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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ventress named to Spirit Lake council

Spirit Lake Mayor Roxy Martin has appointed the volunteer chairman of the city’s planning and zoning department to serve out the remainder of late Steve Gaddum’s city council term.

Gary Ventress was tapped earlier in the month. The term ends in December. Ventress will be eligible to run for re-election in November if he chooses.

Gaddum was killed in a vehicle accident in April. He was 64.

To prevent a conflict of interest, Ventress stepped down from his post with the planning and zoning department to serve on the council. Martin appointed Kelly Balison-Hilliard as the department’s new chairwoman.

Ventress has worked for Kootenai County about seven years. He is operations manager of the county building and grounds department for the courthouse campus.

He has lived in Spirit Lake about 14 years and is no stranger to local politics. Ventress, 57, previously served a four-year term on the City Council, worked for several years with planning and zoning and is a member of the city’s urban renewal board.

He said he’s eager to assist the city with its 2008 budget and adopt a new comprehensive plan that is expected to come before the council this fall.

“Those are the two main things on (my) agenda,” Ventress said.

He said he’s honored to be able to continue Gaddum’s work. “He was a really outstanding citizen and did so many things, nobody could replace him. He’s sorely missed,” Ventress said.