Texas Mayor Trades Job for Romance in Mexico

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: WSJ

J.W. Lown, the mayor of San Angelo in West Texas, recently narrated a video touting his town as a great place to live. Then he left to pursue another passion.

Mr. Lown resigned this week -- less than a month after winning a fourth two-year term in a landslide -- saying he was leaving to carry on a relationship with a Mexican man who had been living illegally in the U.S.

Mr. Lown, 32 years old, sent the city manager a text message just hours before he was due to be sworn into office Tuesday that said he wouldn't be at the ceremony. He'd moved to Mexico, leaving behind a short letter of resignation on his desk.

...

With his partner unable to legally remain in the U.S., the mayor said he realized around election day -- May 9 -- that he faced a choice: betray his duty to abide by the law by helping the man hide from immigration authorities; end the relationship, or join him in Mexico. He chose Mexico.



Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124294991033245475.html

[Xipe Totec]

1. Vaya con Dios n/t

[eleny]

2. that's a really sweet personal story

[Ilsa]

3. So, the Concho Honcho resigned?

San Angelo is in The Concho Valley.

[derby378]

4. Damn...

He shouldn't have screwed over San Angelo like that, but his commitment to a man who may indeed by his soulmate is commendable.

[davidinalameda]

5. what a really cool story!

hope it turns out well

[sasquatch]

6. Dude, move to Massachusets

[LeftyMom]

8. Wouldn't matter.

The feds don't honor legal marriages between persons of the same sex, so the partner wouldn't qualify to immigrate as a spouse.

[proteus_lives]

7. Kudos to an honorable man!

"With his partner unable to legally remain in the U.S., the mayor said he realized around election day -- May 9 -- that he faced a choice: betray his duty to abide by the law by helping the man hide from immigration authorities; end the relationship, or join him in Mexico. He chose Mexico."

He chose not to abuse his power and position. I say well done sir and may your love blossom for the rest of your life!

[Siyahamba]

9. If they were an opposite-sex couple

They could marry and apply for a spousal visa.

Same-sex couples, no such luck, since immigration is determined at the federal level and DOMA prevents federal recognition of same-sex relationships.

[AlphaCentauri]

11. Pretty soon we are going to need a new constitution

the existing one is outdated

[Stephanie]

10. That was honorable.

[DesertDiamond]

12. Wow. I so admire him. This is but one of the reasons I support gay marriage...

besides the fact that it's just plain fair. But besides that, I have other gay friends who have shown this kind of heroic love and commitment to their partners. I wish more heterosexual men were capable of that depth of love and loyalty, but society socializes so many of them to believe that loving that much just isn't manly. The gay men I know seem to have escaped that conditioning.