05-25-2009, 07:12 PM
[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/jlown.jpg[/img2]The mayor of San Angelo, Texas, has resigned just ten days after a landslide re-election victory to pursue his relationship with his gay partner, an illegal immigrant.
J W Lown was elected in 2003 as the city's youngest ever mayor at the age of 32. He has been re-elected three times, gaining 89 per cent of the latest vote, held ten days ago.
He told the San Angelo Standard-Times he fell in love with his partner in March, after he announced he would be standing for re-election.
It is thought the unnamed Mexican man had a student visa which has now expired.
Lown said he had chosen not to take the oath of office while âaiding and assistingâ a person who was illegally in the country.
âI made the final decision when I knew it was the right decision to make for me and my partner and our future - and for the community,â he said.
He added he planned to stay in Mexico to try to obtain a visa so that his partner can return with him if âthe people of San Angelo will welcome me back.â
Lown officially tendered his resignation via a letter delivered to city manager Harold Dominguez this week.
âWhile I know that the timing of this announcement is less than ideal, I have my own compelling reasons for making this decision,â he wrote. âI have made thousands of decisions on behalf of our community, and I weighed this decision in the same manner that I approached other decisions.â
Even if Lown married his partner by proxy in a state that allows gay marriage, the federal government does not recognise same-sex marriages for immigration purposes.
J W Lown was elected in 2003 as the city's youngest ever mayor at the age of 32. He has been re-elected three times, gaining 89 per cent of the latest vote, held ten days ago.
He told the San Angelo Standard-Times he fell in love with his partner in March, after he announced he would be standing for re-election.
It is thought the unnamed Mexican man had a student visa which has now expired.
Lown said he had chosen not to take the oath of office while âaiding and assistingâ a person who was illegally in the country.
âI made the final decision when I knew it was the right decision to make for me and my partner and our future - and for the community,â he said.
He added he planned to stay in Mexico to try to obtain a visa so that his partner can return with him if âthe people of San Angelo will welcome me back.â
Lown officially tendered his resignation via a letter delivered to city manager Harold Dominguez this week.
âWhile I know that the timing of this announcement is less than ideal, I have my own compelling reasons for making this decision,â he wrote. âI have made thousands of decisions on behalf of our community, and I weighed this decision in the same manner that I approached other decisions.â
Even if Lown married his partner by proxy in a state that allows gay marriage, the federal government does not recognise same-sex marriages for immigration purposes.
Note: No trees were destroyed in the sending of this contaminant free message. However, I do concede, a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced.