26 apply to fill Verner’s seat

The 26 applicants for the opening on Spokane City Council constitute a diverse group that includes a hydrogeologist, high school teacher, radio show co-host, professors, real estate agents – even a former city councilman.

“It’s an excellent turnout,” said City Council President Joe Shogan. “A couple of them have caught my eye already.”

Friday was the deadline to apply for the City Council seat vacated when Mary Verner was sworn in as mayor.

Shogan said he expects City Council to rate the applicants over the next week. He said the top four or five likely will be interviewed next year, and he hopes a selection will be made on Jan. 7.

Councilman Al French called the list “impressive.”

“Twenty-six tells me that there’s a lot of interest,” he said.

The selection process was hotly debated by the City Council last month. Some members wanted a final vote this year, while Brad Stark is still on the council. Others argued that the process should wait until newly elected Richard Rushtakes Stark’s place.

Stark informed the rest of council earlier this week that he would not vote on a new council member. His decision means it’s unlikely that there will be enough support from the council to move forward with the process until Rush joins next year.”My stepping aside allows for greater opportunity for a consensus candidate to be cultivated and thus the hopes for a unified council are increased,” Stark wrote in an e-mail.

Here are the applicants:

Michael Allen, Eastern Washington University associate athletic director.

Lori Aluna, Community Assembly member.

Carrie Anderson, urban forest coordinator for The Lands Council.

Michael Baker, real estate agent for Century 21.

Jeffrey Bierman, Gonzaga University physics professor.

Paulette Burgess, staff member of the Spokane County Public Defender’s Office.

Karen Cannon, Catholic Charities personal care provider.

John Covert, state Department of Ecology hydrogeologist.

Rosemarie Duffy, Veteran’s Administration Hospital nurse.

Kenneth Garceau, Realtor with John L. Scott Real Estate.

Linda Gray, former administrator at Mason General Hospital in Shelton, Wash.

John Hagney, Spokane Public Schools high school teacher.

Jacqui Halvorson, Spokane Preservation Advocates president.

Kolby Jaro, Walla Walla Community College graduate.

Lori Kinnear, former manager of the YWCA Opportunity Center.

Ben Luety, assistant vice president at U.S. Bancorp.

Dean Lynch, former Spokane city councilman.

Rebecca Mack, former co-host and producer of “The Mark Fuhrman Show” on KGA-AM.

Joanne Moyer, community representative for Fox Theater board of directors.

Dean Ozuna, audit and tax manager at Moss Adams LLP.

Lewis Persons, CEO of The Lands Council.

Matthew Phillipy, West Valley City School science teacher.

John Prosser, president of Patriot Electric Inc.

Rick Shulman, Realtor at John L. Scott Real Estate.

Mel Silva, former president of the South Perry Business & Neighborhood Association.

Gabor Zovanyi, urban and regional planning professor at Eastern Washington University