Mayor Sam Adams returned to work Monday morning after a turbulent set of events last week that started when Nigel Jaquiss of the Willamette Week broke a story that revealed Adams was romantically involved with an 18-year-old legislative intern named Beau Breedlove in 2005.
During Adams’ campaign for mayor, developer and potential candidate Bob Ball suggested Adams was having an inappropriate relationship with Breedlove, an accusation Adams vehemently denied at the time.
Last Friday, Adams’ supporters held a rally in front of City Hall encouraging him not to resign. The Vanguard took to the streets to gauge student reaction to Adams’ decision to stay on the job.
“I support his decision not to resign, that would just make this a bigger deal. We voted him into office for a reason, and him having sexual relations with an 18-year-old really shouldn’t affect it.”
–Katie Parry, 19, environmental science major
“I don’t think it should’ve been an issue at all, I think it’s just because he is gay. For Portland being such a supposedly liberal place, it’s pretty conservative and not very open to queer people. I don’t think anyone’s sexual relationships should have any effect on politics.”
–Jordyn Esquibel, 20, black studies major
“I am apathetic about it, I don’t really care. He is what he is, I guess.”
–Andrew Mills, 21, accounting major