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Mike Fagan, who for years has helped run Tim Eyman’s anti-tax ballot measures, has filed for a Spokane City Council seat.
“While the city of Spokane braces itself for some lean budget years…the taxpayers of this city deserve to be protected from wanton taxation in order to maintain basic services,” Fagan said in a press release this morning. He said he’ll file at the county courthouse late this afternoon, running for the District 1 seat now held by Al French.
Fagan’s clearly running on his initiative work, saying in his statement that:
Over the last ten years, I have had an impact on every taxpayer in Washington State through my sponsorship of citizen’s initiatives. These efforts have served to bring vehicle license tabs down to a reasonable rate, capped property tax increases, re-established the function of the state auditor, and reigned in the uncontrolled growth of Government. I will continue to serve the citizens of my district, and the city of Spokane with the same bulldog determination as I have portrayed in these endeavors.
Fagan is a disabled veteran, who served as a criminal investigator and contracting officer in the Army. He’s co-founder and co-director of “Voters Want More Choices,” a political action committee that runs Eyman’s measures. The initiatives are a profit-turning venture for Fagan, his father Jack Fagan, and Eyman, who solicit donations to a “compensation fund” for themselves.
Richard Roesler covers Washington state news from The Spokesman-Review's bureau in Olympia.
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Lucy on June 02 at 1:49 p.m.
From his bio, looks like he’s running on his “NO TAXES” connection to Tim Eyman, the fact that he’s married to his high school sweet heart, his a good church goin’ fellow and a disabled veteran……..all the typical blather trotted out when a candidate has nothing that actually relates to the qualifications for the position they seek.
Raising_Hell on June 12 at 3:39 p.m.
Fagan and Eyman haven’t helped Washington taxpayers. What they’ve done is strangle local government and make it harder for it to provide needed services. Like snow plowing, fixing potholes, keeping the library open, and responding to fire alarms and 9-1-1 calls.
Washington has the most regressive taxes of any state in the US. People in the lowest 20% of income earners pay 18% of their income in state and local sales and property tax on average. Those with the highest income pay 3% on average.
What Fagan and Eyman have done is create a cottage industry for themselves by pandering to those who bear the brunt of our regressive tax system. But actually help them? Not one iota.
FISHERMAN on June 15 at 8:41 a.m.
Evidently from the blogs above ignorant is bliss. If you knew Mike Fagan you would know that besides being active in keeping taxes at a reasonable level at the state level he is extremely active in both the City and neighborhood level also. He has been President of the Regional Boundary Committee for OSPI & ESD 101, Precinct Committee Officer, PTA legislator, President Bemiss Neighborhood Council, Co- President of the Eastern Washington Term Limits Coalition, President Spokane Sister Cities Association, President, Hillyard Community Comprehensive Block Grant Steering Committee, Stakeholder, Spokane Comprehensive Plan at the neighborhood level, Stakeholder , Spokane Centers and Corridors at the neighborhood level. plus other civic activities. He doeas have the experience and qualifications to be on the city council and would be an asset to Spokane in that position.
eristalis on June 23 at 1:55 p.m.
Let’s be clear that Eyman’s initiatives (with Fagan’s help) have not been limited to state taxes. The cap on local property taxes has prevented cities across the state from keeping up with inflation and population growth, meaning reduced public services (libraries, parks, etc.), fewer transportation options (public transit for working families on a budget and people with disabilities who can’t otherwise get around on their own), and less effective social services (support for foster care children, services for elderly, drug abuse prevention programs that improve community safety, etc.).
With regard to state taxes, approximately 40 percent of the general fund budget goes to public schools. Our education system has had to bear the brunt of forced cuts in recent years, and there’s simply no way around the fact our children are worse off because of the Eyman/Fagan initiatives.
On a completely separate note, what’s with putting the portrait photo on his yard signs? I’m very curious what the motivation was for that. I can’t recall another local candidate who has taken that approach.
DanielBoone on July 26 at 1:17 p.m.
Blah…Blah…Blah…You liberals never learn. Your answer to everything is more government and more taxes. In case you haven’t noticed, we are in the midst of a depression. Yes…I said “DEPRESSION” not recession! You cannot tax yourself to prosperity and government has NEVER done anything better than the private sector or CHEAPER!
We had the war on illiteracy and now more children graduate from highschool unable to read their diplomas than ever before.
We had the war on poverty and now there is a bigger disparity between the rich and poor than ever before.
We had a war on drugs and now we have double the cocaine and tripple the heroin.
We have the war on terrorism and it is the American people being terrorized.
Yep, I think I have had enough of taxes being shoved down a rathole on ill concieved “PROGRAMS” and I’m tired of having wars declared on non-existent foes. Government is nothing but a giant head whose only mission in life is to feed itself! Enough is enough!
Mike Fagan is just the man to stop this wreckless spending and the governmental feeding frenzy. We also look forward to stopping or at least slowing the ignorance surrounding this imaginary “Global Warming” hoax. Global warming is nothing more than another way for the economically ignorant and those who produce nothing to tax and steal on a mass scale. In case you haven’t noticed, there is NO GROWTH to manage…only manufactured crises that benefit the eugenicists who wish to displace millions of Americans and Spokane is right in their sights.
We need a dozen Mike Fagans to get this maniacle, fiduciarily irresponsible machine under control.
I also know most people in Spokane, except eggheads, academics, and socialists, think like and believe in Mike Fagan and his beliefs that people need to do for themselves and that government needs to get out of the free market. Will you ever understand that money doesn’t grow on trees and government has NO MONEY except that which it steals from the largesse. You liberals are more than welcome to donate your whole paycheck to city hall if you wish. I’m sure they’ll accept it. Then you will really really FEEL GOOD while the rest of us look for stupid green jobs that never will exist!
The_Spovangelist on July 27 at 1:25 a.m.
Dear DanielBoone,
I wish I had time to unravel your contorted Gordian knot of contradictory, bitter and paranoid platitudes.
Sincerely,
The Spovangelist