04/12/2008

Associated Press

The lingerie mayor senses a cover-up.

Carmen Kontur-Gronquist, the former mayor of Arlington, filed a lawsuit in Gilliam County Circuit Court this week alleging election fraud and mishandling of ballots in the February recall that cost her the office. It seeks to have the election overturned and Kontur-Gronquist reinstated as mayor of the Eastern Oregon community.

Kontur-Gronquist, 42, got worldwide press this winter after some constituents complained about revealing photos the mayor posted on her MySpace page.

The shots show the mayor on a town fire engine clad only in bra and panties. Kontur-Gronquist said she had permission from the fire chief to use the engine and had intended to submit the photos in a contest about fitness. She said a relative posted them on MySpace in hopes it would improve the social life of the fit, single mother.

The lingerie issue, along with gripes about sewers and the municipal golf course, led residents to recall Kontur-Gronquist by a 142-139 vote.

The lawsuit alleges the city recorder mishandled ballots and a postal worker kept mail ballots from several of the mayor's supporters.

"There were a lot of loopholes that were brought to my attention after the election," Kontur-Gronquist told The Oregonian newspaper. "I'd like to see this situation be looked into."

The lawsuit lists as defendants the city of Arlington, its mayor and city council, the city recorder, a recall leader, the city attorney, and an assistant postal worker.

"This is the most silly, frivolous thing ever," Alice Courtney, a city councilwoman, said Friday. "She's only doing this for the publicity, believe me."

Since her recall Kontur-Gronquist has been selling signed copies of her most popular MySpace photo on eBay.

___

Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com