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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

City Sued Over Mayor Initiative Eugster Says 1996 Signatures Should Count Toward New Drive

A leading critic of local politics is suing the city for hampering his drive to change its government.

In a suit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court, attorney Stephen Eugster says he should be allowed to count signatures gathered last year toward a petition drive to put the strong-mayor proposal back on the ballot this year.

Eugster, who has battled City Hall in the courts for years, also is seeking damages for the $5,000 he and other backers spent to promote the proposal.

Last March, Eugster asked the City Council to place his strong-mayor proposal on the ballot without requiring a petition drive. The council denied that request.

In June, after Eugster had collected about half the signatures he needed, the council decided to place the issue on the ballot. Council members said they wanted the matter settled before they hired a replacement for City Manager Roger Crum, who resigned that month.

At the time, Eugster accused the City Council of trying to sabotage the strong-mayor proposal by allowing just three months to campaign before the September vote.

The issue failed, with 44 percent voting yes and 56 percent voting no.

Eugster, who could not be reached for comment Thursday, contends it was improper for Mayor Jack Geraghty to denounce the proposal during a news conference in City Hall.

He wants to apply the 1,600 signatures he collected before last year’s vote toward the more than 3,000 he must collect to put the issue back on the ballot in November.

City Attorney Jim Sloane said the council acted “entirely within their discretionary authority.”

Since the initiative was already on the ballot, “Mr. Eugster and his organization … have to go through the process again” if they want another vote, Sloane said.

Sloane said there was nothing improper about Geraghty speaking against an initiative because “no municipal funds or facilities were used for the campaign.

“They hold press conferences in City Hall all the time,” said Sloane. “That’s a normal part of being a mayor or City Council member.”

, DataTimes