Charlie Hales elected Portland mayor

PORTLAND - Charlie Hales easily defeated state legislator Jefferson Smith in Tuesday's election to replace Portland mayor Sam Adams.

Hales served 10 years as a city commissioner before leaving for the private sector in 2002. He told voters his experience in City Hall means he won't need on-the-job training to get things done. He has promised to help create jobs, boost education and improve basic city services, such as fixing the city's bumpy roads

Hales benefited from a late collapse in support for Smith.

Smith was criticized for his response to reports that he hit a woman at a party 19 years ago. His campaign had already been dogged by revelations that he was ejected from a sports league for rough play and had his driver's license suspended seven times.