Portland Mayor Sam Adams' political troubles are far from over. Though he has cleared a criminal hurdle, Adams still faces a recall campaign critics describe as his "civil trial."

KGW-TV

Portland Mayor Sam Adams

Even Adams' good friend, City Commissioner Randy Leonard, says the trust issue lingers.

"He has my trust 100 percent. But I have filed the back of my head what happened as in any relationship," said Leonard.

Leonard says he’s happy with the result of the attorney general's investigation.

He says it will give Adams a chance to regain the trust of statewide politicians who've been doubting him.

But the public?

Jasun Wurster says "no."

He's leading the recall effort against Adams, vowing to collect 50,000 signatures in 90 days.

"Holding Adams accountable for his willful lies, his orchestration of elaborate cover up and his abuse of power," said Wurster.

Wurster equates the recall to a proverbial civil trial for acts of fraud and deceit.

"And on July 7th we will hold Adams accountable for those."

The Portland Police Association says it will stay out of the recall fight.

But officers are disappointed by the attorney general's ruling, and disappointed, they say, that Adams is getting a pass on his behavior.

"I'm a bit disturbed that we're accepting that from our politicians," said Scott Westerman, Portland Police union president.

Commissioner Nick Fish says the investigation has been a "black cloud over City Hall" that has "made it difficult to work here for the past five months."

Regardless of the outcome, he says he's relieved.

"Today the mayor was cleared of any criminal wrong-doing. People are going to make their own judgments about his behavior but I believe it's important that we go forward," said Fish.

Adams refuses to say whether he'll actively fight the recall.

"I'm telling you what my focus is and my answer is I'm focused on the city's business," he said.

For now, Adams will stick to business and hope a strong performance will further protect his job in the coming months.

Adams also has financial trouble.

Unless he pays back five months of missed his mortgage payments for two of his properties, Adams faces foreclosure as early as October.