Offering frequent news and analysis from the majestic Evergreen State and beyond, The Cascadia Advocate is the Northwest Progressive Institute's unconventional perspective on world, national, and local politics.

Friday, June 03, 2005

GOP asks Spokane mayor West to resign

From the AP:
State and local Republican Party leaders have called for Mayor James E. West to resign in the wake of a homosexual sex scandal.

West, a former state Senate majority leader who was one of the most powerful Republicans in the state, has said he will stay and fight allegations that he misused his current office and sexually abused two boys decades ago.

"As Republicans, we hold all elected officials to the highest standards of the community, and we cannot condone irresponsible behavior or poor judgment," Mike Casey, chairman of the Spokane County Republican Party, told a Thursday news conference.

"The Spokane Republican Party is the closest to this situation and we trust their judgment on this matter," state GOP Chairman Chris Vance said in announcing support for the move.

West was not immediately available for comment, but scheduled a Friday afternoon news conference at which he indicated he would answer questions about his conduct.
This doesn't come as a surprise after the news on May 5th, but it is surprising that West dug himself into this embarrassing hole.

It brings to mind an important question: how many of the anti-gay crusaders are really gay themselves and just trying to hide he fact?

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