Tim Eyman, the state’s premier initiative entrepreneur, endorsed Spokane City Council Candidate Mike Fagan this week.
This should come as no huge surprise to anyone with the remotest knowledge of state politics, considering Fagan is Eyman’s longtime cohort in a dozen or so years of initiative pushes, including I-1033, which will share a few lines on the ballot with Spokane’s 1st District Council race in November. Fagan faces Amber Waldref for the seat being vacated by Al French; there’s only two of them, so there’s no primary in August.
But Eyman’s announcement is noteworthy in several respects.
It’s the first candidate Eyman has ever endorsed, he said. Not that other candidates haven’t asked, but up to this point, the standard response was “we do initiatives.”
It’s also a sign that the race could get pointed after the primary. Or as he puts it “raising the discourse level.”
Case in point: Eyman’s press release announcing his endorsement, in which he refers repeatedly to Waldref as “crazy-whacko-Seattle-greenie”. The worst slur in the string, Seattle, is odd considering Waldref was born and raised in Spokane. True, she lived in Seattle for several years, but her Lilac City bonafides — St. Patrick’s Grade School, G-Prep — are at least as good as Fagan’s, who came to Spokane from the one place most Spokanites dis more than Seattle.
California.
As for the rest of it, Eyman says he hasn’t met Waldref, but said he made his judgment from her campaign Web site. Which is a bit strange because he calls her an “Envision Spokane-supporter” which is a bit different from her Web site that she finds most of the group’s aspirations “laudable” but doesn’t support their charter change.
“I’m just calling it as I see it,” Eyman said. “I’ve never been known to go with the blue suit and yellow tie and ‘I respectfully disagree with my opponent’ route.”
Nor does Eyman, who many years has to fight foes who want to keep his initiatives off the ballot with the argument that the voters should decide, see any problem with Fagan fighting to keep the Envision Spokane charter change off the Spokane ballot.
“I see initiatives that appear on the ballot that make my heart sink,” he said, and the Envision Spokane proposal is “just flat-out nuts.”
Which is probably a shade kinder than some of the things opponents have said about the initiatives Eyman and Fagan have shepherded onto the state ballot.
TimEyman on July 24 at 3:24 p.m.
Here’s everything in context:
RE: Eyman’s first ever candidate endorsement — Mike Fagan for Spokane City Council — “it’s my first, won’t be my last”
Yesterday, I flew over to Spokane for Mike Fagan’s campaign kick-off for Spokane City Council. It was an awesome event. Everyone was really energized and enthusiastic. Mike Fagan is clearly the taxpayers-advocate candidate in the race against his opponent: crazy-wacko-Seattle-greenie, “Envision-Spokane-supporter” Amber Waldref.
If elected in the 3rd district, Mike Fagan will represent the taxpayers, Ms. Waldref will represent the government.
There’s a huge difference. A friend recently wrote about those differences and I paraphrased some of them in my remarks — here’s what I said at Mike’s kick-off last night at Sweet Old Bob’s restaurant on Trent Avenue:
“Some say that there’s no difference between candidates in non-partisan races — that there’s nothing partisan about a pot-hole. But it’s not the pothole that’s partisan, it’s the way the pothole gets filled that’s the difference.
Crazy-wacko-Seattle-greenie, “Envision-Spokane-supporter” Amber Waldref would want to pass a new pothole tax to fund the repair. Taxpayer advocate Mike Fagan would want to pay for it out of existing revenues.
Crazy-wacko-Seattle-greenie, “Envision-Spokane-supporter” Amber Waldref would want the pothole filled by three workers and one shovel-leaning supervisor using the best equipment and driving a brand new crew-cab pickup truck. Taxpayer advocate Mike Fagan would want to farm the work out to the lowest private-sector bidder.
Crazy-wacko-Seattle-greenie, “Envision-Spokane-supporter” Amber Waldref would want all of the employees to be paid twice what their private-sector counterparts make, along with gold-plated health insurance and retirement benefits. Taxpayer advocate Mike Fagan would want to pay what needed to be paid to get the job done right … and not a penny more.
Crazy-wacko-Seattle-greenie, “Envision-Spokane-supporter” Amber Waldref would want the pothole filled by a crew that has government-approved affirmative action and apprenticeship programs. Taxpayer advocate Mike Fagan would just want the darn thing filled.
Who an elected official thinks they’re there to represent — the taxpayers or the government — clearly affects how he or she thinks about the day-to-day stuff.
That’s the choice that Spokane voters face in the 3rd district this November: Mike Fagan who will conscientiously serve as an able advocate for the taxpayers or crazy-wacko-Seattle-greenie, “Envision-Spokane-supporter” Amber Waldref who will consistently serve as a defender and representative of government.
Mike Fagan, his father Jack, and I have worked together for 12 years. Mike Fagan has always been there to fight for the taxpayers. The citizens in the 3rd district have lower car tabs thanks to Mike Fagan. The citizens in the 3rd district have smaller property tax increases thanks to Mike Fagan. The citizens in the 3rd district are getting more transparency and accountability from government because of voter-approved performance audits thanks to Mike Fagan. And the citizens in the 3rd district were protected from massive tax increases in Olympia this year because of voter-approved I-960 thanks to Mike Fagan. And citizens in the 3rd district have a chance to vote for lower property taxes by controlling the growth of government with I-1033 thanks to Mike Fagan.
Mike Fagan’s hard work, persistence, and junk-yard-dog determination over the past 12 years show what kind of representative the citizens of the 3rd district will get if they elect him this November. It is with great pride and enthusiasm that I endorse Mike Fagan for the Spokane City Council.
— END —
The rest of the evening went very well, it was a great kick-off, and I flew home the same night.
George_Sands on July 24 at 5:32 p.m.
Fagan is the best More On we have. Dilligas my backside.
Gary D Rhodes on July 24 at 9:00 p.m.
Good luck Mike.
You will have to do it without any help from the SR or any local press. The grassroots are behind you.
George_Sands on July 24 at 10:14 p.m.
You mean the pop rock band from the 60’s I hope or the marijuana consortium
Lulubelle on July 25 at 8:19 a.m.
“Crazy-Wacko-Seattle-Greenie” indeed. I’d like to know what the Crazy-Wacko-Seattle (or someplace over there on the WEST SIDE) Nutbag is doing over here poking his nose in Spokane politics. Oh yea……….supporting our local Eyman mini-me.
I guess the initiative business must be getting to be slim pickins’ after the many recent failures. Gotta make a living somehow I suppose…..so lets run for City Council!!
In reading Fagan’s bio and see no qualifications that would prepare him for the position of City Councilman. His educational and professional background seem weak in the extreme. If all you want is some blowhard to stand up and scream “NO TAXES”, I guess he’s your guy. The ironic thing about this battle cry is that the district he would represent is one of the most impoverished in the State and most benefits from taxes paid by others. Go figure.
Citizen on July 26 at 1:05 a.m.
Does Mike Fagan have the moral courage to step up and correct the disparaging lies, misstatements and slurs that Tim Eyman has made about his opponent Amber Waldref?
Will the Eyman political machine’s ability to pump the big bucks into Fagan’s campaign compromise his values?
Come on, Mr. Fagan, make a clear statement one way or the other about Eyman’s outrageous spin about Amber Waldref.
Will you do the right thing or will you be lured into the muck by the campaign money and blind ambition? You have not taken the low road in the past. This is no time to start down that disgusting road.
Do the right thing and refute Eyman’s dirty politicking.
We, the voters of Spokane are waiting to hear how you will handle this.
stephina on July 26 at 9:54 a.m.
Absolutely. This town has grappled with the state’s $9 billion dollar deficit this year. We have been faced with trying to “save Tara” in the fallout of Eyman’s initiatives.
Amber has shown through her service that she does indeed care about this community. She refuses to engage in muckraking, she is an honest woman of integrity. Mike Fagan must still prove that to us. If he fails to refute these, he is off to a rotten start.
a_different_Pete on July 26 at 2:53 p.m.
Eyman is so taken with his own rant that he cannot even get the district correct.
The_Spovangelist on July 27 at 1:15 a.m.
Amber Waldref is clearly Northwest Spokane’s community development candidate in the race against her opponent: short-sighted-blood-letting-California good-ol-boy Mike Fagan. Her vision goes beyond anti-tax fanaticism to include short and long-term strategies for balancing the City budget and improving the quality of life in Spokane.
When elected to the 1st District, Amber will represent the interests of all citizens. Mr. Fagan will represent people who hate taxes so much that they will eliminate them at all (higher) costs.
There IS a huge difference. I did not realize how significant it was until Mr. Eyman decided to chime in and rattle off his string of specious lies. Let’s be clear: Amber Waldref does not endorse Envision Spokane. She simply has the political courage to acknowledge the many important issues that the Community Bill of Rights addresses. For that she should be lauded, not lambasted.
Thoughtful-dedicated-Spokanite role-model Amber Waldref will carefully examine the various options for funding pothole repair. Anti-tax fanatic Mike Fagan would fail to repair potholes by expecting to finance them out of revenues that do not exist, or worse, sacrifice other critical services like police and fire to make good on an empty campaign promise.
Thoughtful-dedicated-Spokanite role-model Amber Waldref will fill potholes in accordance with City requirements with the most affordable options available. She will also consider alternatives to single-occupant commuting where it makes sense to help contain the rising costs of street maintenance and repair. Anti-tax fanatic Mike Fagan would waste his term lobbying for futile political initiatives that fail to serve 1st District voters and set damaging presidents for City functions.
Thoughtful-dedicated-Spokanite role-model Amber Waldref will work with neighborhoods to address their concerns and will use her leadership and coalition-building skills to improve the functionality of neighborhood organizations so they can make good decisions on a more local scale. This will help people lift themselves up without government bumbling. Anti-tax fanatic Mike Fagan will be too busy raging against his big-bad government delusions to trifle with the real and immediate needs of local neighborhoods.
Thoughtful-dedicated-Spokanite role-model Amber Waldref understands the need for living wage jobs and knows how to foster the conditions under which good jobs get created. Anti-tax fanatic Mike Fagan believes government’s only role in economic development is to get out of the way. Prepare yourself for a languishing local economy and more of the dire status quo.
Who an elected official thinks they’re there to represent — the people in general or the upper 5% of taxpayers — clearly affects how he or she thinks about their responsibilities.
This is the choice that Spokane voters face in the 1st District this November: Mike Fagan who will bullheadedly pursue a fanatic agenda of shutting down City operations, or thoughtful-dedicated-Spokanite role-model Amber Waldref who will consistently serve as a defender and representative of people in District 1.
— END —
nslopeofw on July 27 at 1:21 a.m.
All i know is when i moved here from Alaska, my vehicle tabs went from $60 to $600 a YEAR! Penalized for owning a new rig. Now I pay less than $100 a year. Eyman Rocks! He is for the people who work and pay taxes. His buddy is for the same people. Anyone who thinks the workers ought to pay more taxes so the non-workers can have the same lifestyle, are on dope. If the state cant balance the budget, then they need to cut programs for those who choose not to work. The workers are paying MORE than their fair share.
TimEyman on July 27 at 8:48 a.m.
When I said “3rd district”, I meant 3rd legislative district which is correct, but didn’t mention “1st city council district”. Sorry for not being more precise.
As for the previous posts, Mike Fagan deserves enormous credit for co-sponsoring initiatives that have given the average taxpayer an equal voice in the process. Whether it’s lowering car tab fees (which even Democrat legislators like Alex Wood voted for), capping property tax increases (which even Democrat legislators like Chris Marr voted for), or making it tougher to raise taxes (which Lisa Brown took to court and was unanimously rejected by 9 supremes), Mike Fagan’s efforts on behalf of taxpayers make him a very worthy candidate for the city council and we’re hopeful that the voters in the 1st city council district in the 3rd legislative district will give him thoughtful consideration for his heroic 12 years of effort.
eristalis on July 27 at 1:13 p.m.
What a mess. Eyman claims he wants to raise the discourse level, then he follows that with name-calling and false information. Just as one example, his statement is misleading that Lisa Brown was rejected by nine State Supreme Court Justices in her opposition to I-960. Her case before the Supreme Court didn’t pertain to the legitimacy of the initiative, and, in fact, their ruling didn’t address the substance of the initiative. Rather, she filed her suit in regards to the President of the Senate requiring compliance with the initiative. That’s how she was “rejected” by the justices — a unanimous ruling on a procedural issue.
On a side note, does Mike Fagan have a website? Again, there’s a claim to want to raise the discourse level, but one candidate’s very reasonable website is attacked while the other candidate doesn’t seem to have announced his issue positions.
TimEyman on July 27 at 3:33 p.m.
Lisa Brown contrived a recorded vote to seek to get voter-approved I-960 rejected by the Court. Her effort was rejected by a unanimous state supreme court (even the crazy lefties on the court rejected her). Mike Fagan thought it best for the voters to decide the issue — which they did in 2007. Mike Fagan opposed Lisa Brown’s effort to take away the voter-approved policies in I-960 and helped draft the amicus brief defending I-960 against Lisa Brown’s assault — his arguments were ultimately accepted by all 9 justices on the High Court.
Did crazy-wacko-Seattle-greenie, “Envision Spokane” supporter Amber Waldref support Lisa Brown’s efforts to take away I-960’s policies from the people (of course she did)?
Does crazy-wacko-Seattle-greenie, “Envision Spokane” supporter Amber Waldref support Lisa Brown’s efforts to impose a state income tax (of course she does)?
Mike Fagan will represent the taxpayers, crazy-wacko-Seattle-greenie, “Envision Spokane” supporter Amber Waldref will represent the government.
Lulubelle on July 27 at 4:12 p.m.
So Mr. Fagan ” thought it best for the voters to decide the issue” on I-960…….how does he feel about the Spokane’s Community Bill of Rights being put to the vote? Looks to me like the only initiatives he wants to give the voters a say on are yours Mr. Eyman. Hypocrisy reigns! You are both self-serving fools and Spokane certainly doesn’t need any more of those.
BillBill on July 28 at 2:01 a.m.
Eyman, take your big-city, outsider, dirty-machine politics and go away.
You have yet to tell the truth and your misrepresentations are disturbing, both because you know they are not true and you are trying to influence our local elections.
Mr. Fagan, will you continue to stand by quietly and tacitly approve of Eyman’s thugish behavior? Call off your junkyard dog and stop his misrepresentations done in your name.
Mr. Fagan, are you that afraid of Amber Waldref, your locally born and reared, worthy opponent? She is formidable with all of her community ties and years of working on local issues.
Mr. Fagan, what are you going to do? The longer you duck this issue, the more voters will support the eminently qualified Ms. Waldref.
Mr. Fagan, we are waiting to hear from you.
TimEyman on July 28 at 7:52 a.m.
earlier post: “big city”
response: I was born in Yakima (pretty small) and now live in Mukilteo (even smaller).
Mike Fagan has fought for 12 years for taxpayers and will continue to fight for them on the city council (unlike crazy-wacko-Seattle-greenie, “Envision Spokane” supporter Amber Waldref who would fight against the taxpayers).
Citizen on July 28 at 9:35 a.m.
There you go again, Eyman, with your west side machine, dirty politicking.
Why should anyone listen to you? You have NO credibility.
We don’t need your foul noise assaulting our community.
Is Fagan aware of how much damage you are doing to his campaign?
TimEyman on July 28 at 10:06 a.m.
crazy-wacko-Seattle-greenie, “Envision Spokane” supporter Amber Waldref will raise taxes.
BillBill on July 28 at 10:45 a.m.
Amber Waldref is not advocating tax raises. That is a delusional figment of Eyman’s imagination only.
Eyman is the only one whose mental health is put into question by his misstatements and untrue posts.
“West side machine, dirty politicking,” seems especially fitting for Eyman..
Again, Mr. Fagan, what are you going to do? Your continued silence will drive voters to Waldref’s clean campaign. Don’t keep ducking this issue. Is Eyman speaking for you?
Mr. Fagan, we are waiting to hear from you.
Lulubelle on July 28 at 11:18 a.m.
Oh Tim, Tim, Tim - Don’t try and fool us hillbillies over here on the East side……..living in Mukilteo hardly qualifies you as a “small town boy just lookin’ after the little folk”. We know exactly what and where Mukilteo is…..and country it ain’t. How’s that view of the sound?
I beginning to think Fagan is a figment of my imagination. Who is actually running against Amber Waldref in the FIRST district? Haven’t seen hide nor hair of anyone call Fagan.
Fagan…..where arrrrrre you??
TimEyman on July 28 at 11:42 a.m.
previous post: Amber Waldref is not advocating tax raises.
response: of course she’s not ‘advocating’ raising taxes, but she will raise taxes if elected. that’s a fact.
Mike Fagan will represent the taxpayers, crazy-wacko-Seattle-greenie, “Envision Spokane” supporter Amber Waldref will serve as an apologist for the government.
Lulubelle on July 28 at 12:51 p.m.
Peeeee U - I smell an Eyman AGAIN!
FAAAAAAAGAN………..ARE YOU REAL OR IS IT MEMOREX????
BillBill on July 28 at 1:16 p.m.
Eyman makes the classic strawman arguments, attributing made-up thoughts or imaginary intentions to his opponent and then smashing them down. What utter junkyard dog poop!
1. Amber Waldref will not raise taxes.
2. Amber Waldref has not endorsed Envision Spokane.
Where is Fagan anyhow? Is he running in this race or are is Eyman the real candidate pulling his puppet’s strings?
We know you are reading this, Mike. Why so silent?
We want to hear from you and not your “West side machine, dirty politicking” junkyard dog,
garyc on July 28 at 4:11 p.m.
I’d be interested in knowing why a guy who is such a big believer in the initiative process wanted to keep Envision Spokane off the ballot?
What happened to Voters Want More Choices?
What happened to this lesson learned?
“This entire charade was set up so I could maintain a moral superiority over our opposition, so I could say our opponents make money from politics and I don’t… It was addictive. I was getting deeper and deeper and deeper into this charade. I thought I found a way to make money off our initiatives without our opponents knowing it, or knowing it for sure. I was too clever by half.”
Weren’t you sidelined by Fagan after that?
You have no basis for your comments about her supporting Envision Spokane. Will it take another tear-filled press conference for you to come clean?
TimEyman on July 28 at 7:06 p.m.
earlier post by the Seattle PI’s, er, I mean Spokesman Review’s Gary Crooks: You have no basis for your comments about her supporting Envision Spokane.
response: read her website - it’s the same vision as Envision Spokane. come on, Gary, what’s wrong with voters in this race knowing that crazy-wacko-Seattle-greenie Amber Waldref supports “Envision Spokane”? She’s said their agenda is “laudable” - that means she supports them.
Lulubelle on July 28 at 7:36 p.m.
Gee this blogging thing could become a career…..kinda like initiative pimping…without the profit margin.
TimEyman on July 28 at 8:56 p.m.
I think Mike would do a great job as a member of the Spokane city council — others support Ms. Waldref — welcome to a normal political campaign. The voters will decide and I’m hopeful that they’ll view him favorably based on his co-sponsorship and co-leadership in the pro-taxpayer initiatives we’ve put before the voters over the years. He’s a very good guy (much more civil than I am, frankly) and would represent the citizens in the 1st district very ably.
BillBill on July 28 at 11:02 p.m.
Eyman, you illiterate boob, you have the reading comprehension of a slug. Stop with the half-truths and/or lies.
Is Fagan directing you to make repetitive misleading statements, or is this your own “westside machine, dirty politics?” Is this Fagan the Californian’s way of dirty politicking?
You have lost whatever little credibility you may have had left. Never again will I ever believe anything you put out there, after having this first hand experience of the garbage you spread as “truth.”
The unfortunate part is that you are losing credibility for your candidate protege at the same time.
Where is your candidate? We cannot hear him.
***crickets***
TimEyman on July 29 at 9:19 a.m.
Like I said, Mike is much more civil than I am, and obviously, much more civil than the other people posting on behalf of Ms. Waldref.
electmikefagan on July 29 at 9:38 a.m.
Hi All,
Yes, I am finally piping in. I had no idea that the 8 eight naysayers participating in this flog ( yes I spelled it right) comprised all of the voters of the 1st city council district. Amazing!
First I’ll address George.You may interpret DILLIGAS anyway you deem fit. I am sure that it has a different meaning to me than you. The freedom to state our opinions are what make us the great country that we are.By the way, did I mention that I graduated from North Central high school in 1978?, served my country in the US Army, and then returned home to Spokane to raise my family? It is pretty evident that you didn’t do your homework as you were too quick to label me based on what?, Camden’s flog? He worked hard to uncover the supposed facts surrounding a controversial email address, yet he got the hometown boy wrong. I’d say that is either slanted or incomplete reporting.
To the rest except Gary Crooks.
my web page is located at www.electmikefagan.vpweb.com
Upon your review, I am sure that you will find that my background, expirience, and accomplishments in my community, on the city and state level as well, far exceeds anything that my opponent has accomplished. When comparing the criteria between us please note that my background is much broader than just championing conservation issues and the cleanup of the Spokane river. These are admirable things so don’t get me wrong. While my opponent was/is cleaning the river, I have chosen instead to work to establish the Hillyard skate park, the Rypien sports complex (which was a toxic waste site), the Agnes Kehoe park adjacent to my opponents elementary school, and I am in the process of building a community raised bed garden at the water pump house located at Wellesley & Crestline which mind you, is also feeding into a project which I am working on in Morgan Acres using the sod removed from the garden to establish a farmer’s market. I have participated on a city budget committee and while the President of the Spokane Sister Cities, I helped to bring an international convention to Spokane the likes of which we haven’t seen since Expo 74.
My statewide accomplishments are legendary. It takes hard work, determination and thick skin to do what I have done.
Just think about it, the initiative efforts that I have been behind
have served to keep tax payers involved and connected with their government, have saved tax payers $13 billion over the last twelve years, and have addressed many issues that the state legislature can’t or won’t. Bearing in mind that as a messenger on behalf of our thousands of supporters acrossed the state, I use the rights granted to me by the state constitution to initiate the neccessary dialog in any given issue that the state legislature can’t or won’t address, and I give tax payers around the state the opportunity to vote and be heard.
There is more in the next post
electmikefagan on July 29 at 9:39 a.m.
Last but not least, Mr. Gary Crooks, No I don’t support the community bill of rights at all because it is unconstitutional. The initiative put together by ES doesn’t meet city ordinance, and frankly, I am stunned by the City Council’s decision to place this thing on the ballot in its current form. No hypocrisy on my part here as I am held to a high standard in my career field and I comply with the law, policy and procedure. In this case, I am afraid that a very dangerous precedence has been set for future initiatives in the City of Spokane whereas any future initiative, which was done as sloppy and as illegal as this one, will get the nod and wink of the Council.
Why doesn’t the spokesman or any other paper in this city do an expose on this bill of rights, Envision Spokane, and the trail leading all the way up to the UN?
One last thing Gary, on a radio interview last Friday, my opponent was asked what the definition of sustainability was. Guess what, she tried and failed to regurgitate a quote of the definition of sustainability as documented in a UN report by the Brundtland commission of 1990. Has anyone checked her PDC filings to see where her money is coming from? No, I didn’t think so.
Everyone please have a great day. It was fun chiming in but I have alot of door belling to do and a campaign to win.
Regards,
Lulubelle on July 29 at 10:56 a.m.
Now I get it…….Mr. Fagan isn’t a Republican or Libertarian……he’s a John Bircher! The Community Bill of Rights connected with that big bad UN???….wooooooo, I’m scared! Where’s my tin-foil hat when I need it?????
Wow…Thanks for setting us straight on that anyway.
And yes I do check the PDC site regularly……I recognize lots of name of friends and neighbors on Ms. Waldref’s site. And the good news is each one of those names represents not only monetary support, but more importantly a VOTE. How many names show up on your report?
Nefarious on August 03 at 4:56 p.m.
Tim Eyman is as outdated and ineffectual as the current republican party. The electorate has grown tired of the vitriolic rhetoric of the far right whose only refrain is less taxes.
The last presidential election should have been a wake-up call to those like Eyman who offer nothing but the word NO.
BillBill on August 05 at 5:09 p.m.
I see Fagan still has not refuted that wild-eyed Eyman’s false claims. Grow a spine, stand up and refute that jerk.
Nefarious on August 05 at 9:02 p.m.
Nor will he, that would break the most basic rule of the lunatic fringe “thou shall not speak ill of another wack job”.
Gary D Rhodes on August 06 at 9:50 a.m.
WILD-EYED, LUNATIC FRINGE, WACK JOB, VITRIOLIC…
Good arguments all!
I sat next to Mr. Fagan at part of the Republican state convention, but I didn’t notice his “wild eyes”.
What exactly is wrong with John Birch?
ideasman on September 30 at 9:16 p.m.
Hey Eyman, why no talk about Jon Snyder and Envision Spokane? Many, many, many donors to Envision Spokane are donors to Jon. What’s the deal?