Taylor, Willardson vie for seat on Spokane Valley City Council

It’s a race between a seasoned incumbent and an involved political novice for Position 2 on the Spokane Valley City Council.

And while they agree that the city has come a long way since incorporation, they diverge on exactly how the council should approach future challenges.

Jennie Willardson would like to hear more from neighborhoods when it comes to new development and also wants stricter building standards, like those in Liberty Lake.

“Neighborhood activism is a good thing,” she said.

Encouraging the formation of neighborhood organizations is among the top priorities in her platform.

Councilman Steve Taylor is proud of his work on the council thus far and said he wants to continue it as the city adopts its first comprehensive plan and begins drafting new development regulations next year.

“I think the main thing is we’ve followed through on the promises that we made years ago,” he said.

“The important thing for next year is adopting the comprehensive plan, starting on the city center and improving our roadways,” he said.

Willardson said her top priorities are neighborhood planning, attracting high-quality jobs and developing a family-oriented community.

“We also need a parks foundation to raise money” for more recreation facilities for children, she said.

The city should raise money for parks through more public-private partnership, she said.

Taylor listed the city’s parks-maintenance contract as an example of the council’s existing efforts to save money through privatization.

Throughout the campaign, he has cited his work as a councilman and as a member of various regional boards as one of his best qualifications to continue on the council.

Willardson has also taken an active interest in Spokane Valley politics, sitting on the city’s library committee and campaigning to turn control of the Spokane Valley Library back over to the library district.

She has been endorsed by the Spokane Valley Business Association and the Spokane Regional Labor Council.

“Labor endorsement is very important to me,” she said.

Taylor’s endorsements include area Realtors and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies Association.

Both have been going door-to-door for the Nov. 8 election and say they have heard a lot about the Appleway couplet and other issues similar to those in the first council race.

“It’s as intense as ever,” Taylor said of the race.