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Newly
released county emails show that Multnomah County Chairman Jeff Cogen and
health department employee Sonia Manhas exchanged hundreds of emails over the 18-month
length of their affair, many filled with smiley faces, flirting and plans
to meet.
The
emails include topics such as marriage, a June 2011 Rush concert they
attended with Cogen's teenage son, scheduling time to attend events
together and finding a place to have lunch "away from the mix."
Cogen,
51, admitted on Tuesday to a year-and-a-half long affair with Manhas,
40, who works as the director of policy and planning in the Multnomah
County Health Department. The emails, disclosed under a public records
request, total nearly 700 pages.
As WW reported earlier today, the exchanges show Cogen and Manhas discussed her promotion to a job paying more than $103,000 a year.
But they also involve less substantive matters. Many emails include smiley faces and innuendo, including a March 13, 2013 email calling him "rock star, Jeff Cogen."
Here's a chronological look at some of the county emails sent between the pair:
On June 29, 2011—the day after Cogen and Manhas attended a Rush concert at Sleep Country Ampitheater in Washington state with his teenage son—they exchanged emails.
Cogen: "I thought you were out of town already... does work never end for this rock n' roll health revolutionary? :)"
Manhas: "Fun last night. I'm intrigued with what you shared on the drive back about marriage. Let me know if you are interested in picking up that conversation sometime. You can also tell me if this is totally an unwelcome inquiry."
Cogen: "Hope you've crossed into the border on vacation. Let's get lunch again and we can continue our conversation."
On Sept. 14, 2011, they discussed attending an Oct. 7 Public Health Institute lunch together.
Cogen: 'yes, let's do it!"
Manhas: "cool...maybe we can work in time before or after."
Cogen: ":)"
Many of their exchanges that fall concerned the banning of children's sippy cups made with bisphenol A, or BPA.
On Oct. 30, 2011, the county board of commissioners passed the sippy-cup ban. Manhas and Cogen exchanged celebratory emails.
Manhas: "WOW! This is cool :)"
Cogen: ":) yippee!"
On Oct. 31, 2011, Manhas sent Cogen and his wife, Lisa Pellegrino, an email coordinating Cogens' children babysitting Manhas' children so she and her husband could attend a music concert. Cogen replied privately with a smiley face.
Manhas: "It's weird."
Cogen: "Yup"
On June 13, 2012, Manhas sent Cogen a Daily Show video—"funny clip, but not good for our messaging," she noted—where Jon Stewart mocked New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for trying to ban giant sodas.
WWeek 2015