December 14, 2005 | Sex & Society

Spokane mayor ousted in gay sex scandal

Last spring, James E. West was found where nobody expected him to be: in a gay chatroom. Now, after months of defending himself against public outrage, the mayor of Spokane, Wash., has received a pink slip from local voters.

West, 54, was busted in May inside a Gay.com chatroom, where he made a habit of promising internships and other favors to young men with whom he hoped to have sex. West, a former Boy Scout executive and sheriff's deputy, was using a city-owned laptop, which the FBI seized in its investigation of his activities.

Upon reading about West's sexual exploits in the local newspaper, an angry parent launched a campaign to recall him from office. She succeeded, and in a special recall election last week Spokane voted to oust West from his job; he must vacate his position Dec. 16 when the election results are certified.

"I said I'd abide by the will of the voters, obviously, and they've spoken," West told the Associated Press, according to Gay.com. "I'm at peace with their decision and disappointed."

More than half of the 110,000 ballots sent to voters had been counted on the night of the election. Of those, 65 percent voted to recall West, while only 35 percent voted to retain him.

While West has not been charged with a crime, investigative reports by The Spokesman-Review have tied him to allegations of sexual abuse in the 1970s. West has admitted no wrong-doing, but has apologized for making "personal mistakes."

If his numerous anti-gay votes as a conservative Republican -- and, apparently, a closet case -- count as "personal mistakes," then yes, Mr. West has made a few!

• Spokane mayor ousted in gay sex scandal [gay.com]
• Investigative report and follow-up articles (latest news at bottom of page) [The Spokesman Review]