Jefferson Smith explains what happened at 1993 college party
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PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland mayoral candidate Jefferson Smith said during a news conference that he was involved in a 1993 incident where he ended up striking a woman at a college party, although he claims he acted in self-defense.
The incident was first reported by the Willamette Week on Monday afternoon.
Smith said the altercation happened at a party between his sophomore and junior year of college. He said a woman he didn’t know was sleeping on a couch when somebody pushed her off the couch. The woman came at Smith swinging, thinking he had pushed her.
During the altercation Smith said he fought back, struck the woman and injured her.
“It happened pretty fast,” Smith said. “I was trying to get her away. Obviously I made contact.”
Smith was cited for assault, but those charges were later dropped, according to the Willamette Week. Smith settled with the woman out of court and agreed to pay for her medical bills.
“I wanted to make sure she was okay and to take responsibility,” Smith said.
He described the night as “the worst night of my life.”
Lara Larson, a high school classmate of Smith's, also spoke at the news conference to defend him.
"She came at him," Larson said. "He did what any one of us would have done in that situation."
Smith also criticized the tone of the campaign, saying too much focus has been made on past issues and not enough time spent talking about the future of the city.
He has come under criticism before for past transgressions, including driving suspensions and punching a player during a pick-up basketball game.
“I knew this race was going to be tough when we got in; I knew I lived an imperfect life and I didn’t know how it was going to turn out,” Smith said.
He vowed to stay in the race and "continue to move forward."
"I think that if I were voting for the 20-year-old me I probably wouldn't make that person mayor of our city," Smith said. "But that's not the pesron who's running. It's the me now."
I know some want to keep Portland weird but please - let's add a ounce of normalcy to prove the rule. Vote Hales
This guy is perfect for mayor of Portland. He is full of lies and inconsistencies and obvious low moral character.
"Jeff", hang it up bud. You're clearly not mayoral level talent. Â
Look on the positive side, Jefferson Smith did what Sam Adams could never do...beat up a girl. I would love to see Smith and Adams in a cage fight! Smith could then ad to his record a second incident where he beat up a woman.
Another week, another Jefferson Smith explanation ... where there is smoke ....
I was taught as a child to always be aware of my behavior because it will come back to haunt you when you least expect it....Jefferson Smith is a perfect example of what can and will happen if you live your life selfishly ...
It should be clear today just how dangerous a pig can be.
His driver's license suspensions are a red flag.
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His basketball throw-down is a red flag.
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This, meh, not so much. I could very plausibly see it happening the way he describes it
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By the way... what woman at a college party can't find a bed to sleep in? We all know the answer, and it explains why she would be so angry.
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We are concerned with his conduct in college?? And a basketball game?? We have a child rapist as a Mayor..we tared and feathered Bob Packwood because he kissed and made sexual attempts at women..let's see we came close to giving Bill Clinton the nobel peace prize....and we have a muslim for a President...Hmmmmm...he GETS"s MY VOTE!!! SMITH FOR MAYOR!
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I wish i could remember what happened at a party in 1993....
She called up next month and said "" I am late""
@cptmac11 Ah, Southwind - does the fact he was not forthcoming with a publicly recorded assault charge mean anything to you? Do you imagine such skeletons in Charlie Hales closet? Asaultive behavior. And loose rationales for what it all occured. One sided rationales - that had to be leveraged out of this candidate for high office - Jefferson Smith never, ever volunteering this information about himself up. Or did Mr. Smith just expect to get himself elected and then if the public found out about his publicly noted assaultive actions, too bad/so sad for the public in Portland - stuck with him at that point.
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We have a chance right now to measure this man fully up and decide whether or not to elect him. Keep the bar of secreted illegal behavior down at the level of Sam Adams - with staffs covering it all - and hoping no one finds out? Come on. Charle Hales is a full grown adult waiting to be elected. And deserving to be so. Without a pattern of illegal actions on his part - following him along - for the totality of his adult life. Jefferson Smith. Appears as if he cannot go a year or two - without engaging in something illegal or another. And THAT is totally unacceptable.
@englishdaisy That is avery stupid statement. I am sure that you have no issues in your background... A real saint. in reality there is no politician out there that has a sparkling clean record. Just take a look aat the democratic Icons out there: Ted Kennedy, The af fair that John F Kennedy , one our greatest Presidents, had with Monroe, and to be fair Nixon and watergate. Besides Charlie Hale is a weak liberal minded person that will follow in the footsteps of Sam Adams.
 @englishdaisy .. it's easy to see maybe one infraction but they just keep a coming...wonder how many more we have yet to learn of?Â
why can't we keep the pedophile we have now?
 @archon312 Makes you think, don't it?
I couldn't care less who creepy Portland gets for its leader, but really? This is news? This will keep a guy from being mayor of PORTLAND? You already have a pedophile in office, I would think this would be a step up. And don't even get me started on Obama.
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Politicians are generally a slimy crew; you won't find many without baggage.Â
@Scotty9 Scotty - we have a choice. Charlie Hales - who has no slimy record. Who has no criminal record and multiple, multiple, MULTILE driving violations and suspensions of his driving privileges. Or we have - chronically illegall acting Jefferson Smith. Deceitful, nondisclosing, violence against women Jefferson Smith.
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Don't lump all politicians in with Smith or Adams. This city has a clear choice on election day. Hales has my vote. Confidently so.
Why not. In the city of Portland ( which attracts same sex couples , bums, occupiers and terrorists like flies on poop) There are nothing but liberal leaders that have no concept on what the vast majority of the city wants, like actual paved roads ,not green bike lanes. Toi be able to walk the downtown sidewalks and not have to step over human feces and urine. Considering that Smith is getting cooked over nonissues tells me that he is too "Republican" for the competition , Next thing you know they will be saying he stole cigarettes from his grandfather at age 6. Â
If you want to be a serious politician, you are going to have to learn to come up with better stories, and manage the witnesses a little better.
Bill Clinton would have ended up with a citizen good conduct medal from the same incident.
We have probably all had a misstep or two in our younger years but it appears Smith has anger issues that continue today. Hitting women, punching basketball players in the cajones, etc. is just not normal. But then again Portland voters elected a gay pedophile so Smith should be a shoo-in.
I'm smelling some serious chum in the water around Jefferson Smith.... and the sharks are finding plenty of meat to chomp on.Â
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There's an old saying that 'there is no such thing as "bad" publicity', but I'd offer that in politics that is not the case.Â
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To be fair, Jefferson Smith has done some good in his career in public office. His educational background is also impressive, but it seems that everywhere someone digs, they come up with new skeletons. From almost getting disbarred because of not paying dues, to seemingly cronic difficulties obeying traffic laws, to physical altercations with women at frat parties. He's failed to appear in court five times, and he's failed to pay court fines twice...
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Here's the thing, I'm all for giving people a second chance. Really, I am. But, right now (at least in the court of public opinions) Jefferson Smith is asking for a 5th or 6th chance. At some point, people stop looking at these sort of things as exceptions, an more as rules.Â
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Somehow, I'm thinking that Charlie Hales is feeling pretty good right about now.Â
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...of course, at the rate Smith is going, Tre Arrow may have a better chance than him. At least with Tre Arrow, people don't have to wonder about skeletons, he's done it all in front of the cameras.Â
 @MarkKpic The "skeleton du jour"
Watching just now your reporter ended with saying we still don't have all the answers.. Uh, well, yes, you do! He was quite clear what happened at a party when he as a young man.  I received an email from him this afternoon outlining what happened, as I'm sure you did too.  Campaign's unfortunately become ugly, and the media LOVES to make that happen.. He took action first  in this case from "rumors".  I'm not sure if I'm voting for him yet, but I see he is following through with a comment he made at a campaign "house party"  "If you have questions about me, if you hear "stuff" about me, come to ME first, to get the answer".
Look at the size of that guy. Was turning around and leaving not an option. Sure, he might've ended up with some weak punches to his back, maybe some pulled hair. Mr. Smith just seems to be a fan of aggression.Â
@pitpat Only in Portland would you say, turn the other cheek . If I was in the same position and had a drunk a*s girl punching on me and not stopping, well, I would have knocked her out ,called the cops and had HER arrested for assault.
 @Civ   I see your point, but I hope you see that in my scenario there are no cops and no knocked out girl. When the cops show up they decide who to believe. The point I was trying to make was that sometimes fighting back (particularly against a woman) isn't worth a couple scratches. I'm sure Mr. Smith would agree...now. Â
Was he driving a car when he hit her in sef denial, er, a self defense?
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Was he taking any medication at the time? Why Not? Does he deny inhaling? It's a real shame the iphone hadn't been invented in 1993 or we could just watch this lame excuse on youtube.
I haven't heard or read ANYTHING about this guy that even comes close to thinking he should be the Mayor of ANYWHERE !!! He can't even drive responsibly !! I wouldn't hire him for any job with his background or recommend him for one. Portland needs a mayor citizens and visitors alike can have some respect for. We've suffered enough black eyes from our government officials over the years both elected and appointed. We can do alot better than the current one and many of the past.
"But that's not the pesron who's running. It's the me now."Â What the hell is a pesron?
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He punched a player during a pick up game? Cool! Combat basketball is the best!
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So let's watch all these Chicken Little types running around screaming at the top of their lungs, "They Sky is Falling! The Sky is Falling!" Oh. My. God. If all the stuff that people have done in their past could be made known, there wouldn't be anyone in any office anywhere. Another Willamette Weenie Witch Hunt.
Just stand up all alone - like a man. What's with all of the people behind him? Where any of them present with him 24/7 and can attest to his assaultive behavior and mentality - back then? Or now for that matter?Â
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Mr. Smith - why weren't you forthcoming with this critical information about exactly who you are - long ago? You do agree this disclosure - that you did not provide the Portland voter with voluntarily - is pretty damning stuff, sir. You do recognize that much. And that you desired to never, ever disclose this criminal court case to any of us? In order for all of us to decide for ourselves - whether or not you are a credible candidate for mayor?Â
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Just wanted to keep this and goodness know how much else - shielded from the people. Secret questionable lives of our politicians - reminds me of Sam Adams - right there.Â
 @englishdaisy Everyone has something in their closet, this was to me "no news" It happend 19yrs ago.  It has nothing to do with how he'll be as a  Mayor, if elected.  People forget, he's already an elected representative to the Oregon House.  Go on what he's done there and elsewhere professionally, compare with Charlie Hales, if they are somewhat equal in their priorities for the City, then go to the imperfections to nit pic between the two of them. .
 @englishdaisy So how clean is YOUR closet, Miss Primrose? Secret questionable lives of our voters. Do you need some more kerosene on your torch? Don't forget your pitchfork! Pttht!
How pathetic must choo choo charlie be to be digging up stuff like this......
 @kramr Ah, kramr - Months and months ago Jefferson Smith - who appears to have a assaultive incident around every other corner - should have headed this off - and disclosed this criminal case - to the public. On the very day he declared his intend to run for office of Mayor - for example.Â
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Not Charlie Hales fault - that Jefferson Smith has so very many violence related skeletons hidden deeply in his closet. Politicians with secret closets full of victims and publicly noted assault cases? Come on, kramr - you really think Smith is credible and competent and level headed enough to be our next mayor?Â
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Don't deflect any of this onto Hales. Ain't Hale's fault that Smith cannot own or honestly disclose who he is - who he really, really is.Â
@englishdaisy  Actually I think they're both tools for different reasons. IMHO, Choo Choo charlie will be just a big money  puppet for downtown interests and won't give a rats arse outside a mile or two radius from downtown and Jefferson is just an irresponsible boob who can't seem to keep a job or his driving privledges.
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I just thank god every single day that I don't live in PDXÂ and/or Multco
 @englishdaisy  @kramr Bull pucky. What other secrets are you talking about...or are you just talking to hear yourself as usual?
 @englishdaisy Unless...unless...YOU were the woman! Ahah! That's why all the venom and vitriol! Well now...heh heh heh!
That's not as bad as having sex with a minor and lying about it, straight-faced. Portland has had two mayors who've done that. And one went on to become Governor and Secretary of Transportation.
At least her toga didn't come off.
sounds like a smear campaign brought on by weiner before you vote weiner works with hale-nolan-novick-sam-randy and several others. google weiner he is the most powerful person in portland he runs city hall by getting his people into city hall. Time to get weiner out of portland.
I'd probably do the same as him and swipe her to the ground! She was the freak not him!
 @portlandborn83 "Sweep the leg, Johnny. Sweep the leg."
The race for Portland Mayor always seems to devolve into a freak show. WWeek is probably sitting on other Jefferson gems.
who started it? Doesn't matter. What matters is why this guy isn't in jail or prison for his anti social behavior. Check out his rap sheet. This guy needs to stay away from an political. He an asshlow