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January 10, 2012 in City
Votes usher in new power
City Council’s McLaughlin gains seat on airport board
There’s a new majority in town.
The Spokane City Council’s new, more conservative majority flexed its muscle in its first meeting of the year on Monday when it voted 4-2 to strip an automatic appointment of the Spokane City Council president to the Spokane Airport Board.
After the rule was changed, the council voted for a slate of appointments to about 25 boards and commissions that named Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin to the Airport Board seat instead of Council President Ben Stuckart.
Supporters of the change stress that the rule giving the seat to the council president was only a few years old and was part of a revamping of various rules governing the council that angered then-President Joe Shogan. Shogan at the time succeeded, however, in persuading the council to add the rule guaranteeing the airport appointment for the president. He argued that the board is important enough to be served by the only council member elected citywide.
On Monday, Councilman Mike Allen pointed to a meeting about the council rules when Shogan was out of town and participated by phone, promising to come back to Spokane “bringing hell” with him. Allen said the Airport Board rule was “bad legislation that was done to appease a particular person.”
Other supporters of the change said there was a long history of the council selecting an Airport Board member by vote and noted that McLaughlin has, by far, the most seniority among the city’s elected leaders.
“I believe the process that will lead to the best possible board service for now and the future is a democratic majority vote,” said Councilman Steve Salvatori. “Some may see this as a political issue, but I do not. It’s simply selecting a process to give the public the best possible board representation for today and tomorrow.”
Stuckart called the proposal a “regretful act” and noted that before the rules were changed in 2009, the council president had the authority to appoint council members to boards.
“When you keep stripping power from a position, it’s bad for the institution,” he said. “This resolution does make me worried about collaboration and cooperation moving forward.”
Former Councilman Dean Lynch criticized the council for rearranging board membership based on politics not only this year but in 2010 when a newly elected council booted McLaughlin from two transportation boards in favor of Councilman Jon Snyder. Snyder was stripped of one of those spots last year and lost the other one on Monday.
“If there are grudges, please put the grudges aside,” Lynch told the council. After the next city election, “will it be payback time again or will the cycle have been broken?”
Closing Geiger: Wise or worrisome? 
Dazzeetrader11 on January 10 at 2:09 a.m.
Shogan, Rush and Snyder set the tone for this behavior. One might hope this behavior can be abandoned. They should be working for Spokane not their party.
But look what Verner did in her last days. A little revenge at the expense of Spokane;s taxpayers and voters. I hope Spokane doesn’t forget Verner’s deplorable behaviors when she runs for her next office…if she has the nerve.
WillyPeter on January 10 at 6:51 a.m.
Funny. Hopefully someone will explain to Dean that politicians are all about politics…..:-)
soccermomsusie on January 10 at 7:48 a.m.
It dawned on me as I watched our new magnificent city council last night:
1. How many voters could name who is on the city council?
2. How many voters have ever watched a city council meeting?
3. How cute is that little Michael Fagan? I mean really. I would put him in a carrier and tote him anywhere!
4. Nancy is brilliant!
For those of you who are unable to attend or just don’t care (REMEMBER ALWAYS VOTE FOR THE REPUBLICAN NONPARTISAN) I will try to always livetweet what is going on for you.
https://twitter.com/#!/soccermom_susie
Verbal on January 10 at 9:46 a.m.
Is there some great perk they get for being on the SIA board? Not sure why this is such a big deal.
Stuckart makes it sound like “collaboration and cooperation” will be in jeopardy unless he gets his way.
Mr. Stuckart - this was a small matter. Let it go. Be more concerned that someone is airing trivial council in-fighting in the newspaper. Nothing will turn off public from you and the council more quickly than petty political bickering.
DickAdams on January 10 at 10:37 a.m.
One perk, is free travel on junkets accomplishing absolutely nothing. Its a free sightseeing trip and shopping at stores where the elite buy stuff and some of the board members like to shop. The cost, of course, is put on the taxpayers tab. I remember a few years ago, the destination of choice was China. China has been a favorite for public agency`s for years. City hall employees love their trips to China and just might be ranked the number one choice (truth be known).
As info, Gregoire loves traveling to China too.
greenlibertarian on January 10 at 9:10 p.m.
Great, a flat earther on the Airport Board.