Uncommoners: Gavin Cooley

Government: Unlike Spokane’s previous three strong mayors, Mary Verner has filled key administrative positions with her own picks. One important exception is the city’s chief financial officer, Gavin Cooley.

With good reason. He’s held that job under all four strong mayors and has responded with honest numbers and reliable advice. No wonder she retained him.

Solid technicians like Cooley don’t get the headlines that elected political leaders do, but they are critical when it comes to making government efficient. Truly good ones, such as Cooley, make the numbers understandable – for citizens as well as city officials.

This year, Cooley applied his keen sense and sound counsel toward a revamped budget system that includes more realistic estimates at the department level, giving the elected officials a chance to make political decisions, which is their job, with sound information – which is his job.