Is Ted Wheeler the New Sam Adams?
Friday, September 25, 2015
Wheeler attempts to be a "people's mayor."
Sam Adams is the former Portland mayor, serving from 2009-2012 before Charlie Hales took office.
Adams has made that rare transition from being a political figure to an engrained, pop-cultural icon of his city. After all, one can’t forget Adams’ role on Portlandia.
Surely, Ted Wheeler could only hope to achieve a similar political celebrity status. But how would that happen? And the main question still remains: Why are comparisons between these two candidates made at all? They don’t seem to have much in common.
Personal History
During Ted Wheeler’s announcement speech, one reporter asked him, “How can a rich man relate to the lower-middle class of Portland?”
Though Wheeler’s response was well calculated, it does bring to mind a stark difference between him and Adams. Wheeler comes from an established, wealthy Portland background whereas Adams comes from a more modest coastal upbringing from Newport, Oregon.
Sam Adams began as a city employee who knew the city’s political system after a decade of working as the top staffer. Before Adams ran for mayor, he was on the city council.
Unlike Adams, Wheeler spent most of his professional career in the private sector. Almost a polar opposite, Wheeler served at the county and state levels.
Differences Between Wheeler and Adams
Ted Wheeler and Sam Adams both worked together when Adams was Mayor and Wheeler was the Chairperson of the County Commission.
Ted Wheeler spoke with GoLocalPDX in order to offer insight as to why he might be considered the new Sam Adams. As it turns out, the two may have not always agreed on all of the issues.
“We had differences of opinion,” said Wheeler. “I was county chair when he was mayor of Portland, governing at a time of steep budget cutbacks.”
“We had heated discussions behind closed doors,” Wheeler continued.
In fact, Wheeler was a republican about ten years ago, something he might have more in common with Charlie Hales.
Despite these difference, Wheeler claims he and Adams accomplished common goals while Adams was mayor. "I worked very well with Sam Adams and he worked very well with me."
People’s Mayor
One possible explanation for the comparisons between Wheeler and Adams is that they are both dedicated to being accessible to the people.
Ted Wheeler spoke with GoLocalPDX in order to offer insight as to why he might be considered the new Sam Adams.
“I regard him as a respected colleague. Adams understood that being the mayor is a very personal position,” Wheeler said.
“He brought a lot of energy and passion to the position,” Wheeler continued. “People always knew where he stood on issues. He was willing to take leadership on controversial issues.”
Wheeler hopes that his personal connection with the public is also part of his legacy, just as it was with Adams. These early comparisons between Wheeler and Adams might already hint at how Wheeler is connecting with his audience.
“Maybe people think we both have a bad sense of humor,” Wheeler said.
Related Slideshow: SLIDESHOW: Ted Wheeler Announces Portland Mayoral Candidacy on Rooftop of Revolution Hall
Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler was joined by the press and many close friends, family members, and supporters on the rooftop of Revolution Hall off of SE Stark so that he could officially make his candidacy announcement for Portland mayor in the 2016 mayoral race.
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