Run, Sam, Run!

Portland, Oregon mayor Tom Potter has announced that he will not run for re-election- that tremor you hear is KXL talk show host Lars Larson jumping up and down with joy over the mayor's decision.

This, of course, opens the floodwater of possible candidates that will vie for the office in 2008.

One person is a friend of Potter's, Roy Jay, who heads the African-American Chamber of Commerce here in town. Should he seek and eventually win, he'll be Portland's first black mayor. "Everybody has to buy into this great American dream, he says.

Another is developer, and reserve police captain Bob Ball, who is heavy into historic preservation. "Portlanders want to protect the values that are important to them," Ball says.

But the virtual shoo-in for the office already works for city hall- and upon decision, will likely make Portlanders forget the other two.

Commissioner Sam Adams. He's young- he's my age (40); vibrant. And no doubt, has a vision for this city. What this vision is, Sam will tell you himself.

Here's why I'm endorsing him: he's a breath of fresh air. The fact that he's openly gay doesn't detract from the fact that he can bring Portland forward. If anything, his gayness is probably one of his strengths, on the account that Portland is a very LGBTQ-friendly city. It's a city where same sex couples can openly hold hands without risk of harassment or violence (of course, should said couples get attacked, we have a very strong hate crimes law here). He's the transportation commissioner here- yeah, that Disneyland tram may have gone over cost, but at least TriMet (the regional transit district) still beats the ass off of LA's Metro any day. Our roads could use a bit of improvement, and in due time, this will happen.

The last three mayors, Bud Clark; Vera Katz; and the current mayor Tom Potter, were elected when they were over the age of 50 (Potter is the youngest at 67; Katz is 74; and the still much-beloved- and won't be slowing down anytime soon- John E. 'Bud' Clark is 75). Clark served two terms; Katz, served three; and Potter will just stick to one. When- and if- Sam Adams runs and wins, he'll be 41. Not saying that the last three were gasbags, but I think we could use a bit of youth at 1221 SW 4th Avenue. A bit of energy and new life. However long Sam will last in the office, who knows? But one thing is for certain- at least in this blogger's mind- Sam Adams will be Portland's next mayor.

Run, Sam, Run!

Copyright (C)2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.