French says benefits stance isn’t personal

A Spokane city councilman advocating expansion of city employee health benefits to include unmarried domestic partners would be among those who could benefit if the proposal is adopted.

But Councilman Al French, whose longtime girl-friend lives with him and would be eligible for city health benefits under the proposal, says he wouldn’t take advantage of the change.

French sent a letter to fellow council members this week promising he would not seek the benefits for his fiancee, Rosalie Fisher, through the end of the year when his term expires. In an interview, he said he intends to seek a second term this fall, but he did not say whether he would use the potential benefits if re-elected.

For now, French said he does not want to open himself to criticism that he has a conflict of interest.

“Because of this potential benefit and the potential conflict of interest created by that benefit, I am by this letter committing to not seek any additional benefits offered by the city beyond what I currently enjoy for the remaining portion of my term in office,” he said in the letter delivered Monday.

The council is considering extending health care insurance benefits to partners of unmarried employees, including gay and lesbian partners. To qualify for the benefits, employees would submit an affidavit declaring their domestic partnership. Unions would have to negotiate for the extended benefits before they would be granted to employees.

Fewer than 30 employees, including the mayor and council, are not represented by unions.

On Wednesday, Mayor Jim West renewed his opposition to the proposal, which dates back to the 2003 mayoral campaign.

West said he is concerned about the potential cost, estimated at about $176,000 a year. The mayor also said he believes there should be tighter rules on who qualifies, especially among opposite sex couples. West wants couples to sign a community property agreement and grant durable powers of attorney to their partners in order to qualify, and have those documents recorded by the city clerk.

The mayor pointed out the state of Washington allows benefits only for employees in same-sex partnerships since opposite-sex couples have the option to get married.

West said city unions have not pushed for the change. “We are taking on something the employees haven’t asked for,” West said.

But West could be forced to accept the benefit extension if the council comes up with five “yes” votes. Action on the measure could come as early as April 25 at the council’s 6 p.m. session at City Hall. A five-vote majority on the seven-member council is sufficient to override a potential mayoral veto.

So far, only Councilman Bob Apple has come out against the proposal.

Councilman Brad Stark said he is not sure how he will vote because he is troubled by the cost of the proposal in the wake of deep cuts in city services this year.

“That’s a real tough sell for me,” he said of the cost.

French said there are many people like himself who choose not to get married for perfectly legitimate reasons, including having gone through a painful divorce.

“For me it’s not a gay rights issue, it’s an equity issue of how we treat employees,” he explained. An unmarried employee is just as valuable as a married employee, he said. “Why is it we create two classes of employees?”

French said he and Fisher are both divorced and have lived together since 1989. Fisher works part-time for French in his architectural business and carries health insurance provided by the business.

State law prohibits council members from voting on contracts in which they could have a direct benefit, and from voting on some appeals, including land-use decisions, that might benefit them. Also, city law prohibits a council member from receiving any salary increase approved during their current term.

Assistant City Attorney Mike Piccolo said he is researching whether an improvement in employee benefits would be considered a salary increase.