s learned staff since she took office in 1992. His 10 that “when you’re raised in an environ years as her right hand is an example of his ment in which being gay is not a good commitment to the city’s well-being. thing, often the biggest obstacles are self- Yet, this 38-year-old gay man views his imposed: ‘I can’t do that’ or ‘1 won’t be accomplishments at City Hall as more accepted.’ But if you show the courage to productive than political. “Politics are take the risk, most of the time you find out definitely part of what you need to get that you can do it.” things done,” Adams says, “but what 1 As chief of staff, Adams plays a signifi enjoy most of my work is the public ser cant role in municipal issues of all kinds, but vice aspect of it." it is always one of recommendation or A variety of influences have con implementation. For him, there’s a big dif tributed to this sense of community com ference between that and actually making mitment, beginning with small-town life the decisions that guide the city. and a civic-minded family. Although bom In some ways, his experience thus far in rural Montana, Adams grew up in New has been an apprenticeship for service as port and Eugene. Through high school an elected official. “ 1 know I have to take and college, he was heavily involved in on a new challenge soon,” he comments, student government. “and 1 know elected office would definite A university adviser helped Adams ly present me with a new challenge to go set his early career goals, outlining a the distance with public service.” practical checklist o f political prepared Adams tested the waters briefly this past ness: Learn a foreign language, experi spring when he expressed interest in the ence a foreign country, develop critical- City Council seat vacated by Commissioner thinking skills, and seek real-world Charlie Hales. But the short period until the training. Reaching that final task— an special election didn’t leave enough time for internship with the Lane County Board developing a thorough platform while rais o f C om m issioners— also marked the ing sufficient funds to run successfully as a beginning of his professional career in When his busy schedule permits, Sam Adams enjoys first-time candidate. Instead, he has government. gardening, skiing, backpacking and learning to windsurf endorsed Multnomah County Commission There, Adam s met U .S . Rep. Peter er Serena Cruz for the position. ties community a positive one. Both sides, how DeFazio and soon lived and breathed election Still, Adams is seriously considering ever, must continue cooperative efforts rather politics during campaign season. He helped running for City Council in 2004, should a than work on issues in isolation. win that race and went on to serve as an aide seat become available. A nd his platform “Just because we have laws or ordinances on in the congressm an’s Eugene office before already is being developed. accepting a position as political director of the books doesn’t mean the problem is solved “My work has been about making positive and we can walk away,” states Adams, who the Oregon House Democratic Cam paign changes on some really difficult issues,” he says. lives in Northwest Portland with Greg Eddie, Com m ittee. “I have some perspective on how good Portland his partner of 10 years. “This mayor and this During his tenure at the state Capitol, is because I haven’t always lived here. 1 also had Adams met Katz, who was speaker of the O re a family that had a lot of struggles, so I know gon House at that time. When she decided to what that’s about. My experience, my scar tissue, run for the Portland mayor’s seat, she asked all the mistakes I’ve made, the accomplishments him to manage her campaign. And when she I’ve had— I bring that all to the job.” won the office, she hired him to serve as her A dam s also would convey to the council chief of staff. projects specifically related to the sexual “ 1 love involving people in the process,” minorities community, such as ways to deal Adams observes. “I don’t mind getting in a with schoolyard bullying and issues specific room with people that really disagree with to the workplace. He would not be afraid to each other— and may really disagree with me. use the role of commissioner as a kind o f I love that kind of give-and-take because 1 bully pulpit in order to talk about important think you can come to really good solutions. concerns that might fall outside the city’s Without that kind o f interaction— that pas authority. sionate and thorough discussion— 1 don’t He also would want to reach out to towns think your solutions are as deep or meaningful across Oregon in order to build a more statewide council are very strong and adamant supporters or long-lasting.” approach to particular issues, such as discrimina o f the rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans- One example of this process has been the tion. To that end, he believes Portland could be gender folks.” overhaul o f the city’s purchasing system. a role model in many ways, saying, “It’s just During the Katz administration, for example, After years o f difficult restructuring, the unconscionable that it’s still legal in many parts once-morihund system now includes a pro Portland’s nondiscrimination ordinance was of the state to engage in blatant homophobic gram providing contracting opportunities for expanded to include gender identity. Other discrimination.” advances in which Adams has lent a hand minorities, women and emerging small busi But is a City Council position merely anoth include domestic partner benefits for city nesses. Furthermore, com panies with city er means to an end, namely the mayor’s seat? employees as well as a domestic partnership reg contracts must he equal opportunity employ Adams brushes off such long-term specula ers, prohibiting discrimination based on sexu istry for Multnomah County residents. tion but does believe Portlanders are ready to Just as his sexual orientation helps motivate al orientation. consider a gay mayor. They will look at a candi his civil rights efforts, it also furnishes him with Results such as this mark success for insight and sensitivity to constituencies strug date’s experience and intentions first, he thinks, Adams, who is most proud of his contributions and sexual orientation will he way down the list gling for inclusion. in the civil rights arena. He serves on the “ I can relate to people who feel like they of considerations, if at all. boards o f Basic Rights Oregon and Cascade don’t belong, for whatever reason," he says, A ID S Project. TIMOTHY K rause is a free-lance w riter m Port recounting his conservative childhood and lack On the whole, he considers the relationship land. C on tact him at tim krc@ m iUenicom .com . between City Hall and Portland’s sexual minori of positive gay role models. “It was a very macho "I don't mind The Dignity Memorial™ mark signifies answers. Planning that prepares, so questions aren't left unanswered. It's a symbol of trust, superior quality standards, and attentive care in the funeral, cremation and cemetery profession. With membership by invitation only, Dignity Memorial is the world's largest network of funeral and crem ation providers and signifies a higher level of funeral care. 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