Spokane7
67°
October 26, 2011 in Opinion
Editorial: Allen’s fiscal discipline a needed asset on council
Spokane City Councilman Richard Rush has the unusual task of defeating a former incumbent in District 2, but not the man he defeated four years ago.
Mike Allen, who lost his seat two years ago to Councilman Jon Snyder, is again on the ballot.
The Spokesman-Review endorsed Allen in 2009 and Rush in 2007. We again endorse Allen.
Allen was appointed to the City Council when Mary Verner was elected mayor. In the 18 months he served on the council, he consistently looked for solutions to budget shortages that did not include new revenues. He voted against labor contracts that have distorted the relationship between public and private sector pay.
Allen says the city needs to develop performance measures that citizens can use to determine whether the city is getting enough bang for the buck, adding that he wants the City Council to have an independent source of financial analysis instead of having to rely on the mayor’s staff.
He supports the regionalization of services like animal control and more partnerships with business that will sharpen the focus on economic development, in part by encouraging consolidation of the many agencies trying to help entrepreneurs get started.
But Allen is wrong on the $20 car tab fee and red-light cameras, which he calls “Big Brotherish.” The cameras have been an effective traffic control and, secondarily, a source of revenue for street projects.
He says the city needs to come up with a better plan for funding ongoing street improvements, perhaps by creating a utility fund as an alternative to selling bonds.
Rush also questions the wisdom of issuing 20-year bonds for 10 years of street construction. But he opposes a street utility tax because it would be regressive — precisely the same charge that could be leveled against the $20 tab fee he successfully championed. We supported the fee because the $2.5 million in projected income will backfill for lost real estate excise tax revenues.
Rush wisely supports the use of red-light cameras for traffic control, and dedication of fee revenue to street maintenance. The reconstruction of Lincoln Street between 17th and 29th avenues is a shining example of the imagination and energy he can bring to traffic and environmental initiatives.
He says the city should look at simplifying business licensing, perhaps by working more closely with the state, and be more flexible on applications for changes of property use, which sometimes trip up entrepreneurs.
Unfortunately, his opposition to diverting the camera fines is a rare occasion when Rush has not endorsed, if not initiated, new fees or taxes. He lately floated the idea of a local income tax, a trial balloon with “Hindenburg” written all over it.
Rush, who himself declined a pay raise, cautions against too confrontational an approach to relations with labor.
Rush has worked hard, but with no end in sight to the relentless budget headwinds, Allen would be a voice for greater spending discipline.
To respond to this editorial online, go to www.spokesman.com and click on Opinion under the Topics menu.
Trudy Rubin: Egyptians say no to Islamists 
Dazzeetrader1980 on October 26 at 12:27 a.m.
Nice choice. Conservative with common sense.
tobiasg on October 26 at 1:59 a.m.
If dazzee supports him, I’m DEFINITELY NOT in support.
Dazzeetrader1980 on October 26 at 2:09 a.m.
Tobi what do you have against common sense? Like high rates of water garbage, etc AND a city income tax? Fine!… vote for Rush.
mmspowaus on October 26 at 4:52 a.m.
Don’t let Daz or anyone dictate your vote TOBIASG….vote who YOU believe will do the best job….
If DAZ was against slavery or lowering the age of consent to the age of 7 would you be favor of it?
Only a complete couillon would let someone else manipulate their precious vote…
Your post on October 26 at 1:59 a.m. is the most irrational comment I’ve read this month….
fairchildairman on October 26 at 6:39 a.m.
Funny endorsement by the Spokesman. Even worse write-up. They gave zero reason for supporting Mike Allen over Richard Rush.
Mike Allen has already been on council one time and didn’t get anything done. That’s why Jon Snyder dominated him two years later. I would say District 2 considered Allen’s leadership “poor quality”. That sounds very similar to what the students of Eastern Washington thought of him as a professor:
http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=364954
Dazzeetrader1980 on October 26 at 10:14 a.m.
Fair…Mike was on for less than half term..inherited a seat. Only had a little time. But DOMINATED??? 70 votes is dominated??? Snyder’s an irrational timebomb…he won’t be reelected. Swept in by the anti Bush anti R liberals from the peaceful valley coalition of communists.
Mike did a terrific job. Ever see the complaint Rush has against him by the gals at STA??? I
Spokane’s aquifer is full of water and we the people own it. SO why is Rush trying to sell the people on a water shortage? Money. Same with Verner. Money…which she spent with Rush’s support. $15 million is the debt number we know about. ” No more taxes!!!” should be the order of the day.
And guess what Fair? Mike’s not teaching. Duh… A meager attempt to slime him with a silly non significant link about some other job is plain stupid.
Vote Mike Allen.
Citizen on October 26 at 11:12 a.m.
Dazzeesue would have you gloss over Allen’s abysmal performance rating by his students. But read those surveys closely and you find the same complaints about him that have been made by his former constituents and colleagues.
He is not an energetic/industrious campaigner from what I can see. There is a definite pattern here.
Is Allen still a climate change denier? Really.
The voters had their chance and showed him the door. Not much has changed other than his fealty to all things Republican.
Richard Rush pays heed to our Comprehensive Plan that the good citizens of Spokane spent years and thousands of hours putting together. The Comprehensive Plan has been approved. Rush supports us in supporting the Plan. Allen was indecisive on the Plan among other things.
Vote for Richard Rush.
tobiasg on October 26 at 11:40 a.m.
No matter what, dazzee claims to not live in Spokane so her attempts to sway anyone with her opinions pertaining to local government are a joke, a joke on us.
Citizen on October 26 at 11:43 a.m.
Tobias, don’t let Dazzeesue get your goat. She is in the bag for anything and all things Republican. Party before country and community and all that…
Dazzeetrader1980 on October 26 at 11:53 a.m.
Sorry Citizen, I’m not a Republican. ONLY an Independent will do for me. If I don’t like Liberal policies, it’s an independent assessment. Who said I like the Republican policies anyway?
Some work and some are terrible. Let’s not be trying to paint me into a corner.
Shadedmuse on October 26 at 1:29 p.m.
What will Dazee and Soccer susie do when their beloved canidates all loves in Nov? Half gainer off Monroe Bridge?
Lulubelle on October 26 at 4:45 p.m.
Mike Allen did a big zip zero nada as an appointed city councilman…..he lost his bid the last time around , and now wants another chance?? Lets face it, like Hession, the man just needs a job….he run for town clown if it came with a paycheck
Let his friend Salvatori (Mr. I know how to create jobs) set him up with some sweet deal.
Lulubelle on October 26 at 4:45 p.m.
Mike Allen did a big zip zero nada as an appointed city councilman…..he lost his bid the last time around , and now wants another chance?? Lets face it, like Hession, the man just needs a job….he’d run for town clown if it came with a paycheck
Let his friend Salvatori (Mr. I know how to create jobs) set him up with some sweet deal.
fairchildairman on October 26 at 5:03 p.m.
Oh, if Mr. Salvatori can’t set him up with a sweet deal, I’m sure one of their other pal$ can hook him up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMaS42B4Wlc
Dazzeetrader1980 on October 26 at 5:25 p.m.
Sorry kids…you focus on jobs…do you know what Rush did before his council job? ZERO! Wife totally supports the family. Nice. He’s never had a job! SO much for experience.
Meanwhile all the other candidates have extensive work histories. Verner..tribal…couldn’t work as a practicing attorney. Condon…full time…in both business in SPokane and Federal with Cathy. Successful …FULL time. Hugely successful military career.
Allen..full time worker. By the way, we’re hiring him for council…not to teach at that EWU place. Sniff…Daisy wouldn’t set foot on that campus. No offense..
Salvatori…terrific record of success in everything. Full time~
Hession? Full time lawyer and mayor. . Ben…pffffft no job…workerbee at Tickets West.Not much preparation for council president….none.
Libs with little success and no training who love the trees but not the streets. I’d say bums but that would be too harsh. Loving bikes won’t get Spokane moving again.
Vote Mike Allen.
another_perspective on October 27 at 1:07 a.m.
I would rather vote for David Elton or Brad Stark than Rushdie.
The councilman is clueless. Is trying to be the KING maker with Waldor and Snyder on the council.
Mike Allen was alienated by the other members of the Council and was there less than a full term.
Does Rushdie have any college experience besides being Mr. Mom? Allen has an MBA plus other distinctive credentials.
Lets move the City council from the far distended “out of touch with reality” back to the middle where it belongs.
Verbal on October 27 at 9:54 a.m.
Rush has been on the council for a full term and hasn’t done anything but raise our taxes to cover the budget shortfalls that he helped cause.
His big idea this time is a city income tax.
This guy needs to go.
I think his supporters on here are just as ideologically warped as they say Dazzee is. They just don’t want to turn that critical eye onto themselves.
fairchildman - I looked at the PDC and it seems Rush has raised more money than Allen, and most of his money is coming from the democratic party machine. Are you going to produce a video on that? Didn’t think so.
Citizen on October 28 at 12:05 p.m.
Dazzeelu, can you name one local Democrat you have voted for or supported in the last 4 years? That is what I would call in the bag for the Republican political machine and the developers.
mmspowaus on October 31 at 2:55 a.m.
Citizen:
I can, Dennis Hession….