Bud Clark Inaugural Interviews — 1985

Yes, we lost former Mayor Bud Clark on the day I posted this one. Maybe if I was better at getting these clips up, I wouldn’t have to rush them onto the site the DAY THESE PEOPLE DIE, hmm? My fault.

For those who don’t know why Clark is significant, did you ever wish you could elect Weird Al Yankovic as your mayor? It sorta happened back then. And it was as great as it sounds. The “Keep Portland Weird” movement has its roots in this guy (even if it actually started in Austin).

Here are two live interviews Clark held with KGW and KATU the day he first took his position. When Bud mentions getting the rose on his lapel from “John Williams’ garden” he probably means the DJ from KISN FM, not the composer of the Star Wars theme. But with Bud, you never truly know for sure…