Hire Of New Liaison Angers Unions

The Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office has hired a new deputy attorney to oversee labor negotiations with county employees.

The hiring of Martin Muench, 48, as a senior civil attorney at $48,400 a year plus benefits has angered organized labor on two fronts.

Muench replaces deputy prosecutor Rob Binger, whom the union respects as a fair adversary. Binger is being transferred to the public works department and will be paid out of its funds.

In addition, union representative Bill Keenan said the hiring of Muench contradicts Prosecutor Jim Sweetser’s claim last week of a budget crunch so severe it would require the layoff of another, equally respected deputy.

Rather than lose his job completely, civil attorney Garald Gesinger agreed to a $30,000 cut in pay and benefits.

Gesinger said the action by Sweetser and his chief civil deputy, Jim Emacio, has been “absolutely fair” and that both men had been “very gracious and understanding.”

Even so, Gesinger supporters are vilifying Sweetser for his treatment of Gesinger.

Gesinger has worked for the county nearly 27 years, overcoming Tourette’s syndrome and gaining the respect of his peers, colleagues said.

Former longtime Prosecutor Don Brockett hired Gesinger in 1969 and said any allowances for Gesinger’s performance were more than worth it.

“This is a real travesty,” Brockett said. “One of the greatest things I ever did was hiring him. He’s a brilliant man, very funny, and did an excellent job.”

County commissioners trimmed Sweetser’s 1996 budget by $129,000 as part of across-the-board 3.5 percent cuts of nearly every department.

Commissioner Steve Hasson immediately went to Gesinger’s defense last week and vowed to help Sweetser fund his job for next year.

Hasson said he was never told that Binger was being transferred and that Muench was being hired.

“There’s an element of insincerity here,” Hasson said. “Say what you mean and mean what you say. I just don’t like surprises.”

Muench started work Thursday and was hired from Okanogan County, where he worked as the chief civil attorney.

He is experienced in labor law and is the former city attorney for Puyallup, said Emacio, who recommended him.

The union’s Keenan said he will investigate the hiring because the move takes Binger away from sensitive negotiations and a long history of dealings with organized labor in Spokane County.

“He’s replacing Rob Binger, whom everybody respects and thinks does a great job,” Keenan said. “It looks real bad.”

, DataTimes