February 12, 2004
Candidate For Leonard's Council Seat Spends Night In Jail
It's about time this year's local elections got bizarre. According to a report from OPB Radio, City Council candidate Jim Whittenberg "spent last night in jail for not buying a light-rail ticket and then refusing to get off the train" -- although the story goes on to describe a slightly more complicated series of events:
Whittenberg says he nodded off and was woken up by kids trying to sell him drugs. He says when Tri-Met security officers turned up they gave him a fine for traveling without a ticket, and told him to get off the train.
When he refused, Hillsboro Police charged him with criminal trespass and took him to jail.
According to the story, Whittenberg says he buys a pass every month "religiously" and complains that "the first time they catch me, they stick it to me with everything they have."
Whittenberg is one of only two candidates who have filed to run for Randy Leonard's Commissioner No. 4 position. As of today, Leonard himself finally has filed to run for re-election to that seat.
Comments (3)
Noah Brimhall on 12 Feb 2004
I was telling a friend about this, and mentioning that I was feeling a bit bad for the candidate. He told me I shouldn't.
"This is like calling the cops because your house was robbed, and complaining that the thieves stole your pot."
True, very true.
no one in particular on 13 Feb 2004
I heard they found PORN IN HIS HOUSE, too!!!!
How DISGUSTING.
Local Cynic on 16 Feb 2004
I find it interesting that his counter-complaint is "...the first time they catch me..." and not "...the first time I forget to buy a ticket...". His own statements imply that riding without paying fare is not new to him.