Meet the candidates

Mike DeVleming

Age: 46

Family: Wife, Pennie, and children L.T., 10, and Rachel, 12

Education: Ferris High School, 1978; associate’s degree in civil engineering, Spokane Community College, 1988.

Person who has influenced you the most: My wife.

Favorite president: Harry Truman.

Job history: Customer service director for Vera Water Power where worked since 1989 in various positions.

Political experience: Councilman, 2003 to present; first mayor of Spokane Valley.

Top three issues in your platform: Completing the city’s Comprehensive Plan, public safety, improving roads.

Why you are the best candidate for the position: “I think my record and my history of dedication to this community and building this foundation for city government speaks for itself.”

Campaign Web site: www.mikedevleming.com.

First priority if elected: Complete the Comprehensive Plan and the street master plan.

Howard Herman

Age: 79

Family: Wife, Darlene, and eight adult children.

Education: Central Valley High School, 1944; Gonzaga Law School, 1962.

Person who has influenced you the most: Older brother Fred Herman.

Favorite president: John F. Kennedy.

Job history: 1944-1946 – Seaman first class in the Navy during World War II; 1946-1962 – journeyman plumber, then owned own plumbing business; 1966-present – partner in the Herman, Herman & Jolley law firm.

Political experience: County library board and fire district civil service commission; unsuccessful run for 4th District represent- ative in 1964; unsuccessful run for Superior Court judge.

Top three issues in your platform: Preserving neighborhoods, making the Comprehensive Plan more reflective of existing conditions in Spokane Valley, returning Sprague Avenue to two way along the Sprague-Appleway couplet.

Why you are the best candidate for the position: “I’ve had years of legal and governmental experience. I was the attorney for four towns … . I certainly am not going to be led around by planners or anybody else.”

Campaign Web site: http://howard.blogs.com

First priority if elected: Create fire lane on Sprague from Fire Station 1 to University.