Mayor Sam Adams, addressing a business gathering for the first time since the state began investigating his relationship with a former legislative intern, said he believes he can remain an effective leader.

The assertion comes despite doubts held by some that Adams, who has fielded several requests to resign and could face a recall campaign in July, can continue to advance Portland’s economic interests.

 See Embattled out Portland mayor believes he can still do job
American City Business Journals/Portland, Ore.

In a winning landslide, Sam Adams on January 4 became the first openly gay mayor of a major US city. But just two weeks later, his promise threatened to unravel when news of his 2005 relationship with Beau Breedlovee, a teenage legislative intern Adams met while serving as a city commissioner, once again became front page news. In 2007, Adams had insisted the relationship between the two was a “mentoring” bond.

But under prodding from Willamette Week, Breedlove, now 21, last month suggested there was more to the relationship than that. In Washington, one day before the Inauguration, Adams acknowledged that he began a romantic relationship with Breedlove when the younger man was 17, but insisted they did not have sex until he turned 18.

Oregon Attorney General John Kroger is now probing the matter, and the new mayor pledged to fight for his job. See Gay Portland Mayor Hanging In There
Gay City News -