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October 19, 2011 in City
Candidates for council District 3 talk jobs
Nonprofit manager, entrepreneur face off
About the candidates
Steve Salvatori, 57, consumer products broker
Joy Jones, 34, manager of a program that helps children who have a parent in prison
The race to represent Northwest Spokane has turned into one about priorities.
Is the top priority jobs, as Steve Salvatori argues, or is jobs one of many priorities, as Joy Jones says?
Salvatori, a consumer products broker who opened the Spokane Entrepreneurial Center in 2007, says the overwhelming issue facing the city is the need for more jobs and to boost the economy.
“The reason I’m running is because I think our top priority has to be jobs,” Salvatori said at a recent debate that aired on KSPS.
His opponent, Joy Jones, who runs a program that assists children who have a parent in prison, says improving the climate for small businesses and jobs is important but adds: “I don’t think that’s the only issue that we have to deal with right now.”
“The biggest issue I keep hearing about is public safety,” Jones said, adding that one of her priorities would be to push for a neighborhood policing system.
The winner will earn $30,000 a year plus benefits over a four-year term and will replace Councilman Steve Corker, who opted to run for City Council president but lost his bid in the primary.
Salvatori gained fame last year when he ran as a Republican for Spokane County Commission and introduced himself to the community with large campaign signs with his head-to-foot picture. He lost in last year’s primary but quickly transitioned into a campaign for city office.
He’s relatively new to town, having moved to Spokane about five years ago, but he’s quickly become involved in community affairs, including his work opening the entrepreneurial center. He’s involved in Greater Spokane Incorporated – the region’s chamber of commerce – and is on the board of the Spokane Public Market. He started Salvatori-Scott, which is based in Pleasanton, Calif., in 1987. The company works with makers of nonprescription health and beauty items to get their products shelf space within retail stores.
“I hope that that experience will have a deeper impact on you than just a phrase, ‘I’m for jobs.’ I know it’s an election season and you’re going to hear that a lot,” he said.
Jones, who is endorsed by the Spokane County Democratic Party, is new to politics and announced her run for the seat late in the campaign timeline. Soon after she filed, another candidate, Karen Kearney, dropped out and endorsed Jones.
With only Salvatori and Jones in the race, both automatically advanced to the Nov. 8 general election without appearing on the August primary ballot.
Jones points to her time as a student when she worked with neighborhood businesses for Eastern Washington University’s Center for Entrepreneurial Activities, her urban planning degree and work for a nonprofit focused on children.
“I have a great combination of background and experience, and I grew up in Spokane, so I know our district and I know what we value here in Spokane,” Jones said in an interview.
There’s been much more debated by the two than jobs and police.
Both say they are unlikely to vote for a Spokane Police Guild contract unless it includes independent oversight by the police ombudsman, which was recently repealed by the City Council as a result of an arbitrator’s decision. Both say the city’s business permitting process needs to be simplified. Both support the $20 vehicle tab fee to better maintain streets.
Salvatori, however, criticizes many other fee and tax increase decisions and proposals made by the City Council. For instance, he opposes the City Council decision last year that nearly doubled base rates on city business licenses.
Jones said the increase was reasonable considering it was the first bump in the business license rate for more than a decade.
While his top priority is jobs, Salvatori said his first action as a councilman would be to push for the repeal of water rate increases approved this year and the water rate structure that’s proven controversial. Those kinds of rate increases, he said, hurt small businesses.
Jones cautioned against revamping the water rate structure that lowered rates on those who use less and increased rates on those who use more because it means the opposite would occur and may result in a system that collects even more money from ratepayers. She has made the improvement of the city’s infrastructure a theme of her campaign.
Both say the city should move forward on projects aimed at improving sewage treatment and prevent the dumping of raw sewage into the Spokane River during rain. But Salvatori has suggested several alternative projects that he said would be much cheaper and could keep rate increases closer to 5 percent instead of more than 10 percent, as projections suggest.
Jones promises to be a voice for thinking about the long-term health of the city.
“I want my children to inherit a city that is well run and well managed,” Jones said.
Salvatori said the council needs an advocate who better understand the needs of entrepreneurs.
“I look forward to being a passionate voice on City Council for jobs and our small business community,” Salvatori said.
Closing Geiger: Wise or worrisome? 
soccermomsusie on October 19 at 9:44 a.m.
SALVATORI!!! What more do you need to know about the guy?
HIS ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONSISTS OF ENTREPRENEURING AN ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTER IN SPOKANE CALLED THE SPOKANE ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTER!!! You can rent a space in one of his buildings from him to do some entrepreneuring, if you would like.
He is also a “consumer products broker.” That can mean a couple of things. He’s either involved in selling you stocks or hedgefunds (and therefore deserving of our trust), or he is an Avon Gentleman or Mary Kay sales representative. Either way, he’s got what it takes to be our city councilman!! If he drives a pink Cadillac, then I guess it’s Mary Kay.
If you notice, most of the abandoned buildings and vacant lots have his signs on them, so he pretty much has the backing of that crowd. NUFF SAID!
I love his lifesize signs with the full-body shot. Jeans, cowboy boots and a suit coat?!?! No wonder the young people like him!!
SALVATORI! (Comes from the Latin for “Salve a Tory”)
Featured prominently on this design which someone can use to buy a billboard anonymously:
http://t.co/TTwuriv8
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!
spokwondo on October 19 at 10:35 a.m.
I support Steve Salvatori for City Council District 3. The guy came to spokane and actually wants to be involved. KUDOS to you Steve.
City council memebers deal with big time contracts, union negotiations, and finance all of which effect us All-daily. I trust Salvatori’s business experience to lead us forward, and out of this economic recession. We need leadership right now, not soccer moms (sorry, no offense, you all are great at many things), I’m just saying Joy Jones isn’t the right person for this job.
Vote Salvatori for district 3.
fairchildairman on October 19 at 10:55 a.m.
You’re right! Salvatori wants to be so involved that he is trying to buy all 3 council seats! Go Steve!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMaS42B4Wlc
Open_Spokane on October 19 at 11:26 a.m.
This isn’t a tough decision, Salvatori is light years ahead of Jones in experience. City government should be run like an honest business. The Otto Zehm homicide is only the tip of the iceberg and I see a need for real change in Spokane with new leadership.
Jones appears to be a eco-friendly good old girl along the lines of Amber Waldref. Who is another Verner follower who appears spineless to change the status quo.
Aside from Councilman Apple, the three stooges that stood behind Mary V. on 9/9 were Rush, Snider and Waldref. Apple wasn’t invited to the Verner press conference and stepped outside her dome of silence. It is almost like our city hall is conspiring to hide the truth from the public. I see Salvatori as being a person of integrity and having transparency of Councilman Apple.
I suppose Jones background in working with families of criminals will allow her to fit right in with our city department heads.
Albert on October 19 at 11:40 a.m.
Yes Steve is a great choice! Thank God that Corker is FINALLY toast!!! Once again, “good bye Corker” - hopefully for the last and final time!
fairchildairman on October 19 at 11:42 a.m.
Hey Open_Spokane,
Before you start claiming who stood behind who at a press conference, you might want to make sure there is no Youtube video that makes you look even more clueless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4PKyTxnETg
soccermomsusie on October 19 at 12:22 p.m.
Everyone, please vote for Salvatori. One of the reasons he is running is because he needs a job (just like Dennis Hession). This year, you can make a tangible stand against unemployment by voting wisely.
Yes, he entrepreneured The Spokane Entrepreneur Center but real estate is pretty slow right now. This could really help. Help Steve entrepreneur himself into a government slot. Once there, he can, like all of us good Republicans, prove to you that government does not work.
Joy should stay home with her kids. She has a husband to take care of her. CathyMcMoro can pull it off because she just has to follow orders from her boss and then pass them down to David Condon once he’s elected as mayor.
Come on all you bleeding heart libertards, put your money where your mouth is and help out an unemployed man.
VOTE SALVATORI!!!
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!
Shadedmuse on October 19 at 12:39 p.m.
Lets make the mayors race a referendum on Cathy Mcmorris, lets all send Cathy the do nothing member of Congress a Message she cant ignore, and vote No against her BOY.
Shadedmuse on October 19 at 12:45 p.m.
The number one reason to vote against steve is he is tied to greater Spokane Inc, who is the main reason spokane has High unemployment and the only jobs in Spokane are Bar and restraunt retail wage slave jobs. if you like being unemployed or wage slave then go ahead and vote for Steve, if you want a high wage union Labour job then Join me in Voting for Joy and sending Cathy Mcmorris a Message and voting AGAINST her BOY for Mayor.
HERE ARE VOICE ITS LOUDER THEN THE TEA-BAGGERS.
soccermomsusie on October 19 at 12:47 p.m.
NO! DO NOT NOT VOTE FOR CONDON!
Here is a great song sung by Ponder Ray endorsing Future Mayor Condon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S41wMUBiez4
Here are the lyrics if you want to sing along. God wrote em and told me what to write. All Glory to Him!!!
Born on the South Hill In Spokaney
Knows that the best prez is good ole 43
Always on the payroll of the GOP
Gets his orders from Washington DC
Vote Davey! Davey Condon! Spokane Mayor! Tea Party!
Says he’s nonpartisan with a wink
But if you’re not Republican, he thinks you really stink
Please vote for Condon and don’t stop to think
He’s as slick and cool as a skating rink
Vote Davey! Davey Condon! Future Mayor! Tea Party!
To get some wealthy donors is his big plan.
God told him to do it, that why he really ran
When he’s elected, his salary he’ll expand
Corporations will govern, so he’ll have time to tan.
Vote Davey! Davey Condon! Future Mayor of Spokaney!
His little experience is nonetheless great.
Cuz the Great Recession he helped to create
He’ll make Washington a redder state
He’s conservative so you can bet that he is straight
Vote Davey! Davey Condon! Spokane Mayor! Tea Party!
As a Republican, our Betters have picked him
Tea Party Success is his one true dictum
He knows wealthy folks are Spokane’s real victim
Bosses Cathy and W really respect him
Vote Davey! Davey Condon! Future Mayor! Tea Party!
Thinks that Our Tea Party is really just great
Came back to live here as he turned 38
Bikes and recycling says he’ll obliterate
The Garbage Goat stinks of the nanny state
Vote Davey! Davey Condon! Future Mayor of Spokaney!
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!
wobble506 on October 19 at 2:26 p.m.
Shadedmuse - can’t wait to see the plan about how Jones is going to bring in all those high paying union jobs to Spokane. I’m sure she has the clout to do that.
Oh, and the water rates increase (new tax) that’s ok.
And let’s raise the price of those business licenses, cuz that’s what all new businesses want. Higher fees. That’s why they are flocking to Spokane in droves. They all want to pay higher fees.
Catch a clue. Businesses are leaving Spokane and WA in general because its so dang expensive to work here, cuz no one knows how to balance a budget, so the only thing they know how to do is tax more.
soccermomsusie on October 19 at 2:50 p.m.
Wobble506, You said it! And I know where all the businesses are going. I was leafing through Mogadishu Mogel Magazine the other day. Sure enough, businesses are leaving Washington State and other socialist enclaves by the droves to relocate in Somalia.
Nice winters, no trees, an aquifer that knows its place, no minimum wage, no business license fees, no recycling, no bicycle lanes, no traffic-calming, no regulations, a hard-working work force, no UN mandated beautification, etc. is pretty hard to beat. Plus, the poor know their place. I think I heard Williams and Sonoma and Coldwater Creek are both relocating there next week.
COME ON CITY LEADERS! DON’T FUND THE CITY AND THEY WILL COME!! NOTHING IS MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN A BARREN WASTELAND TO A BUSINESS. IT HOLDS SO MANY POSSIBILITIES!!!
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!
Shadedmuse on October 19 at 3:07 p.m.
Somalia is like texas. Enough said.
Dazzeetrader11 on October 19 at 3:32 p.m.
So it’s settled: Condon, Hession, Salvatori and Mike Allen if you want to move spokane ahead by reforming it.
I’m ok with that team. Wall off the greenie socialists. Nice plan Spokane!
Shaded…yes high union wages willhelp right? Help to scare people with businesses who might want to rebuild Spokane….away.
Shadedmuse on October 19 at 3:42 p.m.
Condon Hessions Salvatore and Allen will put GSI in charge of Spokane and keep Spokane a High Unemployment Low wage high drug and High crime city as they race to the bottom Spokane is on the way to being the next Texas-Somalia with this lot in charge. If you like being unemployed or a wage slave at a JO Job then go ahead and vote for Cathy’s boy and his ilk at GSI, if you want to make the Mayors race a referendum on Mcmorris then join with me and we all stand together by sending a message and voting Verner-Jones.
DickAdams on October 19 at 5:03 p.m.
The only problem I have with every candidate that runs for office, is their is not one of them that doesn`t promise jobs. I`m older than most of the posters and I`ve heard that pitch for at least 60 years. Some of these political hacks do however, expand (government) adding public employees. Verner comes to mind the last week or so when she hired another high priced official.