Two Commissioners Seek Second Term
It was so much fun the first time, two Spokane fire protection district commissioners have decided to do it again.
James Lahde is seeking a second term as commissioner in District 4. Patrick Kennedy is running for re-election in District 9.
Both fire districts serve the North Side. Both candidates are running unopposed. Fire commission terms are for six years and each district has three commissioners.
“It gets me out of the house,” said Lahde, laughing. He’s been a district fire commissioner for nine years and a volunteer firefighter for 23 years.
Patrick Kennedy is retired and was looking for a way to help his community when he ran for District 9 commissioner six years ago. “This allows me to bring my business experience to the table,” Kennedy said.
Both commissioners have watched their districts grow and have kept close watch on district finances. Lahde, who grew up “on the family farm” in Colbert, said he enjoys being part of the district leadership. Passing the district’s $3.2 million bond levy was one of the biggest accomplishments recently.
The money has been spent on three new buildings, improvements to nine stations and 12 new trucks. The district earned $154,000 in interest on the money.
“We stretched it farther than most people can believe,” said Lahde.
He’s especially proud of the fire district’s reputation around the state and the sense of community individual stations help build in rural areas.
Lahde is a manager at Model Irrigation, is married and has two children.
Fire District 9 includes Five Mile, Nine Mile, Foothills, Mead, Orchard Prairie, Pleasant Prairie and Whitworth.
Kennedy, finishing his first term, has helped keep watch over 40 employees and 106 volunteers, and construction of three stations to replace outdated buildings, and approved consolidating dispatch with the city.
On the next watch he hopes to maintain the solid budget, balancing expenses for equipment, personnel and training for emergencies.
“Fire protection is a business,” said Kennedy.
He has lived in the Fairwood area for 18 years.
, DataTimes