Sam Adams Recall: The Sequel

Two prominent local businessmen and a black community leader and former state senator are supporting a second attempt to recall Mayor Sam Adams. Columbia Sportswear President Tim Boyle, car dealership magnate Ron Tonkin, and Avel Gordly are behind a second recall effort that--if it is launched--would be professionally run and have paid signature-gatherers, and probably would make it to the ballot. But we think it's a bad idea.

We supported the first recall effort because we thought Adams' campaign for Mayor was based on a campaign of lies about his sexual relationship with an 18 year old. Not only did it raise questions about whether we can trust Adams but it showed he really didn't trust Portlanders to be able to handle the truth.

But this time around a moral issue has become a political issue. The businessmen involved want local government to focus on basic issues, not pet projects, and we think they're right. But on the issues, the Sam Adams of today is no different from the Sam Adams as he presented himself before being elected Mayor. That's not grounds for a recall. It would just be a do-over of the original election. It would set a terrible precedent.

Backers of a second recall say the first attempt was so poorly organized that Portlanders really didn't have a true opportunity to support a recall. We agree that it was poorly organized, but so what? If enough Portlanders felt deeply enough that Adams should be ousted, we would have found a way to better organize that campaign and make it happen.