Meet the candidates

Mary Verner

Personal: 49, single, two children

Education: Houston Academy, Dothan, Ala.; bachelor’s degree, Davidson College, 1988; master’s degree, Yale University, 1992; law degree, Gonzaga University, 1999.

Professional/job history: coordinator of enforcement for the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, 1988-1990; part-time employment during graduate school; director of natural resources for Spokane Indian Tribe, 1992-2001; executive director of Upper Columbia United Tribes, 2002 to present.

Political experience: lifelong grassroots activist in environmental and youth affairs, plus job experience.

Key issues: Get citizens involved in decision making; make informed decisions through study and public comment; seek sustainable economic growth.

Money: $4,235 raised; top donors, Robert E. Harless, $2,000, Kootenai Tribe, $500, John and Sally Verner, $500, Chris Marr, $300, Rocky Rothrock, $250.

Quote: “We don’t want to pave paradise.”

Person who influenced most: son, Daniel, 7, daughter, Diane Rice, 23.

Favorite U.S. president: Theodore Roosevelt.

First priority if elected: knuckle down with economic development partners to create a five-year strategy for growth in the economy.

Jeffrey D. Bierman

Personal: 37, married, three children.

Education: Hastings Senior High School, Hastings, Neb., 1986; bachelor’s degree, Hastings College; master’s degree, University of Washington; doctoral degree, University of Washington.

Professional/job history: assistant at nuclear physics lab and physics department at University of Washington, 1993-1996; physics instructor, Green River College, 1995-1996; physics professor, Gonzaga University, 1996-present (full professor in 2004).

Political experience: Spokane Plan Commission starting in 2001; Spokane Design Review Committee, 2000-2003; Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation to SRTC, 2000-2001; Spokane Housing Advisory and Appeals Board, 1997-1999.

Key issues: aggressively seek long-term sources of city revenue; push for new commercial growth through strategic expansion of business areas; update city zoning code and land-use plan.

Money: Low-budget campaign, no reported contributions so far.

Quote: “I think we need to find ways to get that commercial growth back into the city.”

Person who influenced you most: mother, Sharon Sprague.

Favorite U.S. president: Thomas Jefferson.

First priority if elected: push annexation and revision of land-use plan.

Dallas Hawkins

Personal: 53, married, five children.

Education: Henry Wise Wood High School, Calgary, 1970; Alberta; bachelor’s degree, Gonzaga University, 1981.

Professional/job history: U.S. Air Force, 1972 to 1976; general manager, Northwest Electronics, 1979 to 1987; insurance agent, 1987 to 1997; owner, Spokane Falls Insurance, 1997 to present.

Political experience: served last year on citizen’s committee that helped plan city street bond; chair of Citizen’s Street Commission, 2005; helped found All-City Traffic and Transportation Committee, late 1990s; Rockwood Neighborhood Council chair, 2001 to 2004.

Key issues: getting control of city budget to stop cuts in basic services; promoting economic development; making sure neighborhoods are strong.

Money: $3,660 raised, including $1,850 in loans from Hawkins and Hawkins Family LLC; top donors, Mary Ann Hawkins, $500, Charles Caneer, $300, Joseph K. Nichols Sr., $300, Paul Fitzpatrick, $200.

Quote: “We need to take advantage of all the wonderful volunteers we have in our neighborhoods.”

Person who influenced you most: father, Dallas E. Hawkins II.

Favorite U.S. president: Ronald Reagan.