Team Players Have Edge In Experience

What makes a good City Council member? The ability to bomb fellow council members with verbal hand grenades? No. Effectiveness on Spokane’s seven-member council requires the ability to persuade at least three other members to see things your way.

How about partisans or ideologues? No again. The council’s a nonpartisan body. The issues it confronts are best decided with reason, research and responsiveness to public concerns.

The Spokesman-Review editorial board has interviewed the candidates for City Council, looking for those who’d advance the quality and credibility of city government.

For Position 1, we endorse Cherie Rodgers, who was named to a vacancy on the council nine months ago. She does not agree with us on every issue. For example, she’s a foe of the Lincoln Street Bridge. However, as a North Sider and activist for clean air and neighborhoods, she raises concerns that need to be faced - and does so in a thoughtful, well-researched manner. Her style and devotion to the community make her worthy of your vote.

Rob Higgins offers compelling qualifications in the race for Position 2. Higgins served on the City Council from 1982 to 1989, showing himself to be pro-business, a skilled budget analyst, a friend of law enforcement and a watchdog for the taxpayers. He’s a strong supporter of better roads and his two years on the state Transportation Commission give him expertise in the securing of needed state and federal funds.

Phyllis Holmes has earned another term in Position 3, where her thoughtful, calming presence has helped lead the city toward its goals of better relations with neighborhood activists and county commissioners.

A City Council with Rodgers, Higgins and Holmes would move Spokane forward in an atmosphere of thoughtfulness and respect. That’s the kind of council Spokane needs.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = John Webster/For the editorial board