Spokane's Gay Mayor Lowers Profile

SPOKANE, WA -- Since the now infamous revelations about his secret gay life about 2 months ago Spokane's Mayor Jim West has kept a low profile and rarely been seen at public events.

The mayor is no longer performing many of the ceremonial functions and duties that usually comes with such a position. A recent poll also shows that a majority of Spokane's residents believe that the mayor should resign. West has rejected all calls to resign, saying he has done nothing illegal and the voters who elected him should be the ones to decide whether he will continue to serve.

"It's put the community in a very awkward position, and that is unfortunate," said Tony Bonanzino, president of the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce. "We have so many functions the mayor should be involved with, and it's becoming very difficult."

West has not yet been charged with any crimes but the FBI has started looking into the case. West, a former state Senate Majority Leader known as a conservative who steadfastly opposed gay-friendly legislation, resigned from numerous civic boards and commissions after he was outed by the The Spokesman-Review.