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

Langford named to city council


Langford
 (The Spokesman-Review)

In a life dedicated to public service, Odin Langford has just added another chapter —Liberty Lake City Council member.

Langford, 55, was appointed Tuesday night to fill the vacancy created when Council member Joanna Klegin resigned in August to move to Texas with her family.

The retired law enforcement professional was unanimously selected by the five council members attending the special City Council meeting.

Voting for Langford were Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Jenkins and council members Neal Olander, Wendy Van Orman, Judi Owens and Brian Sayrs. Council member David Crump was absent. Mayor Steve Peterson was present, but could only cast a vote if there was a tie.

Langford is a familiar name in Liberty Lake. In 2003 he narrowly lost to Klegin by 17 votes when she was elected to the four-year position.

His sole competition for the appointed seat was Phil Hamm, 47, an information technology specialist with Inland Northwest Health Services in Spokane.

Hamm has lived in Liberty Lake since 2000. He currently serves on the Liberty Lake Municipal Library’s board of trustees and is a block captain with the Liberty Lake Neighborhood Watch.

Langford and Hamm were interviewed individually by the City Council, while the other waited outside the council chambers.

Each candidate answered the same eight questions about the role of City Council, their priorities if selected and any special expertise.

“My specialty is service,” Langford said. “That is what I’ve done all my life.”

When Mayor Peterson asked what life experiences Langford has had that he felt would enhance his role on the City Council, he again referenced his 25 years in law enforcement.

“I have the ability to size-up people pretty quickly,” Langford said. “My life depended on it most of the time when I was on the streets. It serves me well now.”

Langford retired as a captain from the police department in Harahan, La., a small suburb of New Orleans, with a population of approximately 10,000. In 2002 he moved to Liberty Lake with his wife, Jill.

After the meeting Langford expanded on how he sees his role on the council.

“I’ve spent my life working for people and taking care of people who couldn’t do it for themselves,” he said.

“I see that as part of what a city council does,” he continued. “Their job is not just to take care of the big people. There are little people out there who need to feel that they are part of it.

“I look forward to doing that,” Langford said.

Langford will be sworn in at the next City Council meeting on Nov. 6.

If he decides he wants to continue on the City Council after completing his appointed term, he will need to stand for election in November 2009.