Mayor in MySpace photo flap asked to resign

Mayor in MySpace photo flap asked to resign

Arlington Mayor Carmen Gronquist, left, had no comment Wednesday about a racy MySpace photo of herself, pictured at right, that generated a lot of controversy.

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Story Published: Jan 10, 2008 at 12:21 AM PDT

Story Updated: Jan 17, 2008 at 10:25 PM PDT

By Derek Sciba and KATU Web Staff

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ARLINGTON, Ore. - An eastern Oregon mayor who posed in her underwear and posted the photos on MySpace drew in a big crowd at a city council meeting Wednesday night.

Usually only about 10 people attend Arlington's monthly city council meetings, but about 75 people showed up.

Mayor Carmen Gronquist spoke to an overflow crowd, many of whom were there to ask for her resignation.

Resident Ron Miller read a statement, with others standing in agreement.

"The apparent lack of leadership has become so blatant that we feel change has to be made," he said.

Miller said many residents are dismayed that Arlington's leader decided to pose in her underwear, but the group said it is also worried about other issues, like water rates and management of the struggling local golf course.

The mayor thanked the group for its concerns, but declined to offer comment. Because she declined the invitation to resign, the opposition group said it will start a recall petition Thursday morning.

Despite what some think, the mayor does have her fans. Dana West works at a local drive-in and has known Gronquist for years.

"She's done a lot better things than some of our previous mayors," she said.

West's husband is serving in the military, so the scuttlebutt over the mayor is the least of her concerns.

"There are far more important things than what our mayor is doing here in tiny little Arlington," she said.

 

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