PORTLAND, Ore. — Mayor Sam Adams said Saturday he has not reached a decision on whether to resign after admitting he covered up a sexual relationship with a teenager.
The first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city met separately with the four city commissioners to privately discuss his political future just three weeks after being sworn in.
Adams publicly apologized earlier this week for lying about his sexual relationship with an 18-year-old man in 2005 as he began his campaign for mayor in 2007.
As he entered City Hall on Saturday morning, Adams told reporters he is “at a very low point.” His meetings with the commissioners were closed to the public.
Commissioner Dan Saltzman, who was the last of the city council members to meet with Adams on Saturday, said he expected Adams would make a decision within the next two days.
“I think we’ll know Monday,” Saltzman said. “I got a pretty clear indication of that.”
Saltzman said that after Adams asked him for his advice, he urged the mayor to stay on the job. He added, however, that he did not get a sense of what Adams’ final decision would be.
Saltzman has repeatedly said in recent days that Adams should not resign immediately.
Saltzman says Adams is needed to spearhead the city’s efforts to claim a share of a proposed federal stimulus package and address other challenges.
Commissioner Nick Fish would not discuss details of his meeting with Adams, saying the two agreed the content of their conversation would remain confidential.
There was no immediate word from two other city council members, though Commissioner Randy Leonard said just before his meeting with Adams on Saturday morning that he planned to be frank with the mayor.
Leonard said he is unhappy Adams initially lied about the relationship with Beau Breedlove, a teenage legislative intern in 2005, and asked Breedlove to lie as well.
Last year, Leonard defended the 45-year-old mayor when a rumor surfaced that Adams was having sex with a minor.
Although Adams met Breedlove when he was 17, both have insisted they did not have sex until after Breedlove turned 18.
“I defended Sam publicly more than any other person,” Leonard said. “I have some huge concerns. I’m puzzled as to why there was a need for asking Mr. Breedlove to lie.”
At the request of city commissioners, the police chief and the local district attorney, Oregon Attorney General John Kroger agreed to conduct an investigation into whether Adams committed a crime.
Fish said the city council as a body will not take a stand on the matter until the investigation is complete.
Public opinion about the scandal remains largely divided throughout the city, with Adams’ critics calling on him to resign along with the editorial boards of four local newspapers, including The Oregonian. The mayor’s supporters, meanwhile, have voiced their support and demanded he remain in office.
The Portland Business Alliance board — considered the most powerful business lobby in the city — issued a statement Saturday, expressing disappointment in the mayor’s admission of the affair and concern that it would affect his ability to lead a city facing significant challenges.
“An important quality of our elected leaders is their ability to inspire and hold the trust and confidence of their citizens,” said Steve Holwerda, board chairman. “Whether or not he stays in office should be based on whether he can lead our city effectively and with the integrity that all our citizens deserve.”
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