Behind the Scenes…
Meet Sam Adams
My Mom and us kids in Newport
Childhood in Newport, Oregon
When Sam was born, his mother, Kara, was a teenager who had dropped out of high school. Sam’s father, Larry, worked as a commercial fisherman who struggled with alcoholism. Sam grew up in the small coastal town of Newport, Oregon.
When Sam was young, the local economy was collapsing: so many trees had been cut down that the logging industry had crashed down, and the oceans were overfished, forcing his father to look for other work.
With the help of subsidized public housing and food stamps, the family was able to get by, and Sam’s mother, once a high school dropout, obtained a college education.
Sam 3rd Grade
Growing up in Eugene
At eleven years old, Sam started work as a newspaper delivery boy for The Oregonian. He became fascinated by current events, reading each paper cover-to-cover, and dreamed of one day living in the “big city” of Portland. He struggled with his identity. He didn’t know other people who were gay, and his father’s addictions made living at home difficult.
At age sixteen, he began living largely on his own in Eugene. While going to high school there, he worked as a dishwasher, busboy and cook at Mr. Steak.
A passion for public service
Growing up, Sam saw how effective government policies, like food stamps and subsidized student housing, could save lives. And he saw how ineffective policies, like those that led to too overfishing, could ruin lives. This upbringing is what created his passion for public service.
Moving to Portland
After high school, Sam began working as a county government intern. He later worked as a congressional aide, campaign manager, mayoral chief of staff for Vera Katz, a member of the city council, a mayor, a mayoral aide, and a nonprofit leader.
Non-profit leadership
He later worked as a nonprofit executive director for the City Club of Portland and then as a director at the World Resources Institute, a global environmental think tank. All this work has been dedicated to a common theme: passing pragmatic policies that improve the lives of everyday people.
How he spends his free time
Sam enjoys spending time with his husband, author Peter Zuckerman, along with their two dogs. His hobbies include beekeeping, beer-making, gardening, and photography.
MEDIA KIT
Logos and campaign approved images of Sam available for download.