Magnificent 7

Seven quotes from seven mayors who've presided over Portland since 1974.

By WW Editorial Staff

Neil Goldschmidt
(1973-1979)
"What other job pays you to fall in love with children every day of the week, knowing you left a little something behind to comfort and encourage them?" asked Goldschmidt in a 1990 farewell speech after abandoning his bid for re-election as governor. He was leaving the race for fear of being exposed for sexually abusing his 14-year-old babysitter from 1973 to 1978, while he was mayor.

Connie McCready
(1979-1981)
"I have crises right up to my armpits," lamented McCready, just a few months into her brief, off-balance stint as mayor.

Frank Ivancie
(1981-1985)
"I am not going to support homos in firehouses," ranted Ivancie in 1974, while still a city commissioner, in response to a proposed 1974 resolution to ban discrimination against homosexuals in city hiring practices.

Bud Clark
(1985-1993)
"Mildred Schwab could only have an orgasm at budget time," Clark told Tom Brokaw in 1986 over beers at his Goose Hollow Inn, describing a city commissioner with a tightfisted reputation.

Vera Katz
(1993-2005)
"It's the best bad marriage I ever had," said Katz in 2002 of her sniping rapport with Sam Adams, her chief of staff at the time.

Tom Potter
(2005-2008)
"I am irrelevant," proclaimed Potter, before walking out of an Oct. 25, 2007, meeting with the City Council. He still had 14 months remaining in his term

Sam Adams
(2009-present)
"He was looking for a mentor. I tried to be both prudent and useful to him," said Adams, denying allegations of a sexual relationship with barely-18-year-old Beau Breedlove during his 2007 mayoral campaign. He was lying.

WWeek 2015

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