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Workers Bill of Rights proposal qualifies for Spokane ballot
Enough signatures have been collected in Spokane to put a proposed Workers Bill of Rights charter amendment on this November’s ballot. If passed, the newest measure put forth by Envision Spokane would amend the city charter to require large employers to pay workers a “family wage,” ensure equal pay for equal work regardless of gender or race, and make it more difficult to terminate workers. The measure would make the rights of a corporation secondary to people’s rights.
Endangered species initiative to be on ballot
OLYMPIA — An initiative calling for a crackdown in trafficking of endangered species has enough signatures to go on the November ballot.
Court measure, setting of mayor’s pay before Spokane voters
Two ballot measures are before Spokane voters this primary election, one that should be familiar and another that won’t. Proposition 1 will allow the city’s Salary Review Commission to set the mayor’s pay. The measure is the culmination of a heated discussion between Mayor David Condon and the Spokane City Council after the mayor’s 2015 budget proposal included a nearly $7,000 pay raise for his position.
Medical marijuana referendum won’t be on Washington ballot
OLYMPIA – Washington voters won’t be asked this fall if they want to keep changes made this spring to the state’s medical marijuana laws. Organizers of a petition drive to place a referendum of the new law on the ballot won’t be turning in signatures by this week’s deadline, the secretary of state’s office said Monday.
Editorial: Stratton, Verduin best City Council choices for general election
The race for Spokane City Council District No. 3 is the most competitive on the primary ballot, with four good candidates vying for the seat vacated by Steve Salvatori one year ago and now occupied by appointee Karen Stratton. We recommend voters advance Stratton and newcomer Evan Verduin to the November general election.
Immigration initiative fails by 37 signatures
Petition sponsors must wait until November 2017 ballot, or collect three times as many signatures to appear earlier.
Editorial: Condon and Fagan deserve re-election
The Spokesman-Review strongly endorses the re-election of David Condon as city of Spokane mayor, and Mike Fagan as District 1 city councilman. Condon’s two opponents in the primary are Shar Lichty and Michael Noder, who both fault Condon for neglecting the police ombudsman position since Tim Burns left in January, and the ombudsman commission, which is without a quorum because of dismissals and resignations.
Auditor: Vote on immigration status measure unlikely this year, but close
November’s ballot likely will not see voters weighing in on a city ordinance barring police officers from making arrests based solely on immigration status. But petition organizers came “very, very close” to achieving the necessary signatures to do so, Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton said late Friday, setting up a potential vote as early as next year on Spokane’s so-called “sanctuary city” status.
Editorial: Biel, Kinnear good choices for City Council’s District 2 slot
Before deciding which candidate to vote for in the District 2 Spokane City Council race, it’s worth considering what will be lost with the departure of Mike Allen, who was often in the minority against the liberal supermajority. With labor-related issues, such as paid sick leave, being queued up, the council needs another voice to question the need for the city to set mandates for businesses. Three solid candidates are looking to replace Allen, who decided not to seek re-election. We recommend voters choose either LaVerne Biel or Lori Kinnear in the primary.
Three vie for school board
A lot has changed in the 20 years since Rocky Treppiedi won a seat on Spokane Public Schools’ board of directors. But not Rocky Treppiedi.
Airway Heights mayor rejects calls to resign over online comments
The Airway Heights mayor is refusing to resign after posting comments last week to his personal Facebook page that City Council members say are racist. Mayor Patrick Rushing, who compared President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama to monkeys, said he did not realize his comments were racist.
Condon supports police department immigration policy
As written, the initiative repealing a city law does not have his support
Spokane mayor on this year’s City Hall elections
Yesterday, we ran an article examining what’s at stake in this year’s Spokane municipal elections. At the time, we had not heard from Mayor David Condon, It turns out, his campaign had sent his statements via email to the wrong email address. Here are his…
Political balance before Spokane voters
For the past year, the debate at Spokane City Hall often has devolved into two camps, the mayor versus the City Council. Or, more directly, David Condon versus Ben Stuckart. It’s true that Mayor Condon, who hails from Republican circles, doesn’t always agree with the City Council, which has held a left-leaning, veto-proof voting bloc since last summer. And it’s true that at times Condon and Council President Stuckart have entered into public political fisticuffs over issues including how much Condon’s inner circle at City Hall should be paid and an informal handshake deal between Condon and hotelier Walt Worthy to use city funds to pay for environmental cleanup.
Spokane City Council candidate had DUI in 2009
Randy Ramos, the only candidate actively campaigning against Councilman Mike Fagan in this year’s Spokane city elections, was charged with drunken driving in 2009 and still owes money to a debt collection agency for unpaid fines related to the incident.
Doug Clark: What will happen if mayoral hex comes undone?
“I ’m not intimidated by old history, I know Spokane is willing to embrace a good strong mayor for the future of Spokane for a second term.” – A confident pre-election 2011 Mayor Mary Verner discussing her chances of breaking Spokane’s Curse of the One-Term Mayor. We’re officially a tad more than a month away from Spokane’s Aug. 4 primary election and an excellent question has arrived by email from Paul Baxter, a civic-minded and loyal reader.
Home builders endorse Condon and Stuckart
The Spokane Home Builders Association, a generally right-leaning organization, has endorsed Spokane Mayor David Condon and Council President Ben Stuckart for re-election, citing the need for “sustained leadership.”
Shawn Vestal: Pot peeks out of closet as revenue fills coffers
Less than a year after marijuana became available in stores, it is no exaggeration to say that it’s booming. Each new month brings increased sales and tax revenues. Marijuana bucks have already become a key element in state budget negotiations. Hundreds of licenses have been issued to retailers, growers and processors.
Spokane School Board candidates weigh in on walkout
Voters who have strong opinions about the Spokane teacher walkout this week likely will find a school board candidate on their August primary ballot who shares their stance. The Spokane Education Association voted last week to hold a one-day strike on Wednesday to protest the Legislature’s long delay in meeting a state Supreme Court’s demand to increase education funding.
Doug Clark: Spokane mayor’s race not worth price of admission to Hillyard Hammer
He coulda been a contender. Chauncy Welliver, I mean.