Mayoral recall: Against
The ballot charge
“I have not used the Internet inappropriately while in City Hall or on city time and I have not used the city e-mail system inappropriately,” West said in a prepared statement in May, and went on to say, “I have offered no positions to anyone for personal gain or purpose.”
In a separate guest column published by The Spokesman-Review in June, West wrote, “It is commonplace to suggest to young people that they apply for internships, and every elected official I know has done it hundreds of times.”
West also said in the column and in subsequent court papers that he has mentored many young men and women in a professional manner. Recommending candidates for internships is part of the job of mayor, he has also said in court filings.
In September, West offered further explanation: “It is true that I used poor judgment in my private life (which should have remained private) but I can assure you that I haven’t committed any crimes or violated my oath of office.”
West said he simply encouraged a young man to apply for an internship but made no guarantees that he would be chosen, and that there is a review process for such positions in the mayor’s office.
Other allegations
West categorically denies allegations that he sexually molested two boys when he was a Boy Scout leader and a sheriff’s deputy in the 1970s. He contends the newspaper’s computer expert was the first to raise the subject of sex during online chats with “Moto-Brock.” West does not dispute statements that he sought a personal relationship with Ryan Oelrich after appointing him to the city Human Rights Commission.
He characterized the FBI investigation into allegations of public corruption as very preliminary in an interview on the “Today” show in late May.
“I wish I could write that there is not a shred of truth to the things that have been written about me in The Spokesman-Review,” West said in a guest column in the newspaper on June 28. “The problem is, there is a shred of truth, and The Spokesman-Review has shredded it into a hundred small pieces and rearranged it to fit its agenda and theories.”
“Yes, I exercised poor judgment and made mistakes in my personal life, but nothing illegal and nothing unethical … I’m embarrassed and ashamed, but my personal mistake need not be a public crusade to drive me from office and stop the good work being done at City Hall.”
In his statement in May, he said, “When all investigations are concluded, I expect to be exonerated … The people elected me to serve as their mayor and I intend to serve out the remainder of my term.”
State of the city
West has made his job performance his strongest argument against recall. A year ago, he won voter approval of a $117 million street bond issue to solve a long-standing problem with older, dilapidated streets. He used his skill as a political leader to take the proposal to public meetings, solicit input from citizens and campaign on the need for safe streets.
This year, he made public safety a key issue while pushing for an increase in the regular property tax collection, which voters approved. The tax increase was sought after nearly 150 jobs were cut for 2005. West currently is proposing a turnaround study for city government.
He has established good relations with employee unions, even winning a tentative agreement with the leaders of Local 270 for concessions on wages and health benefits. He held an unprecedented citywide employee meeting on Friday and initiated an employee-of-the-month program among other morale-boosting ideas.
A long-running legal case over the failed city-sponsored operation of River Park Square’s parking garage was settled during the first 15 months of his administration.
He has sought to be open about decisions and issues during his administration and created a new division for economic development to foster growth in the city.
In a statement last May, West said he received messages of support from hundreds of people.
Newspaper coverage
In a September fund-raising letter to potential supporters, West said, “When The Spokesman-Review’s story broke about me I held a press conference, admitted making mistakes in my personal life, apologized for those mistakes, denied committing the illegal acts they asserted, committed to correcting my personal life and went back to work to lead the city.”
He accused the newspaper of invading his privacy to create the story (through its use of a computer expert) as part of its desire to land “a big story.” And he singled out Editor Steve Smith for “bragging in print about the ‘muckraking’ stories the newspaper has published.”
West points out that the newspaper’s “online imposter” even thanked him for contacting him about the internship.