Spokane, Wash., voters oust mayor

SPOKANE, Wash., Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Voters in Spokane, Wash., have ousted long-time mayor Jim West for using "his elected office for personal benefit."

The mail-in vote asked if West should be recalled for offering internships to young men he met in gay Internet chat rooms, the Spokane Spokesman-Review reported. Sixty-five percent of voters chose to recall him.

West acknowledged relationships with the men and admits he's made mistakes, but says he's done nothing illegal.

Auditors announced the results Tuesday night, and the returns will be certified on Dec. 16th, the same day West will have to leave office.

Meanwhile, City Council President Dennis Hession will serve as interim mayor.

Before the vote, West said regardless of the outcome, he plans to sue the newspaper for its role in exposing his Internet activities using a forensic computer specialist to pose as a high school student.