July 29, 2010 in City

French backs off on letters

Candidate offered prewritten opinion pieces to supporter

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Candidate Al French says he was just trying to be helpful when he wrote letters to the editor for his supporters to sign and send.

“I have several written and you can have your pick,” French told Robin Sparrow on Friday on his personal Facebook page. “I have others (supporters) that are submitting, too. Or you can write your own if you like.”

The Spokane County commissioner candidate asked Sparrow to submit one of his letters when she suggested he put some signs on buildings near Interstate 90.

“That’s just a courtesy that we do for some of our supporters,” French said when asked about the Facebook exchange. “We just provided some help for them.”

He said he didn’t realize The Spokesman-Review’s policy of printing no more than one “original letter” a month from any writer meant candidates aren’t supposed to use stand-ins to pat themselves on the back.

“I did have a couple of letters that are basically suggestions,” French said. “I didn’t know you had a policy against it or I never would have posted it on Facebook. I like to think I’m a little smarter than that.”

The two-term Spokane city councilman said this was the first time he had asked a supporter to sign a letter he wrote – and he won’t do that again.

In a private e-mail five minutes after French’s Facebook post, Sparrow asked French for “a couple of letter ideas” but indicated she would compose her own message.

“I wanted to write my own letter, but I wasn’t sure what he wanted me to write about,” Sparrow said Wednesday in an interview. “I was thinking more like when somebody asks you to write a letter of reference for them.”

Sparrow said she hasn’t had time to write the letter yet, but French is a family friend she’s pleased to recommend.

Sparrow works with French’s wife, and the two families belong to the same motorcycle club.

“I think he’s a great guy,” Sparrow said.

Seven comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  liarsinnews on July 29 at 5:11 a.m.

  How about the French sign attached to the fence at the Spokane fire station on Ray?

• 

  Ninch on July 29 at 7:13 a.m.

  Al French continues to be ethically-challenged.

• 

  kaywrightmcg2003 on July 29 at 8:53 a.m.

  Al French is so careless with the truth and it comes so easy for him to not be honest.

• 

  Lulubelle on July 29 at 9:54 a.m.

  Is there anything about this guy that’s on the up-and-up?
  County Commissioner?…..I don’t think so…

• 

  MrNatural on July 29 at 11:41 a.m.

  I am amazed at the amount of money that is being spent on his campaign with billboards and large posters strung up all around town…reminds me of the old adage “empty garbage cans make the most noise”…

• 

  Dazzeetrader11 on July 30 at 1:07 a.m.

  I don’t think Mr French has done anything unethical or wrong.
  If you posters think so, please define the unethical or wrong behavior. He was asked and he provided as I read this.

  When I was last in Spokane, I was amazed at the Salvatori signs stapled to bus sign, speed limit signs…wrapped around..now this is against the rules. I understand he was asked to remove them.

  The Public Disclosure Commission records clearly show that Mager has raised by far the most money….through her liberal friends. Nothing wrong with that either. Not far behind are Mrs. Holy and Salvatori.
  Curt , Tinch, Lulu and Natural…please identify something unlawful, unethical or anything else wrong. Have a lie in mind? Let’s hear from you. French is the best trained and most qualified. You liberals have an issue with a fiscal conservative.

  I don’t. French is that…and that proved out during his 8 years on the Council. On thing is clear, vote for him and you’ll be better of in four years than you are now…as far as the County government goes.

• 

  sks519 on January 24 at 9:30 a.m.

  Welcome back to the corrupt commission that existed in spades before Mager’s election. No differene between Phil Harris and Al French but the name.