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November 27, 2010 in City
Verner takes lead in longevity
Mayor likely faces fallout from layoffs in leadup to campaign
In the decade since Spokane began electing strong mayors, none had served more than three years – until this week.
Mayor Mary Verner didn’t even need to finish her term to become the city’s longest-serving strong mayor.
Verner’s goal, however, is much bigger: To become the city’s first mayor to win a second term since 1973.
But to do that, she’ll have to weather what likely will be her toughest year yet. In the coming months she’ll have to deal with dozens of city layoffs, reduction of city services, potentially prickly union relations, possible closure of a library, the federal criminal trial of a police officer whose actions she has defended, and a winter that’s forecast to be extra harsh.
Her supporters praise her communication style and ability to work with all sorts of people and organizations to get things done.
“She’s proven herself to be very intelligent and very hard working as a strong mayor,” said Tom Paine, government relations director of Avista. “She’s shown herself capable of working on the budget issues even in tough times.”
Some critics, however, say her style can lead to indecisiveness.
“Sometimes you can spend a lot of time getting people on the same page instead of just making a decision,” said City Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin. “But I applaud her desire to be inclusive.”
Accomplishments
Perhaps Verner’s biggest accomplishment is her success, at least until this fall, at avoiding a mass distribution of pink slips.
While many other cities and counties, including Spokane County, laid off dozens of employees over the past two years, Verner persuaded the City Council to back a combination of an expanded utility tax and fee increases, and got city unions to accept modest concessions to keep the city’s service levels virtually unaffected.
But the outlook is worse for 2011, and layoffs are almost a certainty.
Verner decided against seeking new taxes to fill what has become the $13.5 million gap between expected 2011 revenue and maintaining employee levels and services.
City Councilman Richard Rush, a Verner supporter, said the recent election in which voters overwhelmingly rejected increased taxes proved that Verner’s aversion to raising taxes this year “was prescient.”
Instead, she told unions that they would have to give up their 2011 raises and pay more toward their medical coverage to save jobs. All the city’s unions had balked at her demand until last week, when she and the leadership of the city’s fire union reached a tentative deal that would prevent firefighter layoffs and closure of a fire station.
But with only a couple weeks until the budget is scheduled for approval, most unions are unlikely to reach deals, meaning most of the more than 50 non-firefighters told they would lose jobs on Christmas will do so. In the Police Department, layoffs would mean a major reduction in crime investigations, including the loss of all the department’s fraud detectives. The Street Department would lose a crew that patches streets in the summer and plows in the winter.
Under the City Charter, Verner is entitled to a salary of more than $170,000, but since taking office, she has capped her pay at around $100,000. It’s not something she often publicizes, but her supporters say she sets a good example during hard times.
Arguably, Verner’s biggest blunder was her handling of her first major winter storm, soon after taking office. After snow paralyzed the city in January 2008, it was several days before she addressed frustrated residents.
By the time the next big storm rolled through 11 months later, however, Verner appeared to have learned a lesson. Months before, the city had prepared contracts with private grader operators who could be turned to in emergencies and sewer and water employees were trained to drive plows to bulk up the city’s force. December 2008 became the snowiest month in city history. This time, Verner waged a high-profile effort to publicly assure residents the city was prepared.
Verner may be most known for her environmental positions, most notably her Sustainability Action Plan, a nonbinding guideline to cut the city’s dependence on fossil fuels.
But one of the biggest marks Verner will leave on the city is one that’s largely ignored.
Verner last year successfully negotiated a deal with Spokane County and Airway Heights to annex 10 square miles of the West Plains in 2012. Although West Plains annexation had been in the making for decades, it had been bogged down by lawsuits and disagreements. The expansion, the largest for Spokane in more than a century, gives the city a significant chunk of land to expand its tax base.
Path to re-election
Mayor David Rodgers was the last Spokane mayor to win a second term. Bill Youngs, an Eastern Washington University history professor, said that by 1973, voters saw progress in the preparation for Expo ’74, and city leaders likely were riding a wave of good will sparked by the likelihood of hosting a successful World’s Fair.
Since then, however, the city’s top elected leaders have been tripped by sour relations with unions, business leaders or neighborhood activists. Or by River Park Square. Or poor health. Or scandal.
In 1999, voters approved a change in city government to give the mayor control over administering the city. Before that, mayors sat on the City Council, which hired a city administrator to run the city.
Three constituencies hold considerable sway in city politics: city employee unions, businesses and neighborhood leaders. Verner had strong support from unions and neighborhood leaders when she defeated Mayor Dennis Hession in 2007.
Business leaders largely backed Hession, but there’s some sign that some of that support has turned to Verner. Avista Corp., for instance, which pushed for Hession, already has contributed to Verner’s re-election campaign.
Tony Bonanzino, former CEO of Hollister-Stier Laboratories who had been rumored to be mulling a challenge to Verner, said earlier this month that he won’t run against her. He said he’ll wait to see the field of candidates before deciding whom he’ll support, but he wouldn’t rule out backing Verner.
“She has been an excellent listener,” Bonanzino said. “She is doing her very best to address the difficult challenges that she’s been faced with.”
Police oversight
Verner has stayed mostly on the sidelines for one of the biggest debates of the past three years.
Although she backed the creation of a new police oversight system when she ran for mayor, once taking office, Verner planned only to contract for police ombudsman services on a part-time basis, arguing that a full-time ombudsman would be little more than a “Maytag repairman” with little to do. The City Council eventually approved a full-time ombudsman, who was given stronger powers this year.
“She had the opportunity to lead the city in a good direction in terms of police oversight,” said Liz Moore, executive director of the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane. “Many times, she was just silent.”
Verner argued that during a historic economic downturn, her goals for Police Guild negotiations were for concessions to save jobs and service over gaining more police oversight authority.
Under her leadership, the city attorney’s office has vigorously defended Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr. and other officers involved in the fatal 2006 confrontation with Otto Zehm, an unarmed mentally ill janitor who was mistakenly suspected of stealing money. He died two days after he was beaten, hogtied and shocked with a Taser. The city has argued that Zehm was responsible for the deadly encounter.
“I just don’t think that the behavior of the officer rose to criminal behavior,” Verner said in February 2009. A few months later, Thompson was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of using excessive force and lying to investigators. That trial is expected to start next year.
Despite those positions, Verner’s relationship with the guild grew contentious this fall as the mayor held firm on the union’s choices: Agree to concessions or face layoffs.
Kiondra Bullock, executive director of VOICES, a nonprofit advocacy group for low-income people, said she considers herself a Verner supporter. She praises the mayor for her positions on issues affecting the poor and neighborhoods and especially for reaching out to people of color.
But she said Verner should have taken a stronger stance on police oversight.
“I believe that she cares about the people in Spokane,” Bullock said. “But I wonder if she cares more about the Police Guild than the people.”
Rush, who supported stronger oversight, said he doesn’t share those concerns.
“The council provided the leadership for getting the ombudsman passed,” Rush said. Once that happened, “she embraced it.”
MAC faces angry crowd 
ZagChuck on November 27 at 3:54 a.m.
Jonathon, Id’ like to thank you for providing credibility to the renaming the “news” paper the Jokesman review.
I’ve seen puff pieces before, but this is horrible. Now people will no longer wonder why I call you guys Cheerleaders formally known as journalists.
Is research something someone else does for you?
Did anyone even consider talking to someone who wasn’t bent over kissing the mayors hind end?
Did anyone ask a question from someone besides former campaign donors and GSI folks?
lewis8457 on November 27 at 7:49 a.m.
headline said STRONG mayors, I really don’t think stand on the sidelines is acting as a STRONG mayor.
Saying things like Otto Zehms murder was justified and then feds indict Thompson.
Say by by Verner your toast.
Scoutster on November 27 at 7:53 a.m.
All I want Mary to do is cut my city taxes to nothing and remove the snow IMMEDIATELY in front of my house.
Is that so much to ask!?
Spokane_Citizen on November 27 at 8:06 a.m.
Well put Scoutster….that’s exactly what they’re saying!
ZagChuck on November 27 at 8:21 a.m.
That’s not at all what was said. Perhaps you should stop spinning, and start reading, you’ll be less dizzy in more ways than one.
What was said was “Strong” mayor implies someone who will stand up and do what is right for the constituency, not for the special interests groups. We haven’t seen “Strong” from Verner.
Strong means time to tighten the belt, not ask for more tax dollars.
Strong means ensuring city workers that stay employed are actually doing their jobs, not taking their first one hour break 30 minutes into their shift ( like several of the water dept folks I spoke to last week)
Strong means making cuts to some programs, it’s true, but it also means making cuts to some people’s salaries, so that some programs (or parts of programs) can be saved.
This applies to ALL levels of government, but Verner hasn’t done a very good job.
WillyPeter on November 27 at 8:37 a.m.
Running as a declared or undeclared Democrat, in an election around greater Spokane this year is not an attractive idea - ‘specially if flagrantly supported by the Spokesman.
Coffee on November 27 at 10:00 a.m.
Most any candidate would be better than “it is only snow” Verner.
liberal_in_right_wing_land on November 27 at 10:15 a.m.
This article kind of throws a wrench into Daisy’s biggest complaints that Verner refuses to lower her salary or lay off city employees during this recession.
I mean, would we ever see a conservative mayor willingly lower there own salary and NOT actually go on every TV station and radio station to tout what they are doing? No.
Verner was elected during a very difficult time for anyone to be elected into public office, and while I don’t agree with everything she has done, she has done more than all our previous mayors seemed to be able to do. I would rather have a mayor not be on TV all the time touting his/her record trying to be re-elected and instead just be hard at work and let his/her record speak for itself, which so far is actually pretty good if you take the time to see what she has done.
Scoutster on November 27 at 10:45 a.m.
ZagChuck…
You raise very valid points. I think Mary has failed in certain areas, and certainly police oversight is one of them. The Guild does whatever it damn well pleases and flips us the bird (billboards) while doing it.
But I think with the police and other unions that we probably don’t really give the Mayor (any mayor) the tools to do what needs to be done. She shouldn’t have to go begging to the Guild for concessions if that is what is needed: she should have the capability to do them. As I understand the law, that constraint (the inability to control fire and police unions) is a result of state law, not mayoral discretion.
In my experience, elected executives have much less span of control than most voters hope for and expect, and that’s why most of them don’t last.
west on November 27 at 11:12 a.m.
Scoutster…..right on. State law (binding aribitration) trumps any city buget problems. The unions get what they want and city has no say whatever.The outside mediator decides how much, compared to other metro cities on West coast, and since Spokane, right now, pays at least 20% less than other metro areas,the Spokane unions get what they want..all the time. Who cares if Spokane is in the red, they say..just tax more and take away money’s for the poor folk..libraries, snow plowing, road maintenance, etc.to feed their voracious appetites for wages. There is no end in site for this delima, state law has to be changed, but fire and police have international unions and powerful lobyists at work….Olympia doesn’t have the guts to tackle the problem. We are stuck with $100,000 yearly wages for fire and police….and..wait til ecomomy improves and the gimme backs start hollering!
liarsinnews on November 27 at 11:37 a.m.
Seems to me, the longer Verner stays in office the debt increases exponentially. Verner lacks the management skills needed to stay in office.
Scoutster on November 27 at 11:46 a.m.
dick_adams..
What debt would that be?
liarsinnews on November 27 at 12:36 p.m.
scoutster: You gotta be kidding. The $12.million deficit and rising.
Dazzeetrader11 on November 27 at 12:40 p.m.
Noticing that Liberal and Scout have some blinders on..Daisy will comment later. It would be a shame to miss this gorgeous sunny day of 67 degress. RIght now though…
She’s cutting jobs for a reason Scout..even though she’s not near what she needs to do. She has NOT lowered her salary..she’s deferred it…hope you know what that means..
Any, my hair will start on fire if I don’t stop for a while. This is the most cheerleading inane article from Brunt in a while. He’s very liberal…perhaps this is the sign the Spokesman has given its endorsement already. Beach is calling…
She’ll have 2 women and 1 man who should compete effectively and run her out of office…as it should be.
Scoutster on November 27 at 12:43 p.m.
Sorry, Dick and Daisy…
A “debt” and a “deficit” are not synonymous.
liarsinnews on November 27 at 3:18 p.m.
scoutster: How profound. No sense explaining it. Your one track mind might not understand how one causes the other.
bumblebeetuna on November 27 at 3:24 p.m.
lulz
liberal_in_right_wing_land on November 27 at 3:58 p.m.
Daisy, since you don’t seem to even live here, why are you commenting on this? Oh yeah, because your paid to.
Spokane_Citizen on November 27 at 5:30 p.m.
Ya know, I’m thinking Dick and Daisy might well be one and the same…..ying and yang, so to speak.
finman84 on November 27 at 6:08 p.m.
What I hate is that so many are quick to point out where services should be kept, what should be cut, but heaven forbid that once a service they feel is important should be cut, or what taxes should be raised or cut- they throw a royal tantrum.
I would ask if all those people would like their binky and blanky now.
Here is the reality of the matter- there is less revenue available now than there was in the past and everyone does not want fees and taxes to go up, yet they expect the same services or more. I would also like the winning Powerball numbers for the next drawing. The unions in this town feel they have a birthright to the salary and benefits they receive, businesses in this town feel they have a birthright to keep taxes low. No. No one has a birthright to anything. They get what the market can bear. If the revenue is not there, then they cut back and deal with hardship- just like the rest of us. When things get better- and economics tends to work in cycles, then increases in benefits and pay can be revisited. It is clearly an issue of being selfish plain and simple- coming to the table like Oliver and asking “Please Sir, can I have some more”. No. We are ALL in this together whether we like it or not, and just as prosperity can be shared, so can tough times. We did it during World War II- some older citizens remember rationing. Now, its more about “me” and “what can the city or county do for me” rather than everyone making sacrifices until this is over.
I would also be willing to bet that most of the people who read this will say “Oh, well this does not apply to ME”. Uh, yes it does- it applies to everyone- don’t think that because you have a comfortable house, two cars in the garage, a decent job or retirement package that you are exempt from having to sacrifice. I would also be willing to bet there are a great number of you out there who have had everything handed to you on a silver platter your whole life and have no concept of the word sacrifice- again you think it is your birthright not to participate as such.
I am a returning OIF veteran. My father was killed in a mine accident when I was 6. I lost my job and no one will hire me because the job market is a “buyer’s market”, I earned my bachelor’s degree and am now currently working on a master’s degree. I grew up without basically anything and worked for everything I have, and if the call comes to cinch my belt, then so be it. How about the rest of you?
ericdx on November 27 at 6:35 p.m.
I am going to step away from the Arguement on how good Verner is, because the children are busy making fools over themselves about it, and instead, I am going to ask why the Spokaesman can’t seem to afford an editor or a research department. If I remember correctly, since I was here for December 2009, there was not jack squat for snow, so how was that the heaviest snow month ever? I would buy that December 2008 was, and since I grew up here, I have seen some snowy months before. Also, if I am not mistaken, for Mayior Verner to have been in office for over 3 years, she would have had to enter office in November 2007, and then went through a snow removal disaster in January of 2008, shortly after she entered office, to lean a lesson about how to handle the snow for a December 2008 massive storm, unless I am totally off base here.
It is too bad that the Spokesman, besides being very biased in support of Mayor Verner, is so poor in quality that the average High School newspaper editor could do a better job of proofing the stories before they go to copy. Maybe they should just become a weekly paper, and let the TV stations actually cover the news, or maybe another paper could start with quality reporting and editing, since the SR can’t do either.
Spokane_Citizen on November 27 at 6:58 p.m.
The unions will not be swayed by the argument that once ‘good times have returned’ any concessions or sacrifices can be revisited or compensated…..there’s always a new administration who could care less about past sacrifices made for a prior administration.
So the unions follow the American way…you know, the one demonstrated by every admired corporate leader….the way of greed….get what you can, while you can. Never wise up a sucker…and when you’ve got the upper hand, never give a hand.
And you know what, I don’t blame them a bit….it’s the American way….to celebrate greed, whether it be governmental or corporate greed. The same greed that drives citizens to expect costly services for nothing (and spare me the mouth gas about what a heavy tax burden you suffer from, and how ‘cutting the fat’ should suffice to get what you want without further cost).
You’re getting what you truly deserve…you voted for it, and you’ll vote for the next group of droids that promise what can’t be delivered.
liarsinnews on November 27 at 8:35 p.m.
spokane citizen: Your back again with your war stories and smart mouth remarks . You try to make people think you were in the Marines. LIAR. I have over looked your wise cracks for sometime now, not responding to your name calling. But a liar is a liar. Obviously you have googled re service in the Marines for answers. LOL Seems to me your obsessed and may need help. See a shrink.
Spokane_Citizen on November 27 at 9:03 p.m.
Dick,,,you’re really quite pathetic….nobody could top your windbag smart mouth remarks. Please return us to those entertaining times when we laughed at your antics before the council dais. But I suppose you no longer possess sufficient cranky vigor to do more than impotently snipe at those of us who do the real work of society.
liarsinnews on November 27 at 9:30 p.m.
It always amuses me when a poor soul like you spokane chiit wants every body to think you were in the Marines. Liar. And if I made people laugh so what. That`s more than I can say for a nameless pseudo Marine.
Scoutster on November 27 at 10:03 p.m.
dick…
Please explain how the city’s projected operating deficit is going to lead to debt.
It cannot happen.
Only the US Congress can turn govt operating deficits into debt (because they can print money). The city, the state, the counties…they all have to make cuts (granted there are accounting sleights of hand employed, but the theory is sound).
And, yes, the difference is profound.
jonathanb on November 30 at 10:26 a.m.
ericdx,
Thank you for pointing out the incorrect dates that were in the article. They have been corrected and a correction will run in the newspaper on Wednesday. They were my mistake. I appreciate it when readers report errors so they can be corrected online and in our archives.
Thanks,
Jonathan