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
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