I live here in Spokane. What an amazing and funky story. I was a huge fan of West before this story broke. I even built a website to help him raise money...until I learned the truth. Then I did an immediate about face and swallowed my pride. You see, I am a Republican researcher who occasionally writes speeches for Gay Politicians in the Pacific NW (mostly). I wrote 2 for Mayor West before researching the issue thoroughly. There is so much yet to be discovered and written about. Somebody will write a book about this. It will make a spicey TV movie. It might even make a decent theatrical release if directed by someone with a penchant for politics and research/issues. (Clooney?)
A closeted gay Mayor in a conservative and homophobic city...outed by a sting operation run by the local media baron (Cowles family) who had gone to battle against the Mayor over a 50 million dollar "public private partnership/fiasco". That is just the tip of the iceberg.
DID THE MAYOR ABUSE BOYS IN THE 1970s AND 1980s ? (never resolved)
DID THE MAYOR HELP COVER UP HIS GOOD PALS SUICIDE...A PAL WHO WAS ALSO A FELLOW COP WHO PREFERRED BOYS/YOUNG MEN ? (never resolved...or even discussed)
It is such a disturbing story. Talk about civic embarrassment. GEEEZ !
Thank god Mark Hodgson (my private attorney) and his colleagues, Jerry Davis & Brant Stevens...if not for their legal expertise, victory at the Supreme Court would have been nearly impossible for Shannon Sullivan.
The mayor was indeed entrapped...but as it turned out, justice found a way.
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