More Choices For Council Seat
One reader’s pitch (published Tuesday) for a candidate to fill the Spokane City Council vacancy has prompted two more suggestions.
“Margaret Watson has been a volunteer working to make Spokane a better place to live for several years,” Eileen Hyatt of Spokane said by e-mail. “She is known and admired for her work by neighborhood organizers and city staff alike.
“Unlike some of the more well-known names who frequent the newspaper, Margaret quietly works with fellow citizens and city staff to improve conditions for all. She is truly diplomatic and has endless patience in listening to people, explaining situations and working through the long and complex processes of government.”
Hyatt said Watson has worked on the Spokane Regional Transportation Council, the Spokane Bicycle Advisory Board and the Spokane Horizons work groups. “She has shown she cares about Spokane through her involvement and has not asked for any recognition,” Hyatt said. “Pick Margaret Watson. She won’t make headlines for you, but she will make well-thought-out decisions for Spokane.”
Linda Hodge of Spokane phoned to suggest city Plan Commission Chairman Jim Kolva, who ran for the council in 1995 and survived the primary but lost to Councilwoman Roberta Greene in the general election.
Kolva has applied for the job left vacant by Chris Anderson’s resignation. As of Wednesday afternoon, Watson had not. Candidates have through Friday to turn in applications.
Send in your wish list now
The Washington Legislature will be back in session next week. What is the most important legislative action it could take before the lawmakers evacuate Olympia three-and-a-half months from now?
Show us the money!
When Spokane and Spokane County got $1.6 million in federal money to consolidate their work against domestic violence, county Prosecuting Attorney Jim Sweetser said he doesn’t know how the program will be continued when the grant money has been exhausted.
Since city and county officials haven’t seen fit to spend local money in this fashion, should they drop the program when the feds’ bucks are gone, or will they be obliged to take funds from some other activity to preserve the joint effort against domestic abuse?
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