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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 2011)
<nwnews> O REGO N S LGBTO N EW S M A G A ZIN E A UGUST 5. 2011 5_JÄ BY RYAN J. PR A D O Mayor Adams Announces He Will Not Run for Re-Election After months of speculation, Portland Mayor Sam Adams announced the afternoon o f Friday, July 29 that he would not seek a second term in office. “W ith the state of our nation in such flux, and so many local issues needing focused and hands-on mayoral leadership, for me, the choice is clear,” read the official release, in which A d ams said he couldn’t reconcile the current needs of the city with the immediate need to begin fundraising and campaign efforts, and “how challenging the race for re-election would be.” O n Tuesday, August 2, Adams attributed the decision to a variety o f things. “It really boiled down to the work completed, the re forms underway, the state o f the city and then what would be the requirements o f a success ful campaign,” he told Just Out. “And in the end, it’s always a combination o f things.” The announcement was met with a mixture o f shock and apathy from the community, though for his part Adams said responses ranged from “very positive” to “surprised” and “disappointed.” Adams wouldn’t reveal any thoughts on life after mayoral office. “Maybe I’m alone in this,” he said, “but I worked hard, I really am fo cused on being a good mayor and worked hard to make an informed decision about how best I can serve Portland and have not had any considerations beyond that yet.” Nor would he weigh in publicly on any can didates who have thrown their hats into the ring (New Seasons co-founder Eileen Brady, City Commissioner Charlie Hales), or are considering it (City Commissioner Dan Saltzman). “Obviously ... as candidates I want them to be focused and supportive [of] legal izing gay marriage in Oregon. That’s some thing that is a decision even before the next election,” said Adams, adding his hopes that candidates would advocate for public safety, fair workplace consideration, anti-bullying ef some bias crime training for the private security guards in the district so they will be on the look out for any indications o f bias activities that could lead to violence,” Adams continued, stress ing the need for volunteers for QPatrol. “W hen the bars get out at 2 a.m., our police officers, depending on the night, can have a lot o f calls for service, so we need a lot of help there.” Among his other priorities for the LGBTQ^ community during his remaining time in office, Adams mentioned fundraising efforts for mar riage equality and ballot initiatives, transgender rights, safety and community policing, sup porting the (^ C en ter and “the basic issues— the basic needs—which is why I made this de cision, to create jobs, improve education and forts and transgender rights, and make them a public safety and sustainability o f the city.” part o f their platform if elected. Adams told Just Out that early conversa O f his next 17 months o f work for the LG - tions with leaders in the LGBTQ^community BTQ_community, Adams reiterated previous “were very encouraging and very supportive of statements regarding recent bias crimes and my run for re-election.” Still, when asked if he the subsequent public service campaign in the felt he had let down the community given the Entertainm ent District proposed during a re scandals accompanying his time in office, and cent Sexual Minorities Roundtable. “The best his decision not to run again, Adams deferred way to prevent the next bias crime is to solve any personal or political analysis. the last one,” he said, reminding the commu “O ur work to move forward the queer com nity that a witness has yet to come forward for munity to a place o f true equality in this city the May 22 incident on the Eastbank has, I think, been well served by my adminis Esplanade. tration,” he said. 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