French, Howard vie for council

A pair of proposals to raise city taxes next year have caught the attention of voters in northeast Spokane, who are choosing this fall between a veteran council member and relative newcomer for the northeast area’s District 1 seat on the City Council.

Incumbent Councilman Al French, 54, is running for re-election to his second four-year term. He lost an election bid for council president two years ago, but remained on the council as one of two District 1 council members. The other is Bob Apple.

French’s opponent is Valentina (Tina) Howard, a 41-year-old homemaker who last year became a Democratic precinct committeewoman.

Howard is opposed to any new tax increases to shore up an ailing city budget. French has said he is seeking compromises that would save the city from a new round of budget cuts and layoffs without handing a large new tax bill to residents.

A year ago the city trimmed 152 jobs, including cuts in police, fire and library services. Tax increases are being proposed to avoid more layoffs for 2006.

French joined five other council members in putting a property tax increase before voters on Nov. 8. If approved by a simple majority, the tax measure would lift a state limit on regular property tax collections and yield $3.3 million a year for the next two years. The cost is estimated at $48 a year for a $150,000 home.

A second tax measure being proposed by Mayor Jim West would raise the city utility tax from 17 percent to 20 percent, yielding another $2.85 million a year. Both increases would be limited to two years.

French said voters in his district are very concerned about the effect of tax increases, particularly for lower-income residents, which is why he is seeking alternatives to tax increases.

Howard is straightforward in her opposition to new taxes. Her first priority if elected, she said, would be to stop any increases in property and city utility taxes. “I can make sure your property taxes don’t go up,” she said.

“I can make sure your neighborhoods are safe,” she said, referring to a need for a strong police presence even with ongoing budget pressures. Police have to continue their fight against methamphetamine addiction in order to stop escalating crime, she said.

French argues the city’s future lies with economic growth. “We can’t continue to cut and cut and cut until we run out of things to cut,” French said of persistent budget problems. “You need to grow your tax base and that’s through business development and expansion.”

French said his top priority would be to restore financial health at City Hall. He said he has 26 proposals for making the city more business friendly, including streamlined rules for new development and new incentives for private development projects in commercial centers and corridors.

The candidates are also talking about the controversy surrounding Mayor West, who is facing a Dec. 6 recall election over allegations that he used his office and his computer to pursue sexual relationships with young men.

Howard said the mayor “abused his job.” She said she signed the recently approved petition setting up the recall election, and plans to vote for West’s recall. “If you abused your job, you would lose your job,” Howard said.

French said he did not sign the recall petition, but believes voters should be given the choice on the mayor’s future. He said he won’t decide how to vote on the recall until he casts his ballot. “I want to know more facts about just exactly is going on,” he said of the West recall.

The City Council has hired an investigator who is reviewing West’s computer use as part of an independent internal investigation into the mayor’s conduct. French has supported the inquiry.

On other issues, Howard said she opposes a City Council measure that would extend health and other city benefits to the unmarried partners of city employees. She said voters should have been able to decide on the matter.

French has supported the domestic partners measure, which requires union agreements before the benefits can be extended to unmarried partners of employees. French voted against a move last month to place the domestic partners ordinance on the ballot.

Howard also is opposed to the sale of Joe Albi Stadium. French has been working to save the stadium.

In his run for re-election, French is emphasizing his knowledge of complex issues, including efforts to rewrite the city zoning code. He wants to finish writing new land-use plans for neighborhoods. He said his northeast district needs to begin preparing for the changes that will occur when the state builds a long-planned North Spokane freeway just east of Hillyard near the city’s eastern boundary.

The campaign itself is a bit of a mismatch. Howard had only raised about $200 for her campaign, which will largely be a door-to-door effort to contact voters personally.

French said he had expected to raise about $12,000 in cash and in-kind contributions. Reports on file with the state Public Disclosure Commission last week showed French with $9,400 so far.

Howard is drawing on her varied job experiences over the years. After graduating from Havermale High School in Spokane, she took some college courses before getting work in a number of jobs, including fry cook, bus driver, waitress, security guard and in-home health care.

As a health care worker, she participated in a labor march at the state capital in Olympia in 2003 calling for higher wages and health-care benefits. At the time, she was providing in-home health care for her mother and belonged to Service Employees International Union.

French emphasizes his experience as an architect involved in property management and development. He runs an architectural firm and recently was involved in development of a new office building at Rowan and Lidgerwood near Holy Family Hospital.

He came to city politics as a former president of Nevada-Lidgerwood Neighborhood Council and as a board member for the Institute for Neighborhood Leadership. He has served on numerous boards and commissions.