Recall vote looming for Arlington mayor
Carmen Kontur-Gronquist sparked stir when MySpace photos leaked
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 12:59 PM PST
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| Arlington Mayor Carmen Kontur-Gronquist listens to public comments during a City Council meeting at the Arlington Municipal Building in Arlington, Jan. 9. Kontur-Gronquist, whose MySpace photos of her posing in black lingerie on a fire engine put this Columbia River town of 600 into something of a pother, told ABC’s 20/20 that she’s not stepping down. |
ARLINGTON (AP) — Opponents of ‘‘MySpace Mayor’’ Carmen Kontur-Gronquist submitted enough signatures to force a recall vote, officials said.
Kontur-Gronquist created a stir in this Eastern Oregon community when her MySpace photos, which show the mayor on a town fire engine clad only in a black bra and panties, were made public.
The story quickly spread from Arlington to the Internet, with bloggers agreeing that the 42-year-old is in fantastic shape, but debating whether it was appropriate for her to post the photos.
Recall efforts are fairly common in small Oregon cities. Supporters of this one say the photos were inappropriate, and they disagree with the mayor on water issues and what to do with the local golf course.
Rena Kennedy, the Gilliam County clerk, confirmed Tuesday that a sufficient number of signatures on the recall petition matched voting records, The Oregonian newspaper reported. Only 41 names were required in this city of roughly 500 people.
Arlington’s city recorder is expected to notify Kontur-Gronquist that she has five days to resign her unpaid position or submit a statement explaining her record in office.
The mayor, who has said she has no intention of resigning, mailed a letter to voters in response to the recall drive.
Kontur-Gronquist has said the photos were taken before she was elected mayor three years ago, and she saw no reason to remove them from her MySpace page after taking office.
In a recent appearance on ABC’s 20/20, Kontur-Gronquist said she had permission from the fire chief to use the engine and had intended to use the photos in a contest about fitness in women.
A relative set up the MySpace page in hopes it would jump-start her social life, said Kontur-Gronquist, a single parent.
