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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Crum May Be Tough To Replace Strong-Mayor Initiative May Make Permanent Replacement Unlikely

If City Manager Roger Crum leaves to take a job in Evanston, Ill., the Spokane City Council will be hard-pressed to hire a permanent replacement.

The threat of a strong-mayor initiative would make it nearly impossible to fill Crum’s spot, four council members said Tuesday. Such a measure would dump the city manager’s job in favor of a mayor who served as the top administrator.

“Who could we entice?” said Councilwoman Phyllis Holmes of the prospect of trying to hire a person who knows the job could be gone within months.

“Nobody (on the council) has even mentioned it,” said Councilman Jeff Colliton. “It’s one of those things we don’t dare talk about.”

“It presents us with an interesting challenge,” said Mayor Jack Geraghty, adding the council probably would appoint an interim manager until the strongmayor issue is resolved.

Crum has been offered - but hasn’t accepted - a $105,000-a-year job as Evanston’s city manager. He currently earns $95,714.

Crum, 57, said Tuesday he doesn’t plan to make a final decision for at least two weeks.

But Evanston Mayor Lorraine Morton seemed convinced that Crum is on his way. “We’re expecting him to come, we just haven’t worked out all the contractual arrangements. We were very impressed with what we learned about him.”

While Crum said he’d like to stay in Spokane, he’s facing an evaluation of his job performance that could leave him unemployed. The council meets Thursday in a closed-door session to discuss Crum’s evaluation.

If the council wants to keep Crum and he chooses to stick around, he would still be dogged by the strong-mayor initiative.

“The strong mayor could burst upon us and eliminate the job,” Crum said. “That is a concern.”

Many council members share his worries.

“My view would be we appoint an interim (manager) and not begin the process of searching for a new one until we’ve concluded the strong-mayor debate,” said Councilman Chris Anderson.

Just when the measure might make the ballot isn’t clear. Attorney Steve Eugster - the man behind the petition drive - said he’s gathering signatures but he’s in no hurry to make the fall ballot.

“I’m not personally going to feel a big need, but I would hope the council would see a need to put the matter on the ballot as soon as possible,” Eugster said. “If the public wants to have a strong mayor, then it should do that sooner than later.”

The council is studying charter reforms that could include a strong-mayor proposal that differs from Eugster’s.

If Crum leaves and the measure is delayed until sometime next year, Geraghty said the council may “have to bite the bullet” and search for a new manager.

Colliton said he’s saddened by the prospect of Crum’s departure. “If he does go, in my opinion it’s our city’s loss and their gain.”

, DataTimes