From rhetoric to reality: Mayor-elect faces challenges
Sun., Nov. 13, 2011
And now comes the hard part: governing. David Condon made a spectacular comeback in his bid to become the mayor of Washington’s second largest city.
Election 2011
Doug Clark: Condon, put your pull where your rhetoric was
Sun., Nov. 13, 2011
We’re still weeks away from that familiar moment when Spokane’s next one-term mayor will slide behind the desk in that spiffy City Hall office with a view. Although quite frankly, if Mary Verner keeps refusing to concede last Tuesday’s election, David Condon may have to call for an eviction.
Spin Control: Giving credit where dubious credit is due
Sun., Nov. 13, 2011
The best thing for political junkies about an off-year election – and arguably the worst thing for everyone else – is there’s another election so close we can feel it in our bones. We’ll barely have time to catch our breath. But before the general population gets overwhelmed with more Republican presidential debates and the minutiae of selecting presidential delegates through the caucus system, Spin Control wants to take just a few minutes to recall the highlights and lowlifes of Campaign Season 2011.
Area bonds and levies mostly fail
Sat., Nov. 12, 2011
Fire departments and fire districts in the area surrounding Spokane Valley largely came away from the polls with disappointing results this week as several levy and bond requests failed. The exception was the town of Spangle, population 280 or so, which passed a fire levy and a police levy. Spokane County Fire District 13 in Newman Lake asked for a $2.2 million construction bond to build a new station to replace one that is old, too small and doesn’t meet current building codes. As of Friday morning it had received just 47.95 percent yes votes. The measure requires a 60 percent supermajority to pass.
Liberty Lake keeps strong-mayor
Sat., Nov. 12, 2011
Three races in Liberty Lake have been decided this week – Proposition 1, which would have changed the form of government from a strong mayor/council form to a city administrator-led council, failed with an overwhelming 69.5 percent of the voters rejecting the measure. Former Mayor Steve Peterson defeated current Councilman Josh Beckett for mayor by almost 75 percent of the votes. “We’re very happy,” Peterson said. “We’re delighted.”
Shogan aside draws protest
Sat., Nov. 12, 2011
After years of frustration over Spokane City Council President Joe Shogan’s temper, a majority of council members for the first time this week engaged in a minor protest of Shogan’s behavior during a council meeting. When he leaves office at year’s end, he may be ending his tenure on a sour note.
It’s now Spokane Mayor-Elect Condon
Thu., Nov. 10, 2011, 6:58 p.m.
David Condon, the former deputy chief of staff of Republican U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, claimed enough votes on Thursday to make any last-minute, shocking comeback by Mayor Mary Verner unrealistic.
‘Positive’ group close to control of Valley council
Thu., Nov. 10, 2011
A group of people unhappy with the status quo who ran together on a “Positive Change” slate in the 2009 Spokane Valley City elections are a single seat away from total control of the council after Tuesday’s election. One race is still too close to call. Election night totals showed Ben Wick 20 votes ahead of Marilyn Cline in the race to replace Councilman Bill Gothmann. “It is a very tight margin,” Wick said. “It could go either way.”
Doug Clark: Thank Mayor Bair for the one-term curse
Thu., Nov. 10, 2011
Now comes that post-election moment for rationally minded pundits to scientifically pick apart how David Condon, a political upstart, made up a Goliath-size disadvantage to knock off a sitting Spokane mayor Tuesday night. Remember the August primary?
State must close all of its liquor operations by June
Thu., Nov. 10, 2011
Sometime after the first of next year, the impact of the successful initiative ending Washington’s 78-year control of liquor sales will become more apparent. That’s when state liquor stores, which are currently increasing inventory for holiday sales, will start to draw down their inventory. It’s also when contract stores, which are operated by individuals under agreements with the state, will look for new suppliers or decide to go out of business.
Blog Posts
Romney narrowly defeats Santorum in Spokane County
Sat., March 3, 2012, 6:29 p.m.
Fromer Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney topped the field, but barely, in Spokane County. Four years after dominating the county's caucuses, Texas Congressman Ron Paul slipped to third. Here are the Spokane County results, according to Spokane County GOP Chairman Matthew Pederson: 1. Romney, 1,521 2....
Rush concedes race to Allen, calls off hand recount
Sat., Dec. 10, 2011, 3:17 p.m.
Spokane City Councilman Richard Rush said this afternoon that he has decided against paying for a hand recount in his race against Mike Allen. Rush said after further consideration of the results of the machiine recount, as well as the hand recount that was completed...
Read the complete list of Condon’s transition team
Thu., Dec. 8, 2011, 9:54 p.m.
Mayor-elect David Condon tonight released the names of about 80 people who will serve on five committees that make up his transition team. Here are the names, pretty much cut and paste from the announcement (except a couple spelling fixes): Public Safety Captain, Nancy Isserlis;...
Allen wins second count, but a third awaits
Wed., Dec. 7, 2011, 4:08 p.m.
Former Councilman Mike Allen's lead over incumbent Richard Rush grew by three to 91 on Wednesday after a recount of the Spokane City Council election for the city's south district. The race was recounted by machine because the result from the first count was within...
Recounts moved to Wednesday
Tue., Dec. 6, 2011, 3:26 p.m.
Spokane County Elections Manager Mike McLaughlin said this afternoon that sorting ballots for recounting took longer than expected. Therefore, the Spokane City Council recount between Richard Rush and Mike Allen and the 4th Legislative District Senate race between Jeff Baxter and Mike Padden won't start...
Recounts start Tuesday
Mon., Dec. 5, 2011, 5:14 p.m.
Spokane County election officials expect to start and complete on Tuesday the first two of the three recounts they need to complete to finish work from the November election. Elections Manager Mike McLaughlin said the office plans to count the ballots from the Spokane City...
Election results certified
Wed., Nov. 30, 2011, 11:23 a.m.
The Spokane County Elections Office has certified the November election results. There were no surprises in the final results, but a look at the election statistics reveals some interesting information. The number of ballots returned in Spokane Valley resulted in a 54.73 percent return rate,...
Rush-Allen recount will be done by hand
Tue., Nov. 29, 2011, 4:07 p.m.
The final outcome of the City Council race for a seat representing south Spokane won’t be decided until next week. That’s when the Spokane County Election’s Office will recount ballots in a contest so close that state law required a second examination. Former Councilman Mike...
Why Verner lost: Part 3: Otto Zehm
Tue., Nov. 22, 2011, 11:34 a.m.
It’s hard to imagine how Mayor Mary Verner could have lost so much ground between the primary and the November election without concerns about the Otto Zehm case eating at her base. With some members of the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane expressing...
Why Verner lost: Part 2. A volunteer campaign short on cash
Fri., Nov. 18, 2011, 10:06 a.m.
Just before conceding, Mayor Mary Verner published a scathing comment on Facebook about her opponent’s campaign which she said is a “turning point for the way campaigns are conducted in Spokane.” “David Condon’s race for a non-partisan local office was woven into a … larger...
Allen lead over Rush grows by 6
Wed., Nov. 16, 2011, 4:42 p.m.
This post has been changed to correct the change in Allen's lead. The race between Richard Rush and Mike Allen for Rush's Spokane City Council seat representing the south district remains headed for a recount after the sixth day of counting. Allen's lead grew by...
Why Verner lost: Part 1. Water rates
Wed., Nov. 16, 2011, 11:43 a.m.
Condon correctly predicted outrage was coming on water rates. Even before summer bills were mailed, he began attacking the water rate restructuring. When the bills were opened, he already had defined himself as the candidate who opposed them. On its face, focusing on sewer rate...
Allen-Rush contest now within recount margin
Tue., Nov. 15, 2011, 8:32 p.m.
The race between incumbent Councilman Richard Rush and former Councilman Mike Allen for Rush's south Spokane City Council seat was sent within recount margins by counting on Tuesday. Only 92 votes now separate the two, and if the race remains within a half percentage point,...
Wick wins election
Tue., Nov. 15, 2011, 5:05 p.m.
The Spokane County Elections Office just released another vote total, putting Ben Wick in the lead against challenger Marilyn Cline in the race for Spokane Valley City Council Position 6 by 360 votes. The County has 1,000 ballots left to count and about 400 of...
Wick increases lead again
Tue., Nov. 15, 2011, 9:43 a.m.
As the vote counting continues and Ben Wick keeps increasing his lead over fellow Spokane Valley City Council candidant Marilyn Cline, it now seems safe to say that Wick will replace retiring councilman Bill Gothmann. In the most recent vote count released Monday night, Wick...
Allen and Rush headed for recount? Prop 1 headed for defeat
Mon., Nov. 14, 2011, 10:15 p.m.
A race for Spokane City Council inched closer to an automatic recount on Monday in the fourth day of ballot counting from the Nov. 8 election. Former Councilman Mike Allen’s lead over incumbent Richard Rush for a seat representing south Spokane fell by 17 votes...
Verner needs all 2,777 remaining ballots … to tie
Mon., Nov. 14, 2011, 10:10 p.m.
Mayor-elect David Condon’s lead over Spokane Mayor Mary Verner grew slightly in counting on Monday. He now leads by 2,777 votes. Coincidentally, that’s the same number of votes left to count in the race.
Saturday’s highlights
Mon., Nov. 14, 2011, 10:57 a.m.
Ponderosa Elementary fifth-graders Isaiah Gessner, left, and Nick Griep, center, listen to Marine Corps veteran Rex Walter describe his experiences serving his country in the early 1950s. Ponderosa student ambassadors brought veterans from Broadway Court Estates to their school for a Veterans Day assembly Tuesday....
More election results to come
Thu., Nov. 10, 2011, 3:22 p.m.
Sorry for the long pause between posts, but it's deadline day here at Valley Office central and my keyboard has been humming. I've been working on a story on the bond and levy results for Spokane Valley area towns and fire districts for Saturday's Valley...
Today’s highlights
Thu., Nov. 10, 2011, 9:12 a.m.
The Positive Change group on the Spokane Valley City Council appear to be maintaining their control of the council, with incumbents Dean Grafos, Arne Woodard and Chuck Hafner in the lead. The race between Ben Wick and Marilyn Cline to replace Bill Gothmann, however, is...
Wick lengthens lead
Wed., Nov. 9, 2011, 6:19 p.m.
Tonight's updated Spokane Valley City Council elections results show that candidate Ben Wick has lengthened his lead from 20 votes to 105 votes over competitor Marilyn Cline. Results in the other races are largely unchanged. Dean Grafos how has 56.3 percent of the vote compared...
Mapping the vote: The difference 3 months makes
Wed., Nov. 9, 2011, 3:07 p.m.
Because several people have asked, we went back to look at the vote totals of the August primary for Spokane mayor, to compare with the current count in the general election. It's a bit tricky, because the primary featured five candidates -- four challengers and...
Verner tells KXLY radio that Zehm, water rate campaign issues ‘don’t have a lot of substance’
Wed., Nov. 9, 2011, 12:48 p.m.
Mayor Mary Verner's interview last night with Mike Fitzsimmons on KXLY 920 AM has been making the rounds on Twitter today. And it's worth a listen. Here's some of what was said. The entire interview is in the link above. Verner: …I do know that...
Spokane Valley residents voted, but not really
Wed., Nov. 9, 2011, 11:58 a.m.
I've been browsing the Spokane County Elections Office web site and noticed something interesting. Thousands of Spokane Valley residents who returned their ballots did not vote in one or more of the city council races. The County keeps track of the number of under votes,...
Verner remains hopeful, but her chances are dim
Wed., Nov. 9, 2011, 11:39 a.m.
Here's are Verner's statements to her supporters and repoters last night. The Spokane County Elections Office has reported that it received nearly 23,000 ballots in the mail today. There are 22,200 ballots left to count in the City of Spokane. For Verner to make a...
Positive Change candidates winning
Tue., Nov. 8, 2011, 8:24 p.m.
The first numbers are in for Spokane Valley. Proposition 1, which would have changed Sprague and Appleway back to two-way streets, is losing with an overwhelming 82 percent no vote. The incumbents seem to be carrying the night, but the race between Ben Wick and...
Some numbers to pass the time
Tue., Nov. 8, 2011, 6:55 p.m.
While we wait for election results I thought I'd throw a few tidbits out there. As of today, there have been 114,332 ballots returned in Spokane County. Just over 21,000 of those belong to Spokane Valley voters, which accounts for 42.9 percent of the registered...
Maybe they should go to all-mail elections
Tue., Nov. 8, 2011, 4:45 p.m.
This just in from the AP: CLEVELAND (AP) — An Ohio election board says an employee bit a voter’s nose during an argument over a campaign sign. Cuyahoga County elections board director Jane Platten says the board identified the worker for Cleveland police trying to...
Candidates prepare for results
Tue., Nov. 8, 2011, 3:54 p.m.
Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton said she expects only one count of votes tonight. Results should be released about 8:15 p.m. She said including today's mail, the county has received about 100,000 ballots. About 90,000 of those will be counted in the numbers released tonight....
Stay tuned for election results
Tue., Nov. 8, 2011, 12:34 p.m.
Aw, nuts! With winter fast approaching, a squirrel gathers acorns Monday in Corbin Park. SR photo/Colin Mulvany. (I'm posting this photo just because it's so darn cute.) I'll be hanging around later tonight to get the Spokane Valley City Council election results when they are...
Condon gets second big contribution from state GOP
Mon., Nov. 7, 2011, 11 p.m.
Mayoral candidate David Condon over the weekend got another big lift from the state Republican Party. The GOP contributed $38,000 to Condon’s campaign on Saturday, according to reports filed to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Late last month, the party gave his campaign $25,000. Condon,...
Family not offended by Condon’s critique of city’s handling of Zehm cases
Sun., Nov. 6, 2011, 10:44 p.m.
When David Condon began to publicly criticize Mary Verner's handling of the Otto Zehm case, Verner said Condon's critique was further victimizing the Zehm family "by attempting to elevate himself." The Inland Northwest Leadership Political Action Committee, which has spent about $25,000 on the mayoral...
County GOP endorses - scratch that - recommends Condon, Hession, Allen, Fagan and Salvatori
Sat., Nov. 5, 2011, 3:14 p.m.
The Spokane County Republican Party, which has previously declined to endorse candidates running as Republicans against Democrats when they declined to sign the county party's platform, has sent out recommendations for how to vote in Tuesday's nonparitsan city elections. The picks include: David Condon for...
Has Condon closed the gap?
Sat., Nov. 5, 2011, 6 a.m.
It was clear on the evening of Aug. 16 that the race for mayor was Mary Verner's to lose. But a lot has happened since then, including the conviction of Officer Karl Thompson. So will she hold on? As far as we at Spin Control...
One of 10 city candidates signs pledge not to approve Guild contract without stronger oversight
Fri., Nov. 4, 2011, 4:24 p.m.
Only one of the 10 candidates on the ballot next week for Spokane city office agreed to sign a pledge promising to oppose any Spokane Police Guild contract unless the union agrees to stronger police oversight, the Center for Justice reported this week. A coalition...
The politics of ‘It totally sucks’
Fri., Nov. 4, 2011, 1:34 p.m.
Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer DeRuwe declined to comment this week about her "totally sucks" comment becoming a major highlight of the David Condon campaign for mayor. DeRuwe made the comment last month soon after sending a news release announcing that the department eliminated its property...
State GOP pours cash into Condon campaign
Mon., Oct. 31, 2011, 4:18 p.m.
Spokane mayoral candidate David Condon advertises himself as "nonpartisan" on his signs, but that didn't stop the former aide to Republican U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers from getting a $25,000 contribution from the state Republican Party. The contribution, the largest so far in a Spokane...
Coalition calls on candidates to take ombudsman pledge
Tue., Oct. 25, 2011, 1:50 p.m.
A coalition of organizations including the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane is asking Spokane mayoral and City Council candidates to pledge not to vote for a Spokane Police Guild contract unless it includes stronger oversight. The guild's contract expires at the end of...
Verner, Condon debate handling of Zehm case
Tue., Oct. 25, 2011, 9:31 a.m.
Here's the latest of election video. Condon: "To find out that the city started to know some of the facts in 2009 and here we are nearly two years later not dealing with those facts, that's what was troubling me." Verner: "We can not critique...
Council stance unchanged on Community Bill of Rights
Mon., Oct. 24, 2011, 8:34 p.m.
The Spokane City Council took another chance on Monday to critique Proposition 1, the Community Bill of Rights. Council members voted 6-1 to formally oppose the initiative, which appears on the November ballot. The rejection is no surprise. All the members of City Council already...
Democratic chairman says Verner took ‘high road,’ as former Dem chairman takes to airwaves for Condon
Fri., Oct. 21, 2011, 9:43 a.m.
Not surprisingly, the campaign of David Condon is taking full advantage of the endorsement he got from former Spokane County Democratic Chairman Tom Keefe. Keefe is featured in the Condon TV ad above and is the first endorsement listed on a Condon mailer that arrived...
Big bucks for booze: Costco donation breaks record
Thu., Oct. 20, 2011, 4:45 p.m.
OLYMPIA – In an effort to get voters to end the state's liquor monopoly, Costco this week made the largest contribution in history – nearly $9 million – to a state ballot campaign. The discount retail giant based in Issaquah, Wash., nearly doubled down on...
Hession misquotes Lincoln
Thu., Oct. 20, 2011, 3:56 p.m.
A new campaign ad that’s been posted on YouTube by the campaign of Dennis Hession starts with him making the following statement: “Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.’ I believe that. My opponent does not.”...
McMorris Rodgers isn’t naming GOP favorite — yet
Wed., Oct. 19, 2011, 6:09 p.m.
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers smiled, hesitated and then dodged a question that could have earned her plenty of press – and grief: She declined an invitation to endorse a Republican presidential candidate today. Eastern Washington’s representative and member of the U.S. House’s Republican leadership team...
No lie: They’re in the mail
Wed., Oct. 19, 2011, 3:32 p.m.
General election ballots for Spokane County began hitting the post office today. County elections is mailing a total of 265,768 ballots to registered voters. They started today and will finish on Thursday. That means if you don't get a ballot by next Friday, Oct. 28,...
Allen, Rush support more street funding, but differ on specifics
Wed., Oct. 19, 2011, 8:24 a.m.
Here is what likely will be the last of the videos featuring the City Council race between Richard Rush and Mike Allen. They debate if the city should go for a new 10-year street bond and if the city should consider creating fees for streets...
During KSPS debate, Rush questions Allen’s work ethic
Tue., Oct. 18, 2011, 11:05 a.m.
NOTE: This post has been corrected from an earlier version to accurately reflect the number of times Allen was recorded absent during Spokane Employees' Retirement System board meeting. An earlier version was incorrect because of a reporter error. Before tonight's KSPS candidates debate was filmed...
Verner’s message on water rates sounding more like Condon’s
Tue., Oct. 18, 2011, 9:19 a.m.
The second video on the mayoral race features one of the hottest topics: water rates. Since this was filmed, Verner announced that she would float a new water rate proposal to City Council before the end of the year. City Council President Joe Shogan already...
Rush and Allen differ on decision to move Jefferson
Fri., Oct. 14, 2011, 6:01 a.m.
The Spokane City Council didn't make the decision to move Jefferson Elementary School, but it's one of the more divisive issues specific to the south district. Here's what the two candidates for the south district, Richard Rush and Mike Allen say about the School Board's...
Rush, Allen debate eliminating city departments
Thu., Oct. 13, 2011, 6:01 a.m.
Here's part three of our election video series.
Rush, Allen debate water rates
Wed., Oct. 12, 2011, 6:01 a.m.
Here's part two of our video series on race between Richard Rush and Mike Allen.
Condon questions decision to send city utility drivers to ‘green driver’ training
Tue., Oct. 11, 2011, 2:12 p.m.
David Condon, who is challenging Spokane Mayor Mary Verner in her bid for reelection, criticized Verner's speech to City Council on Monday for not mentioning new water rates or the "tragic loss of confidence in our police and legal authorities." "Overall, the Mayor told a...
Elections guide out today
Tue., Oct. 11, 2011, 11:58 a.m.
Ballots will begin arriving in the mail at the end of next week, so we've published our annual elections guide today. There's a special section in today's paper that includes every contested race in Spokane County and North Idaho as well as information on the...
Allen and Rush critique Rush and Allen
Tue., Oct. 11, 2011, 6:01 a.m.
Today, we release the first of several election videos. We'll start with one of the races that didn't have a primary, the Spokane City Council seat representing the South Hill.
Candidate debate on Monday
Fri., Oct. 7, 2011, 4:18 p.m.
First of all, I'm sorry I've been neglecting the blog this week. Between a really lovely cold and scrambling to get voter's guide information done, it just slipped to the side. You can look for our comprehensive voter's guide in Tuesday's paper. Along those same...
Today’s highlights
Thu., Oct. 6, 2011, 9:57 a.m.
A team of students gather around a picnic table and bench they built during their East Valley High School construction class on Friday in Spokane Valley. SR. photo/Dan Pelle We've got a bunch of news coming your way in today's Valley Voice. Reporter Lisa Leinberger...
Saturday’s highlights
Mon., Oct. 3, 2011, 9:23 a.m.
Electricians have begun to rewire the Valley Mission Professional Building after an explosion and fire rocked the building Sept. 19. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak Two weeks after an explosion and fire heavily damaged the Valley Mission Professional Building, the six medical offices housed in the...
Condon revises water rate ad
Fri., Sept. 30, 2011, 11:51 a.m.
Mayoral candidate David Condon has released a new version of a campaign ad attacking Mayor Mary Verner for water rates. Condon said in an email that changes were made based on a truth-test article about the ad that ran in Saturday's Spokesman-Review. A quick review...
Verner, Condon clash in Rotary debate over style
Thu., Sept. 29, 2011, 4:32 p.m.
One of the first mayoral debates between Mayor Mary Verner and her November election opponent David Condon was at its core a focus on style. Condon promised to take charge of the bureaucracy. “It’s a question of leadership,” he said. “The mayor has to be...
Spokane debate season in bloom; Verner, Condon will debate twice on Thursday
Wed., Sept. 28, 2011, 3:32 p.m.
Spokane candidates will give their pitch for city office at two debates on Thursday. The League of Women Voters will hold candidate debates for mayor, City Council president and for each of the three City Council seats on the November ballot. The group also will...
City council candidate debate Thursday
Tue., Sept. 27, 2011, 12:23 p.m.
All the candidates for the open Spokane Valley City Council seats have been invited to take part in a debate Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place. Candidates in the contested races will be up on stage answering questions and...
11 File For 3 CdA Council Seats
Sat., Sept. 10, 2011, 6:05 a.m.
Now, several of the people running for (Coeur d'Alene City Council) list McEuen Field as either as one of, or their top issue in the race. And many favor putting the matter to a public vote. Others favor moving ahead with the plan or say...
Mayor responds to Condon’s criticism of Verner’s handling of Zehm case
Tue., Sept. 6, 2011, 9:52 p.m.
Below is Mayor Mary Verner's full response to the statement released earlier in the day by her opponent in the November election, David Condon, followed by Condon's statement. Condon offered harsh criticism of Verner's handling of the Otto Zehm matter. Verner's response was delivered by...
Saturday’s highlights
Tue., Sept. 6, 2011, 11:09 a.m.
Snowplows are parked waiting for winter at the new City of Spokane Valley public works facility on East Euclid Avenue just west of Flora Road near the Spokane Business and Industrial Park. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak Now that we're refreshed from the long holiday weekend,...
Election results
Wed., Aug. 17, 2011, 10:52 a.m.
Most people have probably heard about the election results by now, but here's a look at today's story if you missed it. Voters in Spokane Valley had only one thing on the ballot - narrowing the field of candidates for Bill Gothmann's council seat from...
David Condon is no Jim West
Wed., Aug. 17, 2011, 9:35 a.m.
David Condon opened his campaign declaring that Mary Verner was no David Rodgers (the last mayor to win a second term). On Tuesday night, Condon offered some reasons for hope for his campaign, comparing his run to Jim West's 2003 bid for mayor. Condon said...
Expect only one vote count tonight
Tue., Aug. 16, 2011, 6:01 a.m.
Today is Washington's primary election. If you want to vote, you must cast your ballot by 8 p.m. by dropping it in a ballot drop box, or in a mailbox that is certain to be collected in time to get postmarked with today's date. Spokane...
As city deals with more revelations in Zehm case, Verner campaign points to ombudsman
Mon., Aug. 15, 2011, 6:08 p.m.
Mayor Mary Verner latest campaign newsletter picks a topic fresh in the news: police oversight. Last week, Verner's campaign stressed her support for creating a police ombudsman position at City Hall. The week before, a filing in federal court detailed the position of Assistant Police...
Special filing period next week
Thu., Aug. 11, 2011, 1:08 p.m.
The Spokane County Elections Office is planning a special filing period next week for the 29 seats up for election across the county that didn't draw any takers during the June filing week. Many of those seats were for small town city councils and small...
Council president candidates have nearly exhausted campaign funds
Thu., Aug. 11, 2011, 11:42 a.m.
No matter which two candidates emerge from Tuesday's primary for City Council president, it looks like they'll have a lot of fund-raising work left to do, according to the latest filings with the state Public Disclosure Commission. Ben Stuckart and Steve Corker have nearly tapped...
Candidate says he can’t comply with state law
Thu., Aug. 11, 2011, 9:24 a.m.
A candidate for Spokane City Council is continuing to decline to show his campaign finance books even after acknowledging Thursday that state law doesn't appear to give him the flexibility to refuse to show them in the week before an election. Chris Bowen, who is...
Council may add two more questions on ‘Community Bill of Rights’
Wed., Aug. 10, 2011, 1 p.m.
Spokane voters could get a hint from the Spokane City Council when deciding the fate of a citizens’ initiative on the November ballot. The Spokane City Council will consider on Monday the addition of two nonbinding questions for the November election. The two proposals would...
The politics of water rates
Tue., Aug. 9, 2011, 6 a.m.
What might be the most curious thing about the current City Council debate on water rates is the timing. Here the council is debating what may be the biggest political hot potato of the year even though ballots are sitting on kitchen tables ready to...
Fagan publishes false endorsement
Fri., Aug. 5, 2011, 11:41 a.m.
Spokane City Council candidate Mike Fagan has listed a couple of surprising endorsements on his campaign website: Endorsements given to his opponents (one of which is false). "It is our understanding that opponent L. Tolley was endorsed by the Unions, and opponent J. Waite was...
Today’s highlights
Thu., July 28, 2011, 9:26 a.m.
James Clancy, 83, sells produce for bargain price, like these tomatoes for 39 cents a pound at his stand near the corner of Maxwell and Ash in North Spokane. SR photo/Dan Pelle One of today's highlights from the Valley Voice is a story about something...
Spokane City Council candidates debate marijuana law
Mon., July 25, 2011, 6:01 a.m.
The following was asked on The S-R's candidate questionnaire. Candidate Chris Bowen declined to submit a questionnaire. Here are the answers, which were allowed to be up to 150 words, from the five other people hoping to replace Bob Apple and represent Northeast Spokane on...
Spokane City Council candidates debate streetcar plan
Sun., July 24, 2011, 6:01 a.m.
The following was asked on The S-R's candidate questionnaire. Candidate Chris Bowen declined to submit a questionnaire. Here are the answers, which were allowed to be up to 150 words, from the five other people hoping to replace Bob Apple and represent Northeast Spokane on...
Spokane City Council candidates debate global warming
Sat., July 23, 2011, 6:01 a.m.
The following was asked on The S-R's candidate questionnaire. Candidate Chris Bowen declined to submit a questionnaire. Here are the answers, which were allowed to be up to 150 words, from the five other people hoping to replace Bob Apple and represent Northeast Spokane on...
Spokane City Council candidates debate tax breaks for businesses
Fri., July 22, 2011, noon
The following was asked on The S-R's candidate questionnaire. Candidate Chris Bowen declined to submit a questionnaire. Here are the answers, which were allowed to be up to 150 words, from the five other people hoping to replace Bob Apple and represent Northeast Spokane on...
Spokane City Council candidates debate union rules
Fri., July 22, 2011, 6:01 a.m.
The following was asked on The S-R's candidate questionnaire. Candidate Chris Bowen declined to submit a questionnaire. Here are the answers, which were allowed to be up to 150 words, from the five other people hoping to replace Bob Apple and represent Northeast Spokane on...
Spokane City Council candidates debate sewer fees
Thu., July 21, 2011, 2:48 p.m.
The following was asked on The S-R's candidate questionnaire. Candidate Chris Bowen declined to submit a questionnaire. Here are the answers, which were allowed to be up to 150 words, from the five other people hoping to replace Bob Apple and represent Northeast Spokane on...
Compare the candidates
Thu., July 21, 2011, 2:34 p.m.
Ballots for the Aug. 16 primary will be mailed next week, and The S-R's Election Center is up and running. That means voters can examine, campare and contrast the positions of Spokane candidates in the answers they submitted in our candidate questionnaire. All candidates for...
Democratic Party backs Verner, Stuckart, Rush and Jones
Wed., July 13, 2011, 11:55 a.m.
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner has won the seal of approval from the Spokane County Democratic Party for a new term. The party's endorsement committee voted Monday to endorse Verner for mayor, Ben Stuckart for City Council president, Joy Jones for the City Council seat representing...
Labor coalition declines to back Verner or Condon
Thu., July 7, 2011, 3:42 p.m.
The race for Spokane mayor is getting more interesting. The Spokane Regional Labor Council has released the list of candidates it supports for the August primary and Spokane Mayor Mary Verner isn't on the list. That's a bit of a surprise given her recent support...
Lampert suggests placing bounties on squirrels
Wed., June 29, 2011, 9:08 p.m.
Mayoral candidate Barbara Lampert is lucky Spokane's famous yellow-bellied marmots don't vote. At the first significant mayoral debate of the election season, Lampert listed controlling Spokane's varmint population among her priorities. "Varmints bring disease," Lampert said Tuesday at the forum sponsored by the nonprofit group...
Spokane mayoral candidates to discuss ‘green’ business
Mon., June 27, 2011, 6:13 p.m.
Spokane voters can get an early look at their choices for mayor Tuesday night at a candidate forum focused on environmentally friendly businesses. Four of the five candidates for mayor will be at the candidate forum sponsored by Sustainable Resources INW, a nonprofit that assists...
Meet your Spokane Valley candidates
Tue., June 21, 2011, 3:38 p.m.
Just a reminder that the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting a candidate forum Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. at CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place. Each candidate that attends will have a table and those that registered in advance will be given...
Kearney withdraws from Spokane City Council race, endorses Jones
Mon., June 20, 2011, 3:43 p.m.
The race for a City Council seat representing Northwest Spokane already is down to two. Karen Kearney, chairwoman of the Balboa South Indian Trail Neighborhood Council, late last week withdrew her candidacy for the seat currently held by Councilman Steve Corker, who is running for...
Stuckart missed deadline; former treasurer says PDC lost form
Thu., June 16, 2011, 10:01 a.m.
Spokane City Council president candidate Ben Stuckart missed a state deadline for filing a campaign finance report by more than two months. The mistake was quickly fixed once the Public Disclosure Commission informed Stuckart that he was late, and a penalty is unlikely, said Lori...
Today’s highlights
Thu., June 16, 2011, 9:33 a.m.
Cleve Penberthy, Contract Based Education principal and longtime West Valley School District educator and administrator, is retiring after 40 years in education. SR photo/J. Bart Rayniak I apologize for the lateness in posting links from today's Valley Voice. My computer went a little bonkers this...
Coming Thursday
Wed., June 15, 2011, 2:45 p.m.
We'll have another full Valley Voice for you tomorrow, including two stories on the upcoming November 2011 elections. Reporter Lisa Leinberger tackled the Liberty Lake City Council and school board candidates while I put together information on the Spokane Valley City Council and small town...
More city council candidates file
Thu., June 9, 2011, 4:32 p.m.
It's turning into a free for all for the Spokane Valley City Council seat being vacated by councilman Bill Gothmann in November. Ben Wick had previously announced he was running for the seat. Today's he's been joined by longtime SCOPE volunteer John Baldwin, retired executive...
Filing week shocker: Hession enters race for Spokane City Council president
Thu., June 9, 2011, 1:21 p.m.
Former Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession on Thursday filed to run for Spokane City Council president. His decision is the big surprise so far this week among candidates entering Spokane races. Hession was City Council president in 2005 when Mayor Jim West was recalled from office....
Election interest picking up
Thu., June 9, 2011, 12:52 p.m.
Here we are halfway through Thursday and a ton of new people have filed for various offices up for election in November. Yesterday morning the pickings were slim, but not any more. Two new people have filed to run for Spokane Valley City Council, both...
Two more file for Spokane City Council
Thu., June 9, 2011, 11:09 a.m.
Two candidates who previously said they would run for Spokane City Council formally took the plunge on Thursday morning. Donna McKereghan, former chairwoman of the Logan Neighborhood Council, and Steve Salvatori, owner of the Spokane Entrepreneurial Center, filed paperwork to officially become candidates. McKereghan joins...
Luke Tolley joins race for Spokane City Council
Thu., June 9, 2011, 9:29 a.m.
The chairman of the Hillyard Neighborhood Council added himself late Wednesday to the growing list of people who want to represent Northeast Spokane on the City Council. Luke Tolley, 32, also ran four years ago, but lost in the primary. He is the outreach and...
Mike Fagan files to run for Spokane City Council
Thu., June 9, 2011, 6:05 a.m.
A co-worker of Tim Eyman, the prominent anti-tax initiative guru of Washington, has joined the race for Spokane City Council. Mike Fagan, co-director of Eyman's Voters Want More Choices, filed on Wednesday to run for a seat representing Northeast Spokane. The seat currently is held...
Fifth Spokane mayor hopeful pledges not to debate opponents or talk to media
Wed., June 8, 2011, 9:23 p.m.
Spokane voters on Wednesday got a fifth choice in the race for Spokane mayor. Robert Kroboth, 77, filed paperwork to place his name on the Aug. 16. He joins incumbent Mayor Mary Verner; David Condon, former district director for U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers; Mike...
Condon’s a candidate
Wed., June 8, 2011, 10:58 a.m.
David Condon officially became a candidate for Spokane mayor on Wednesday, joining three others, including incumbent Mary Verner. The bigger news about Condon's campaign is his recent reporting of campaign contributions. Only a month into his campaign, he's already leading Verner in fundraising, having raised...
Elections shaping up
Wed., June 8, 2011, 9:13 a.m.
My newest form of entertainment this week is constantly checking the Spokane County Elections Office website to see who has filed for the many offices up for election this fall. So far there's little competition in many of the Spokane Valley area races on the...
School board candidate not sure why he’s running
Tue., June 7, 2011, 5:18 p.m.
At the end of the second day of candidate filing, the race that's still drawing the most interest remains an open seat on the Spokane School Board. Late Monday, Shawn Siggson, became the fifth candidate in the race. Asked why he decided to run, Siggson...
Karen Kearney will make second run for Northwest council seat
Tue., June 7, 2011, 5:11 p.m.
Karen Kearney will return to ballot in August in hopes of landing a seat representing Northwest Spokane on City Council. Kearney pledges to be more visible in the district than the current council members who serve Northwest Spokane, Nancy McLaughlin and Steve Corker. "When I...
Latest candidate for Spokane mayor, Barbara Lampert, calls for deep budget cuts, but increase in police officers
Tue., June 7, 2011, 3:40 p.m.
Barbara Lampert wants to balance the city fo Spokane's budget while at the same time hiring an additional 100 police officers. The perennial candidate, who filed to run for Spokane mayor on Tuesday, said she would do that by cutting city administration, forcing pay cuts...
Perennial candidate Barbara Lampert is running for ….
Tue., June 7, 2011, 10:40 a.m.
Mayor of Spokane. Lampert, a former nurse's assistant, has run for office every year for about the last 15 years. Last year, she placed third in the six-way primary for Congress, even beating the candidate endorsed by the Democratic Party. Today is the second day...
Mike Noder files to run for Spokane mayor
Mon., June 6, 2011, 4:06 p.m.
Mike Noder, who ran for mayor in 2007, has again entered the race to lead Spokane's city government. Noder, 53, is the co-owner of MoMoke Demolition and Salvage. He filed to enter the mayoral race this afternoon. In 2007, one of his major campaign focuses...
Verner’s officially a candidate; so are Corker and Stuckart
Mon., June 6, 2011, 11:58 a.m.
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner filled out the paperwork and paid her $1,693.58 filing fee on Monday morning to officially enter the race to keep her job. Today is the first day candidates can file to put their name on the ballot. Handing the check to...
Ah for the good old days
Sun., June 5, 2011, 7:42 a.m.
The first day of filing – actually the first few minutes – used to be the busiest and most interesting part of the week. Candidates would line up and camp out the night before in an effort to be the first person to file for...
Reminder: Filing week starts tomorrow
Sun., June 5, 2011, 7:40 a.m.
OK candidates, listen up. Filing week starts tomorrow. Those of you who like the personal touch of filling out your forms and paying your fees in person can head down to your county elections office any time through Friday afternoon.
Filing week approaching
Wed., June 1, 2011, 11 a.m.
OK candidates, listen up. Filing week starts next Monday for those of you who like the personal touch of filling out your forms and paying your fees in person. From Monday through Friday of next week, you can saunter into your county elections office, turn...
November 2011 elections
Fri., May 27, 2011, 10:06 a.m.
It seems awfully early to be talking about the elections scheduled for this fall, but it's really not. The candidate filing week is June 6-10 and there are a ton of seats up for election in local city councils and school boards. Anyone who doesn't...
With a nod to Lloyd Bentsen, Condon kicks off campaign and asks for cash
Tue., May 24, 2011, 1:44 p.m.
If David Condon proved anything at his campaign kickoff breakfast for Spokane mayor it's that he can raise money. Probably, lots of it. Condon spoke for about 20 minutes praising the city and criticizing the bureaucracy of city government. At the end of his speech,...
Spokane council rejects property tax increase
Mon., May 23, 2011, 8:36 p.m.
New property taxes are off the table for Spokane in the August primary and probably the rest of the year. The Spokane City Council on Monday voted 5-0 against a proposal to ask voters to increase property taxes to help balance the budget. Spokane Mayor...
Term limits, condemnation among 11 items to be decided by Spokane voters on August ballot
Mon., May 16, 2011, 10:35 p.m.
City voters soon will have 11 choices to make about the future of city governing. The Spokane City Council decided Monday to place proposed changes to the City Charter on Aug. 16 ballot. Officials say the purpose of most of them is to clarify contradictions...
Pollard will make another run for Spokane City Council
Mon., May 16, 2011, 3:12 p.m.
The long-time leader of the neighborhood group representing downtown filed paperwork last week announcing a run for Spokane City Council. Gary Pollard, chairman of the Riverside Neighborhood Council, said Monday that he decided to run because the council needs more members who are "more pragmatic"...
David Condon, McMorris Rodgers staffer, declares candidacy for mayor
Mon., May 2, 2011, 2:48 p.m.
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner finally has an obstacle in her bid to reelection. David Condon, the deputy chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, said Monday that he will enter the race for Spokane mayor. Until now, only Christopher W. Fenton, a political...
Confident candidate says he’ll win Spokane council seat
Wed., April 27, 2011, 9:55 a.m.
Chris Bowen, who ran a strange and unsuccessful campaign for state representative in 2008, is confident he'll win his next race. Bowen, 33, has filed to run for Bob Apple's seat on the Spokane City Council. "At the end of the day, this is my...
Snyder, Stark say they’re unlikely to run for council president
Tue., March 29, 2011, 8:10 a.m.
The field of candidates to replace council President Joe Shogan remains just two. In recent weeks, City Councilman Jon Snyder and former City Councilman Brad Stark considered entering the race for council president, but both say they likely will stay out of the contest. "I...
Envision Spokane will make second run at ‘Community Bill of Rights’
Wed., March 23, 2011, 5:08 p.m.
Representatives from Envision Spokane on Wednesday moved forward on their plan to offer city voters a new version of its "Community Bill of Rights." In order to make the November ballot, the group will need to collect an amount of signatures from registered voters in...
Gothmann won’t seek re-election after all
Tue., March 22, 2011, 10:09 a.m.
In this 2005 photo from The Spokesman-Review archives, Bill Gothmann is sworn in as a city council member with his wife, Myrna, at his side. Spokane Valley City Councilman Bill Gothmann announced yesterday that he won't seek re-election when his term expires at the end...
Ben Stuckart enters race for Spokane City Council president
Fri., March 4, 2011, 12:25 p.m.
City Councilman Steve Corker has a challenger to his bid to become Spokane City Council president. Ben Stuckart, executive director for Communities in Schools of Spokane County, said this week that he will run for the office. Stuckart's announcement isn't much of surprise. He confirmed...
Recent Whitworth grad is Verner’s first challenger
Thu., March 3, 2011, 3:23 p.m.
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner has her first official opponent in this year’s mayoral race. Christopher W. Fenton, 32, filed paperwork last month announcing his intention to run for the city’s highest office. Fenton, who works as a lab analyst at Signature Genomics in Spokane, said...
McMorris Rodgers staffer, David Condon, mulling run against Verner
Tue., March 1, 2011, 9:57 a.m.
The deputy chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Cathy McMoris Rodgers confirmed Tuesday that he is "seriously considering" entering the race for Spokane mayor. David Condon, 37, said he is "trying to assess" if the city needs new leadership. "It's something that I've always wanted...
Stuckart, spokesman for Children’s Investment Fund, considering challenge to Corker
Wed., Feb. 16, 2011, 10:31 a.m.
A battle may be shaping up to take over for City Council President Joe Shogan. Ben Stuckart, executive director for Communities in Schools of Spokane County, said Wednesday that he is "strongly considering" a run for Spokane City Council president. City Councilman Steve Corker announced...
Waite announces another run for City Council
Mon., Feb. 14, 2011, 4 p.m.
John Waite, the owner of Merlyn's in downtown Spokane, is making a third run for Spokane City Council. He announced his run today in a news release. Waite ran unsuccessfully for council in 2007 and 2009 in the city's northwest district. This time, however, Waite...
McKereghan will make second run for Apple’s council seat
Wed., Feb. 2, 2011, 10:48 a.m.
Donna McKereghan, former chairwoman of the Logan Neighborhood Council, is making a second run for Spokane City Council. McKereghan, 57, filed papers announcing her candidacy last month with the state Public Disclosure Commission. McKereghan lost to Councilman Bob Apple in the 2007 general election. She...
Salvatori will run for city council, not mayor
Tue., Jan. 11, 2011, noon
Downtown businessman Steve Salvatori filed paperwork this month to launch a bid for Spokane City Council. Salvatori, a Republican who run unsuccessfully for the Spokane County Commission last year, hopes to win the seat representing Northwest Spokane that will be vacated by Councilman Steve Corker....
Eugster says he won’t run for council president
Wed., Dec. 8, 2010, 3:31 p.m.
Former City Councilman Steve Eugster said Wednesday that he no longer plans to run next year for Spokane City Council president. Earlier this week City Councilman Steve Corker announced that he will run for the seat. Eugster filed to run for council president last year...
Corker announces bid for council president
Mon., Dec. 6, 2010, 7:20 p.m.
Spokane City Councilman Steve Corker announced Monday that he will run for Spokane City Council president next year. Corker, 69, is a former advertising and marketing executive who was first elected to the council in 1999. Rather than run for re-election, Corker ran unsuccessfully for...
18 months before Election Day, Mary Verner officially begins bid for second term
Fri., April 23, 2010, 6:02 a.m.
Mary Verner is seven months away from achieving what some might consider a sad milestone: Only three years into her term, she will become Spokane's longest serving mayor since voters approved the strong mayor system.On Thursday, Verner officially began her quest to dislodge another Spokane...