Spokane7
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November 10, 2011 in City
Incumbents slide, try to explain shift
Conservatives elected as liberal measure’s support surges
Latest results
Spokane Proposition 1, Community Bill of Rights
(Gap increased in Wednesday’s count)
Yes: 21,789, 49.5 percent
No: 22,275, 50.6 percent
Spokane Mayor
(Condon’s lead increased in Wednesday’s count)
Mary Verner: 21,726
David Condon: 23,871
Spokane City Council District 1 (Northeast)
(Fagan’s lead increased in Wednesday’s count)
Mike Fagan: 5,149
Donna McKereghan: 4,772
Spokane City Council District 2 (South)
(Allen’s lead decreased in Wednesday’s count)
Richard Rush: 7,773
Mike Allen: 7,979
Spokane Valley Council Position 6
(Wick’s lead increased in Wednesday’s count)
Ben Wick: 8,857
Marilyn Cline: 8,752
This list has been changed from the original version to correct an error in the vote total for Mike Allen.
Many of those elected Tuesday to serve in Spokane City Hall were the most outspoken ahead of the election that Proposition 1 would doom the economy.
But the same electorate that chose those candidates also decided to give Proposition 1 – the Community Bill of Rights – a fighting chance. The ballot measure is still too close to call, although it lost ground in counting on Wednesday.
It’s an ironic outcome in Tuesday’s election that’s almost as notable as the plunge in support Mayor Mary Verner experienced between the August primary and Tuesday’s election.
Councilman Steve Corker said the tightness of the Proposition 1 measure, while so many Republican-backed candidates sailed to victory, is but one result in city races he can’t explain.
“It’s one of the delights of trying to understand American politics,” Corker said.
It wasn’t just conservatives who opposed Proposition 1, which among other things would require builders of some kinds of developments to collect signatures of a majority of voters in a neighborhood to win approval of their projects: No one in office or running for office endorsed it.
At the same time, the electorate appears to have voted out an incumbent mayor and denied a former mayor a job leading the City Council. Another incumbent, Richard Rush, is losing his bid to keep his City Council seat, though by a slim margin.
Envision Spokane’s first attempt to win approval for a Community Bill of Rights failed with only about 25 percent support two years ago. That proposal was longer, and the City Council added its own questions to that ballot asking voters if they wanted to increase taxes or cut services just in case the proposal was approved. Supporters said at the time that the council’s ballot questions doomed the measure.
Still, even supporters of the initiative were surprised at how well it did this time. Brad Read, president of Envision Spokane’s board, called himself “pleasantly stunned” at the nearly 50-50 result.
Read said some speculate the results showed an anti-incumbent and anti-establishment mood among the electorate.
“This is about people and not politicians,” Read said of the voters’ stance in the face of opposition from all candidates.
The council district that appears to have elected the most conservative councilman – Northeast Spokane, which gave the majority vote to Mike Fagan – was the district that gave Proposition 1 the most support. Fagan said he also is having difficulty explaining the incongruity, but offered that the proposition likely did better because the opposition campaign got off to a late start.
Verner lost more ground in her race against David Condon as more ballots were counted on Wednesday. She now trails by 2,100 votes and would need more than 60 percent of remaining ballots to win. In an interview before the results were released, she said there are many votes left to count and that she remained hopeful. Attempts o reach Condon were unsuccessful on Wednesday.
Corker, who endorsed Verner, said he believes the Otto Zehm case turned the election for Condon. He said he knows voters who had been backers of Verner but changed their minds as a result of the trial of Spokane police Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr., who was convicted last week of violating Zehm’s civil rights.
“I often said that I don’t think Condon could win, but Mary could lose,” Corker said.
Corker also endorsed Ben Stuckart, who defeated former Mayor Dennis Hession in a bid for City Council president. When he made his choice public, Corker said Verner’s primary results indicated that the city would retain an experienced mayor, so the city could vote for a new face for council president. Corker said he doesn’t regret his endorsement, though he worries about experience because of the unlikelihood of a quick recovery from the economic downturn. City Council President Joe Shogan said he’s also concerned about the lack of experience in the top two spots at City Hall.
“What are we going to do if there’s a crisis?” Shogan said. “They’ve never been in this situation.”
Stuckart said Tuesday night he’s confident that the transition will be smooth with new leaders at the top.
“Leadership is not something that is gained by being in office,” he said. “Leadership is a trait.”
Closing Geiger: Wise or worrisome? 
DDC on November 10 at 12:19 a.m.
An activist, misrepresentative government focused on a self serving agenda counter to the will of it’s citizens is what was rejected and dismantled yesterday.
Truthhurts on November 10 at 12:39 a.m.
Corker has it right. The election was Mary’s to lose, and her failure to act quickly on the Zehm facts doomed her.
Again, Shogun is just freaking tone-deaf, too.
Shogun said: “What are we going to do if there’s a crisis?”
Mr. Shogun, the Zehm cover-up IS A CRISIS, and the “experienced” people have done nothing.
Right now, there is no bigger problem for the City than blowing the cover off the cover-up, prosecuting as appropriate, and getting rogue cops under control.
This IS the CRISIS.
How many more incumbents need the boot for this point to be made?
DDC on November 10 at 12:45 a.m.
What’s that line?
“All those years of experience……working against them.”
DickAdams on November 10 at 12:57 a.m.
Its not hard to explain Mr. Corker. The citizens do not trust anything city hall does since the cover-up for years, of the Otto Zehm crime. And like John Olsen testified at the public forum Monday night, speaking to the council saying, not a single council person did anything about the cover-up that`s been going on for years. Mr. Olsen pointed out the appalling actions of the SPD storm troopers saluting clubber Thompson after he was found guilty and said it didn`t say much for the city of Spokane, and doing it in front of Otto`s parents made it worse.
selkirk on November 10 at 1:01 a.m.
“What are we going to do if there’s a crisis?” Shogan said. “They’ve never been in this situation.”
The sky is falling, the sky is falling, let’s all bury our heads in the aquifer and maybe it will not fall on us!
Oh wait a second, that’s what has been happening and that is why the people have spoken the way they have. Maybe we will have some clear headed leaders who won’t listen to Trep the Puppeteer telling them what to do.
Imagine that day, it is coming Spokane!!!
Open_Spokane on November 10 at 7:55 a.m.
They say real life is stranger than fiction and to read Shogan’s comment “What are we going to do if there’s a crisis”?
Apparently our inept and indecisive city leadership have behaved like simmering frogs for the past four years.
On September 9th I stood in front of City Hall and listened to Mayor Verner’s avoidance speech about the Otto Zehm crisis. The infamous FAQ’s were passed out and only Councilman Apple broke ranks to answer public concerns.
The real loss won’t be Shogan or Verner but a Spokane City Councilman with intergrity named Bob Apple.
Verbal on November 10 at 8:03 a.m.
#Corrections
The count above shows Allen at 7,878. According to the Auditor’s office, he’s at 7,979.
Also, the best thing about the new council is that Shogun won’t be on it. I’m interested to see how the tone of council meetings will change.
Scoutster on November 10 at 8:12 a.m.
We can be sure Envision Spokane will be back now.
Prop 1 is the most amazing local result. And given that so many came from NE Spokane should make the right worry more than just a little.
Yes, Davey…performance matters. Now that you bought the job, you actually have to do it.
Ready for your budget. Ready for your accountability in the PD. Ready for you to find all that money to bring back property investigations. Nobody (including the newspaper that endorsed you) made you show a plan up to now.
Time to deliver.
Uh-oh..
jonathanb on November 10 at 8:35 a.m.
Verbal,
Thanks for bringing the error to our attention. Mike Allen’s vote total has been changed.
-Jonathan Brunt
horse_feathers on November 10 at 8:57 a.m.
What turned the vote away from Verner for me was her press conference with the Frequently Asked Zehm Questions and then she refused to be questioned about it again.
greenlibertarian on November 10 at 9:30 a.m.
The council district that appears to have elected the most conservative councilman – Northeast Spokane, which gave the majority vote to Mike Fagan – was the district that gave Proposition 1 the most support.
The electorate is bipolar.
What a surprise!
ChefGus/ John Olsen on November 10 at 9:48 a.m.
Mr Adams… can’t remember if it was you…or another poster that said that “Usually John comes to Council with a smile, and he was not Smiling that night” or somesuch…
My inside gestalt was one of sheer anger. When I got to City Hall at 6:30 there were Six police cruisers outside the building… Six… and inside downstairs there were three uniforms plus ?? how many undercover’s… I spoke to the three and asked what this was all about… and apparently it was their response out of “fear” that those of us on the blogs were goiing to do something… and they knew who i was… and said so…. So i said… well if you know who i am , you likely know I am concealed carry… and i’ve told folks, and am telling you that I am not armed tonight. Then went inside and chatted with Tim Burns and plunked my butt down in plain view of the cameras for the evening… best john
Verbal on November 10 at 10:09 a.m.
Is it just me or does it seem like the ballot counting is going much slower this year?
Chefgus - sounds like you’ve been marked. Better watch out!
Mike1950 on November 10 at 11:27 a.m.
What exactly has Corker done to get to the bottom of the Otto Zehm cover up at City Hall?
DickAdams on November 10 at 11:30 a.m.
Yes John, re usually comes with a smile etc. It was indeed me. Your testimony was the best I`ve heard in quite sometime. You hit the nail squarely on the head and I congratulate and thank you for it. Well done.
another_perspective on November 10 at 12:00 p.m.
Chef….concealed carry… thats nothing. They kill for a snickers bar now days.
I noticed they cordoned off the soda machine in the event someone needed to protect themselves with a Pepsi.
You know if they are not going to investigate property crimes they need to generate more overtime harassing citizens.
Where was Anny get your gun? Doing research for a re-organization of the SPD by watching Reno 911 reruns?
coozbee on November 10 at 12:19 p.m.
For the SPD to act like thugs with a gang, through intimidation and threats, is exactly the kind of attitude that needs to be cleaned up. Not all police are like this, just a few of these rogues who have been swayed and influenced by the upper
powers to not fear repercussions need to be informed that
they can be dismissed, just like their mentors will be. This
has gone on long enough. Its time to get off this merry-go-
round and get on with acting like a city instead of a neighborhood gang controlling its territory from rival gangs.
This is not Brooklyn, the Bronx or some other god forsaken
dumpground, where the RATS are running the show! These
police officers who think they are ENTITLED to act like this
NEED to go. There are plenty of qualified men and women who
would love to have the job and not act like a bunch of thugs.
No wonder those former chiefs and prospects didn’t want anything to do with Spokane. They are told right up front,
this is how we do things here in Spokane. Get RID of those
preachers of POLICY, and half the battle will be WON. Then
eliminate those thugs, where INTEGRITY will be restored.
Verbal on November 10 at 1:20 p.m.
Anyone who wants to know why the SPD acts like it does should read this. Its a lengthy but good read about the history of policing over the last 40 years and the adoption of the “warrior” mentality among law enforcement.
http://www.cato.org/pubs/wtpapers/balko_whitepaper_2006.pdf
ChefGus/ John Olsen on November 10 at 1:41 p.m.
@Another….i heard through the grape vine that “Annie Get Your Gun” was actually doing a tryout for “Reno 911” :)) gotta make some money somewhere cause any department that would hire her now is smokin a lotta dope… Sad to someone with so much potential discard our Constitutional Guarantees…( Remember the 4th of July Swat team commanded by her?? Remember Mr Levy and 24 hours on the Monroe street bridge, remember Shonto Pete… and Officer Mehring and on and on and on.. My life long perspective is “If you must Say you are in charge….then you are Not in charge… and a.45 Cal Glock on your hip as an administrator is an affront to Peace and Justice…. .John