Mayor Ousted Over MySpace Photos

The former mayor of Arlington, Oregon, learned a hard lesson after she posted pictures of herself wearing only a black bra and panties on her MySpace page. She was also on one of the town’s fire engines.

Carmen Kontur-Gronquist’s MySpace page is blocked to all but her friends, but the pictures were at one time available to all users. In an interview with the (Pendleton) East Oregonian, the mayor said she did nothing wrong and those who are offended “need to get over it”.

Kontur-Gronquist, who is also the fire department’s executive secretary, said the photos were taken before she was elected mayor three years ago, and she saw no reason to remove them from the Internet after taking office.

The fallout caught up with her and she was recently removed from office in a narrow recall election, 142-139. Kontur-Gronquist’s term would have ended in January 2009; she was serving while working full time at the town’s health clinic because the mayor’s job is an unsalaried position.