Arlington mayor recalled in close vote

Arlington mayor recalled in close vote

Tools

Story Published: Feb 26, 2008 at 8:15 AM PDT

Story Updated: Feb 27, 2008 at 9:58 AM PDT

By KATU Web Staff

ARLINGTON, Ore. - The mayor of a small Oregon town who came under fire for racy pictures of her posted on the Internet was recalled in a close vote Monday.

According to the person who spearheaded the recall drive, Ron Miller, the vote was 142 in favor and 139 against the recall of Mayor Carmen Kontur-Gronquist.

She came under fire after she posted photos of herself posed in lingerie on a fire truck on her MySpace page.

She told KATU News Tuesday that she had no regrets about posting the photo online, and she seemed to harbor no hard feelings about the recall.

"My reaction is that the democratic process took place, and that is a good process that we have in the United States, and it's fair," she said.

There are 366 registered voters in Arlington. Dozens of them held meetings and organized after the photo was publicized, and many participated in Monday night's recall vote.

But the voters weren't really just angry about the picture, some said.

Miller said the recall vote was also about some of her decisions as mayor of the small town, located along Interstate 84 between The Dalles and Pendleton in the Columbia River Gorge. That included her management of the city golf course, where she eliminated two positions during the fall and winter. That apparently did not sit well with some of the big golfers in town.

He said Gronquist will leave office immediately.

The Arlington City Council President will take over as mayor until a new mayor is selected.

As for Gronquist, she said she is selling a poster of herself on eBay. A portion of the proceeds, she said, will go to the Arlington city ambulance company.

Weather & Traffic

Icon
Current Temp 67.0 °F
Fair
Video
More Weather

Resources and info you need to prepare for the switch to DTV.

Stay Connected

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Viewer Poll

How has Facebook changed your life?

  • I got a job through Facebook
  • I hooked up with old college/high school friends
  • It's how our family keeps in touch / updated
  • I learned odd new things about my friends
  • It's helped my business
  • I'm still on the fence about using it

Marketplace