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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 2003)
nTîT!TTT?7Rnneu>s briefs A dams , O thers C onsider M ayoral R ace T he long-awaited decision by U .S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., to seek re- election to a fifth term in Congress rather than run for mayor o f Portland has gay politician Sam Adams potentially shifting his candidacy away from the U .S. Capitol and hack to City Hall. In a Sept. 2 announcement, Blumenauer suggested that he can serve Portland best by representing local interests within the feder al government. He stated: “ It is clear that Oregonians agree that this nation is at a crossroads, and most are disturbed about the direction we are taking. A t home and abroad the choices being made are eroding our standing in the world, weakening our fundamental liberties, degrading the eco nomic well-being of all hut a few, and play ing fast and lixise with the environment. These concerns on the national level affect us here at home.” Likewise, Blumenauers decision affects Adams’ future political career. Sam A dam s decides to run and is elected, Adams left his post as Mayor Vera Katz’s Portland would be the largest U .S . city with longtime chief o f staff Aug. 15 to explore a run for Blum enauers seat, hut only if the congressman opted to join the Portland mayoral race. Meanwhile, Adams also ruled “I certainly respect Earl’s decision to run for out the race for the City Council seat being re-election, and I’m certainly not going to mn vacated by Com missioner Jim Francesconi, against him,” Adams said. “I’m kxiking at my who already has thrown his hat into the may- options right now, and one of those includes the oral ring and is considered the contest’s front mayor’s race. I think it’s important that an office runner. of that importance he a seriously contested race. Adams now says he is meeting with advisers If I mn, I’d he mnning to win and to make sure and soon will announce if he intends to launch that there’s a really gtxxl debate." a campaign for his former boss’ position. A debate, noted Adams, that would clear If - ly foe us on the issues of jobs, the economy and education but also touch on civil rights and issues affecting the sexual minorities community. But there may be opposition from another gay contender. Real estate investor Robert Ball, who last year led a failed initiative attempt to reform city government, has expressed interest in bringing a commerce-oriented fixrus to local leadership. “ It’s pretty much consumed my thoughts the last 24 hours,” Ball told The Oregonian Sept. 4. “ Portland is ready for a progressive candidate who is business-smart.” According to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, the city of Providence, R.I., population 173,618, is the largest in the United States to have an openly gay mayor, David N . Cicilline. Portland, which had 529,121 resi dents as of 2000, therefore would steal this title if Adams or Ball decides to run and is elected. Also in the running for mayor is former Port land police chief Tom Potter, a strong supporter of gay rights. His lesbian daughter, Katie, is a cop who works in the bureau’s benefits and disabili ties office. S how B enefits S cholarship F und P ride of the Rose Scholarship recipients will be presented during the 24th annual Turn about Sept. 7 at Darcelle XV, 208 N.W. Third Ave. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show begin ning at 8. This year’s event is titled “Over the Top and Off the Wall: The No Slow Show" and will kick off the 25th year of Pride of the Rose, Portland’s oldest sexual minority scholarship. Since it was founded in 1979 by Rose Emper or V Frank Schreckenberger and Rose Em press XXI Allison Grey, the fund has awarded more than $140,000 to students from Clark County, Wash., and the four-county Portland metropolitan area. Applicants must be gay, lesbian, bi or trans or the children of queer parents. Funds for the scholarship are managed by Equity Founda tion, a charitable organization that manages several other scholarships serving the sexual minorities community and that provides fund ing for educational, health and cultural proj ects each year. Questions about Equity Foundation may be directed to info&equityfoundatum.org or P.O. Box 5696, Portland, OR 97228-5696. B ush P rotest L argely P eaceful T housands of protesters gathered Aug. 21 at Columbia Park and marched along North Willamette Boulevard to University of Port land’s Chiles Center, where President Bush held a million-dollar fund-raiser. In a generally calm and orderly demonstra tion, protesters voiced concern about a number of issues, including the war on Iraq, the envi ronment, the economy and civil rights. Chants ranged from the serious (“Liar, liar" and “Bush go home”) to the humorous (“You’re sexy, you’re cute, take off the riot suit"). Continued on Page 9 ' v X - ji r* . ©2003 C00RS BREWING COMPANY GOLDEN. COLORADO 80401 • BEER • CNW000350 ■ Up for anything? except noon.
