Stu Rasmussen promised a new administration if he was elected, and he's as good as his word: Silverton residents not only are getting a new mayor; they're also getting a new Stu.Warning: SPORK (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-transgender20-2008nov20,0,6169794.story) ALERT.
Rasmussen, longtime manager of the local cinema, was also elected mayor in 1988 and 1990, and served four years -- but that was when he was wearing slacks and sport shirts to council meetings. The new Rasmussen -- who got breast implants a few years ago and began calling himself Carla Fong -- wears skirts, lipstick and high heels.
The thing is, Rasmussen's been a fixture in this small former lumber mill town so long, people tend not to pay much attention to what he's wearing.
Earlier this month, Rasmussen became America's first openly transgender mayor. His constituents say they elected him not for his looks, but because he promised to put a halt to the rapid development that has threatened Silverton's small-town charm.
"My first two terms, I was a very straight-looking guy," said Rasmussen, 60, a software engineer who has written on transgender issues. "Now, I writeunder the name Carla Fong, but basically I'm Stu in Silverton. Honestly, it would be too much trouble to retrain the whole town."
Warning: SPORK (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-transgender20-2008nov20,0,6169794.story) ALERT.
Why MrMannn is he causing you to stumble? :evillaugh:Why, no. I never go to the Shortbus forums myself. :uhsure: