It’s ‘awkward’ with mayor back at City Hall

Spokane Mayor Jim West returned to City Hall on Thursday, two weeks after news of a sex scandal surrounding his office became public and put his future as mayor into question.

West met with his executive “cabinet” of top city officials at 8 a.m. and spent much of the day in meetings, said city spokeswoman Marlene Feist.

He did not issue any statements or make himself available to the news media to explain his plans for the remaining 31 months in his mayoral term.

West’s return follows his last public statement on May 9, in which he announced he was taking a leave of a few weeks “to gather my thoughts and prepare my defense of the false accusations leveled against me.”

An investigation by The Spokesman-Review, published beginning May 5, included allegations that West sexually molested two boys when he was a deputy sheriff and Boy Scout leader in the 1970s – allegations West denies – and used his office to solicit dates with young men he met on Gay.com. The mayor acknowledged seeking relationships with young men on the Web site.

One of the men contacted by the mayor on the Internet was a computer expert hired by the newspaper to confirm allegations that West was seeking dates on the Web. The expert portrayed himself as a 17-year-old high school student about to turn 18. The mayor offered him gifts, favors and an internship at City Hall and sent e-mail from his City Hall address in the process.

The FBI has undertaken a preliminary investigation. The city is also organizing an independent probe of the mayor’s use of his office. West’s computer records have been taken for the investigation.

Council President Dennis Hession said he met with West on Thursday. Afterward, Hession said that the two of them talked about City Hall business, not the controversy surrounding West.

Hession on Monday called for West to take an administrative leave from office while the investigations are being conducted but failed to win four votes on a resolution calling for the formal leave. The resolution died on a 3-3 tie with Councilman Brad Stark absent because he is reportedly on vacation in Mexico.

Hession said he is concerned about the effect of the mayor’s return to work.

“I think it’s pretty disruptive because there is a cloud over this administration,” Hession said. “Until these issues are resolved, it’s going to be awkward inside and outside of City Hall.”

Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers was even more pointed in her reaction to the mayor’s return.

“It couldn’t get any more bizarre,” Rodgers said. She described the mayor’s reappearance Thursday as “public relations.”

Rodgers and Councilwoman Mary Verner have called for West to resign, and Rodgers has introduced a resolution urging resignation. Two former mayors – Sheri Barnard and John Talbott – also are calling for West’s resignation. However, only a recall petition and election can force the mayor from office. The council’s power is limited to urging the mayor to resign or take formal leave.

Revelations that West used his office to lure young men by offering internships to them has destroyed the mayor’s credibility, Rodgers said.

She said she expects West to fight any effort to recall him. “They will appeal it. They’ll appeal it,” she said. Rodgers also noted that she expects West to seek reimbursement for his legal bills from the city.

“It might take the National Guard to remove him from office,” she said.

Under state law, only a recall election, death or resignation could cause West to leave office before his term expires at the end of 2007.

When he announced his short leave, West said he would prepare a defense “of the false accusations against me” and that he was hoping the public would “allow me to have the fair opportunity to respond to each of the allegations in due time.”

There was no indication what he meant by “due time” or when he might give his defense.

Feist said the mayor is expected to attend this morning’s Greater Spokane Leadership Prayer Breakfast, previously called the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, which is expected to attract 800 people to the Spokane Convention Center.