Public Periscope

Mum’s the word

The “media advisory” from U.S. Rep. Linda Smith’s Vancouver office doesn’t specify the reason, but few politicians call news conferences in three regions of their home state to say they aren’t running for office … So we can only guess that Smith plans to launch her campaign to take U.S. Sen. Patty Murray’s place in Washington, D.C. … Smith will be in Spokane’s Davenport Hotel at 12:30 p.m. today to “make a significant announcement regarding her future political plans.” Drum roll, please.

Thank God for Garfield

“Just for the record, I want you to know that if the Wall Street Journal had a comics page, I wouldn’t need The Review,” City Councilman Mike Brewer recently told a reporter … Funny, we don’t remember seeing anyone from the Journal at any of Brewer’s news conferences.

They’ll give up the car but not the fuzzy dice

Taking cars from county employees isn’t always as easy as just collecting the keys … If a union employee has used a county car for long, it’s a condition of employment, said Jim Lindow, the county’s chief administrative officer. Translation: Taking the car away means taking it up with the union.

He’s a sucker for critter names

Commissioner John Roskelley asked for a roll-call vote Tuesday when commissioners approved the Turtle Creek subdivision in the Valley. As chairman, Roskelley normally only votes to break ties … But with a roll-call vote, all three commissioners could show support for the subdivision, which languished for three years before the developer and a neighborhood group settled their differences. “I want to go on record as supporting a development,” said Roskelley, a Nature Conservancy board member who sometimes is at odds with builders.

It was upside down, maybe?

No, the state’s population isn’t falling, although one might have gotten that impression at the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce forum on Friday … Illustrating the point that state spending need not dramatically increase, state Rep. Tom Huff held up a chart showing a declining line for both population and school enrollment. What he didn’t note is that the line indicates the percent of annual increases, not the actual number of residents or students.

For crying out loud

The politicians at that chamber breakfast were all Republicans … But at least one audience member appeared to lean toward the other side of the aisle … Just as House Speaker Clyde Ballard began praising the Republican-led Legislature, a baby started wailing, and was quickly carried from the room. “You thought (Gov.) Gary Locke was here, didn’t you?” a chamber member asked Ballard.

A lingering reminder

During a retreat last week, council members discussed Spokane’s new strategic plan, which specifies city tasks that need to be accomplished and problems that need to be solved … At least one council member wondered why the controversial Regional Compost Center wasn’t on the list. “Where should the compost facility go?” asked Councilwoman Roberta Greene … “Some people would like to see it in Stevens County,” said Mayor Jack Geraghty … Several residents filed a lawsuit against the city last month claiming the plant’s noxious odors harmed their lifestyles.

The winner gets a flak jacket

People working to implement the state’s Growth Management Act take plenty of abuse. The League of Women Voters wants to give them some praise.

The league is asking for nominations for a statewide GMA award. Activists, developers, planners, politicians and others may qualify. For information and a nomination form, call (206) 622-8961.

, DataTimes MEMO: Public Periscope, which appears Mondays, is compiled by Dan Hansen and Kristina Johnson from staff reports.

This sidebar appeared with the story: HOT TOPICS Spokane County Commissioner John Roskelley will meet with constituents during a town hall meeting from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Covenant United Methodist Church, 15515 N. Gleneden Road.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Dan Hansen and Kristina Johnson from staff reports