The following are comments sent in by KATU viewers regarding our story on Mayor Carmen Kontur-Gronquist (Arlington, Oregon), whose photos on MySpace have raised a firestorm of controversy.  *Note: The comments have not been edited for spelling or grammar.

Get your priorities straight!  Our Country struggles with health care, education, taking care of the elderly and jobless, fighting corruption, transportation, pollution, and the list continues.  But leave the rights of one bright young woman alone.  Instead lets focus on the tasks at hand! - Curt

It looks like jealousy has reared it's ugly head in Arlington again.  Mayor Gronquist was just showing off her lean and fit body that took a lot of effort to obtain and/or maintain.  Obviously news must be slow if the networks and newspapers spend time on such an unimportant story in these times of high gas prices and world turmoil. - Doug

hey whats the big deal there have been several calenders done over the years of fire men wearing less and holding their hoses or ax's or female and male police officers next to there cars wearing next to nothing hex Playboy and Penthouse have done several women at work shots I don't see the big deal here it's not like she showed anything some people need to get a life or maybe she should do a calender and start a whole new craze but then again maybe not there are some people in politics I wouldn't want to see dressed like that. - Ken

It seems strange to me that this is even an issue!  Arlington's Mayor Carmen Kontur-Gronquist photos do attract attention, but no more than any appropriate advertisement with a photo of a pretty woman (similarly dressed) that we might see occasionally.  If a woman wants to show off her beauty in an appropriate way she should be welcome to do so, even if she happens to be the mayor of a small town.  Judging by her photos displayed in the news it is obvious that she is not desiring to express vulgarity in any way shape or form.  There are calendars with "fire professionals" (comparably dressed) posing with a fire truck or other public vehicle.  If its OK to show a fire truck in a calendar with attractive people then why is it somehow not OK to allow a pretty mayor to do something similar?  It doesn't appear to me that she was trying to do anything but show her pride in her fire department and that she is fit for that work.  I am sure she was promoting appreciation for what fire fighters do as servants of the community.  If she wants to use her attractiveness as a woman in something at least as appropriate as she did I am not offended by her actions.  I do appreciate that she does not wish to offend anyone, and has quickly demonstrated that by restricting her MySpace photos to only her friends at this time.  I believe she has a large circle of friends who understand who she is as a person and as a professional public servant and that she is important to Arlington as their mayor.  I feel sorry for those few who somehow feel that she may have tarnished Arlington's good name!  In my opinion she has not. - George

The only people complaianing are the ones with nothing better to do. shame on you KATU for exploiting this. Why dont you spend your advertisers money more wisley and report on things positive in our communities. maybe that is why you are #3 for news. - Sky

Well it is obvious this women feels good about herself,and she should she looks very healthy.although for anybody to put their picture on the web regardless of who you are is not a good idea.We teach our children that this is not right there are to many weirdos out there.So I say to the mayor come on lady you know you look good keep the pictures to yourself and off the web where they obviously got into the wrong hands... - MAC

The fact that an adult even has pictures on myspace is absolutely ridiculous.  It is a social site for teens. Parents such as myself sign up on myspace and have a blank page just to be able to track what our teens are up to. This woman absolutely has no business being in a leadership position of any sort!  Myspace is not a positive thing for our teens, but it is a reality.  The last thing we all need is for our leaders to be flaunting themselves on that website!  We are constantly trying to monitor and weed out our kids’ myspace information and pictures that we deem unbecoming or “trashy.”  This woman is an embarrassment!  She needs to “get a life.” There are appropriate and safer websites for women looking for companionship. - Marianne

I think all the people out there that believe this is alright need to get a grip with reality and see how all this effects our society.  The Mayor has a private life and is entitled to it.  But when your in the public eye you must present yourself with an image that is the best of us all.  We do this for many reasons and one is to set the standard and example for all of us and especially our children.  Do you want your children taking racy pictures and posting them on the internet?  If you do than continue to support this Mayor who is contributing to the degradation of our society.  You people who support this behavior need to do some research and see how her actions which are similar to those in other countries have led to serious social problems in those countries.  When the Mayor decided to post these pictures she displayed to all her constituents and their children that it is OK to do this.  So once again don’t be mad at your 16 year old daughter when she post's racy pictures of herself on myspace, because you told her I OK to do this when you supported the Mayor. - Chuck

This is a lot to do about nothing.  Every Mayor has some ghosts that will raise eyebrows among their political opponents and folks who have nothing to do but find fault.  While I would not post photos on My space, I respect the Arlington Mayor for standing tall.  Besides, she’s a beautiful woman! - Ed

I wish my stomach was that flat. - Laura

I wish my town had a mayor that looked liked that and could still get the job done... - Jamie

This is such a joke. How does this picture effect anyone? The problem with  our country these days is that we expect our public services to be non-human. That's why they all lie to us, any shed of honesty or reality makes a small sector of the pulbic act like children. Her picture shows just as much as a bathing suit.

How about we spend our time worry about real problems and less time trying to dig up dirt of everyone we can. You, as a news outlet are just as much, or even more to blame. - Justin

Leave her alone. Bill Clinton did worse then that. - Jim

This whole thing has gone way out of proportion. It’s not like this poor woman shows up to work dressed this way. My question is, is she a good

Public official? Does she do her job well? If the same photo depicted Tom Potter in polka dotted boxers in a fire truck would anybody have anything to say?  Keep your chin up girl. - Rob

Even if she thinks that because she took the picture prior to becoming mayor is an excuse she is wrong. If that is true, she should not have them on her Myspace page currently. It could totally give the wrong 
idea to a lot of people, especially since she is on a public safety vehicle. She should have enough respect for herself as well as her community, as the mayor, to not have pictures like that anywhere in the public eye. - Amber

Having my own private My-space page I know that the only way that someone would have had access to this picture is if they were on her friends list. That being said who's more morally flawed the person that turned the photo of their friend over to the city for public scrutiny or the legally consenting adult that had the picture taken? If I were on the city council in Arlington, I would think long and hard about the person that started slining mud and consider their motives for presenting the picture in the first place.
- Megan

People need to get a life! MySpace is called “MY” space for a reason and she did this before she was Mayor. Yes, she probably should have taken it off once in a public eye- but honestly- who cares and so what!!!!! - Debra

It seems to me that the only people complaining  are a couple of women. Are they jealous? What is the difference between what she is wearing in the picture and a bathing suit? - John

Frankly, I'm appalled. I can't believe the mayor of Arlington is human. I was under the impression that all politicians were emotionless robotic automatons... at least that would explain their bowing to the corporate world's every whim. - Lance

Ok all can judge! But today I see on tv, Victoria Secret and bathing suit ads as well as dozen of commercial showing more revealing. Ok so what? I as a woman and mother see no wrong, So grow up and turn on the tv and see some that we allow alot of worse things for us and our children to see. I say if it doesn't interfer with her doing her job then stay out of her personal life. - Connie

Well if the City of Arlington doesn't want her for mayor anymore, maybe she should put her name in the running as mayor for Portland; I'd certainly vote for her!  I'm sure she's more qualified than the current candidates!
 
I also agree with many of the other comments about KATU constantly running trashy tabloid stories that pry into people's personal lives and attempt to ruin their reputation.  Besides, if this is the most taboo thing you can dig up on her, she's certainly more reputable than 90%+ of the politicians out there; there's nothing even remotely illegal about what she did!
 
There's got to be more news-worthy topics out there for you guys to cover, isn't there?  I guess the constant hype about snow hitting the valley floor has already run it's course this winter, and you need something to attract an audience... - Josh

Carmen is currently a Mayor of a town and no matter how big or how small, it is her job to represent those citizens in a professional manner; as expected by the citizens of Arlington or any other city for that matter. 

As a citizen of a much larger city out of the state of Oregon, I expect my Mayor to represent me with my best interest as a citizen.  If my Mayor behaved in such a way in this same situation, I’m not sure that this would be considered in my best interest to be represented even as a “young person”.  If Carmen was my Mayor, I would feel as though she crossed the line of professionalism under these circumstances because she made it available for the whole world to see her half naked.  If you want to be a model of some sort and pose on the internet half naked, they have job positions that pay (much better than a Mayor might I add) for such desired positions.  If you behave in such a way as this on this level, you obviously should keep it to yourself.  If Carmen would have not posted the pictures of her on the WWW, I don’t think it would be as a big of an issue had she kept it to herself.  By Carmen posting those pictures of her on the internet, she had poor judgment and she made a mistake (politically speaking of course).  Being familiar with the reputation of Arlingtonians, she will unfortunately pay the consequences to this poor decision and it could possibly cost her the role of being Mayor. 

That being said, I can tell you from personal experience and be willing to bet that a majority of the people of Arlington don’t care to be represented in this matter.  When you are involved in a political leadership position you have a responsibility to society, and sometimes poor judgment and ignorant decisions come with consequences (which might include possibly having that responsibility revoked especially in political roles).  I can’t tell you why she did it, or when but who cares? Ask yourself why would you post pictures of yourself on the internet half naked?  Who cares if she’s hot, ugly, big, small, tall or short.  Does it matter?  NO!  It happened, it’s done and over with.  The citizens and board should be much more focused on putting their time, money and energy in many other political and social issues within the City of Arlington, rather than chasing a half naked mayor around with the A.P. - Anonymous

I think that as long as she is not breaking the law she should be left alone. Her personal life is her business and if she chooses to make certain aspects of her life public that is her choice. The photo shown on the KATU website is her in a bra. Would it be any different if she was wearing a bikini top? In my opinion a bikini reveals more then a bra. Just because she is a mayor, it does not give the media or the public the right to criticize her for her actions in her personal life. If she was breaking the law I would understand but in this case I do not understand because she is doing nothing wrong but having fun. - Ed

Good for her we need more politicians that are less stuffy. Plus if she looks that good why not? If the old fattys don't like it they don't have to look. - Ron

none of those comments regarding the mayor's personal life are valid.  the fact is, she DID IT IN A PUBLIC FACILITY!!!!  i wonder what she's doing in her publically funded office as well.. - Christina

The issue is not that her personal life may be questionable - The issue is that she is standing on a publicly used fire truck in a public facility.  If I walked in to the Gresham Police Department, dropped my pants and removed my top to have a photo of me taken standing next to a police car.... wouldn't I be arrested? She is right, she wasn't Mayor when the pictures were taken, but she was working for the fire department.  If I dropped my duds at my place of business to have my photo taken next to my copy machine, I would be fired. Sounds like she likes to take advantage of the system, perks and authority.... Maybe that is why she ran for Mayor. By the way... how many Mayors out there have MySpace pages??? - Anonymous

I have no respect for peope who get into others personal lives. In this case someone is trying to stir up trouble. They got the attention they wanted by showing the picture off, now its in the news. Who cares if she is a Mayor. It appears as though she is proud of her body, what is wrong with that? NOTHING. It is her personal life, aren't public employees allowed to have a personal life? The picture is not illegal, but apparently someone found it offensive. Keep the news for news and not this crap. Let the town deal with it, not the entire state and country. - Anonymous

Wow, she's hot, the city could make a calendar and get rich!!!!! How does this affect her ability to lead? I'll follower her anywhere. - Anonymous

I agree that higher standards should be upheld by public officials. Like it or not, they represent more than just themselves and they're often held as examples to our youth. Also, including the city firetruck in the pic probably wasn't a good way for Carmen to keep her "private and professional life" separate. That being said, being scrutinized by a small town is never a pleasant experience. I've "been there" and could have been devastated by it, had I not considered the source and let it go. Truth is, Carmen was "Carmen" before she was elected. We all knew that. She has a body we Arlington women would love to have, she's worked hard for it and I think we're all a little jealous. She may have made an unwise choice in leaving the photos on her Myspace, but I think we should probably put the tar and feathers away. - Susie

Those who would vote to remove the mayor for this should get a life. - Warren

Sounds like the mayor's picture was more of an issue for your reporter than it is for the residents of the town he interviewed.  Maybe he should get a life. - Luella

I think she should run for Governor. - Jim

I am here in Central Oregon and I have been told I am rather conservative as for dressing. I am not into other women dressing inappropriately. I find nothing wrong with this picture at all! I think this picture is very well done and not in bad taste at all!! Even for a mayor!! You can even tell this lady my opinion LOL! - Coralie

this is no worse than going to a river, lake, or beach in a bikini and posting a pic on a personal website like myspace. "this is me" take a look at all the crap that goes on in WA DC, and gets swept under the rug. - Mark

She is a very good looking mayor, I hope that her constituent appreciates it. Does she prside over city hall in her undergarment? if not, leave her alone. If she does, I am moving to Arlington! - Anonymous

Why do you feel it necessary to show her "racy" picture. It serves no purpose other than to add to all the "trash news" that is being reported as news. The story would have been enough of a story without showing the picture. This is the type of "journalism" that completely turns me off of watching the news. I am disappointed. - Monica

If it is really that small of a town EVERYONE knew her personality.  Would they feel the same if it was a bikini?  Its not vulgar and if electors were as concern about a Politicians political behavior maybe Potter would never had made it as Mayor and there are many other examples i.e. Bush! There are bigger fish to fry! - Leah

A persons personal life has nothing to do with their professional life. If it was me, I would be a little embarrassed about the photo and would have blocked my page before running for Mayor. People always make a big deal of people in the spot light's actions. The public should be ashamed of themselves knowing we all have personal things in our life that other people might approve of. Me, I can care less as long it doesn't affect how their job is done. - Joey

I say, "Lighten up, Arlington."  Get into THIS century.  Is she, has she, been doing her job?  It is HER private time.  Be glad that you have a mayor who has some life in her.  Perhaps, without her, you would not even be on the map. - Ken

I see no problem with this photograph. If the fact that the mayor has a private life and is a normal person is alarming for citizens of Arlington, it sounds like they have bigger issues than what is on their mayor's MySpace page. I wonder what their pages are hiding?? I hope that the mayor can keep her position and do great things for the city. - Amy

KATU – it must be a slow news day for you. Honestly, is this all you can come up with? Get over it – you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel. - Anonymous

Not appropriate for a mayor.  In the privacy of her own home she can do what she wants but as a professional, a respected mayor of a community she should use some common sense and be a good example. she especially shouldn't use public fire trucks to pose by. - Kari

She's smoking hot.  I'd keep her for the Mayor. - William

I think that its ridiculous how people are making a big deal out of this situation for someone's personal life. To be honest, you or anyone else who is in the same position of authority or under the public microscope would be shocked and offended that the viewing public criticized your life style, whether it be photos, hobbies, individuals you talk to and/or meet with.... its endless. The mayors' "PERSONAL"  MySpace page is blocked to all viewers to include all photographs that she posts, even pictures that may appear to be scantily clad. "And at least one city council member is speaking out, saying the photos are inappropriate and send the wrong message to kids." That claim is outrageous! How are KIDS even able to get to those pictures if the mayor has control over who views her personal web page? "It gives the impression that it's just OK to do whatever you feel like doing, whenever, and not have any kind of concern about how it might affect other people, and that is a big concern I have," Lets not forget that this is America and there are certain freedoms that we have been granted that allow us to do whatever we want, whenever we want.... within reason of course. In the mayors case, it is within reason, for her to express herself in any way shape or form on her personal time. If her MySpace page was used and played a role in how she conducts business as mayor, then that would be one thing. The people who are making a big deal about this are most likely the same people who are offended by term "Christmas" rather than holiday. People are so concerned about the "politically correct" crowd being offended, which by the way is a very small percentage of the nations occupants, that we forget the rules, guidelines, laws, morality, customs and constitutional rights this country was founded on. - David

The papers, the stores, the mail fliers, are filled with women in their bras and panties, no more skimpier than swim ware. Just a bunch of old fogies with nothing else to carp about. - Byron

Good for the Mayor!  If she were in a bathing suit would that have made a difference?  Nothing more is revealed in the photo than would have been revealed in a Speedo.  I am a photographer and the photo was done tastefully without any suggestion of a sexual nature.  I have to agree with the Postmaster, maybe it has put Arlington on the map.  I have used official vehicles as props for photographs, Since I am a taxpayer, and I am assuming the Mayor is as well, I have an interest in the publicly owned vehicles.  As long as the photograph does not depict any illegal activity, I can see absolutely nothing wrong with the picture and the Mayor should not be publicly burned as a result! - Dave & Kathy