Mager win could change dynamic

In two months, one of the Spokane County commission’s biggest critics likely will be sitting among her former adversaries.

It’s unclear, however, if presumed Commissioner-elect Bonnie Mager will have the power to help make decisions or simply criticize 2-1 votes cast against her.

As long as Mager’s lead holds, Commissioner Phil Harris’ ouster Tuesday after 12 years on the commission will put an end to a commission made up entirely of Republicans. But to win support for an issue, Mager will need the vote of either Mark Richard or Todd Mielke.

“I’m not at all going into this thinking that I’m going to be a lone vote,” Mager said Wednesday. “I’m certainly going in there to work with both of them.”

Throughout the campaign Mager insisted she would work hard to get along with Richard and Mielke. But it may not be easy. In the closing days of the campaign, Richard wrote in a letter to the editor that Mager “makes her living by instilling fear in citizens.” Mager responded a few days later that his letter showed that he was willing to “take steps unbefitting a public official.”

Mielke could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Richard said he hopes Mager will become more flexible on some issues, just as he did after he transitioned from being a lobbyist for the Spokane Home Builders into his commission seat two years ago.

“I’m just going to try my best to do what I can to make sure there’s a working relationship there,” Richard said. “It’s not going to be easy, I don’t think.”

A second count of votes Wednesday showed Mager maintaining a 5,000-vote lead over Harris. Mager, the director of the Neighborhood Alliance of Spokane County, said Wednesday that she will wait for today’s count to declare victory. Harris, too, is waiting for more votes to be counted before he concedes.

John Roskelley, who served two full terms on the commission as the lone Democrat, said even if Mager is on the losing end of a lot of votes, her dissenting voice will create more important policy debates.

“The issue is brought out onto the table and discussed thoroughly before a vote is taken,” said Roskelley, who endorsed Mager during the election.

Mager also will play important roles on boards that oversee air quality, public health and transportation, Roskelley said.

“My advice to her would be don’t prejudge anyone,” said Kate McCaslin, who served on the commission with Harris and Roskelley. “Work with them the best you can.”

She added that Mielke and Richard have duties, too.

“They have to treat her with respect and as an equal,” McCaslin said. “It’s going to be incumbent on the three of them to handle themselves professionally and work with one another.”

Mager said she plans to meet with department heads before taking office.

Her first priorities after that, she said, echo her campaign. She hopes to persuade Mielke and Richard to move more county meetings to the evenings and televise weekly commissioner briefing sessions.

Richard said he will listen to her ideas. But he added that it’s important to consider cost, especially if the county has to hire its own crew to televise extra meetings.

“I’m not going to do it to satisfy the political aspirations of another person,” Richard said.