January 12, 2012 in City

Roskelley wants his old job back

Former Spokane County Commissioner John Roskelley said he’s ready to take his old job back.

Roskelley, a Democrat, announced on Wednesday that he is running for county commissioner in District 1, which covers the North Side of Spokane and northern parts of the county.

Roskelley served as commissioner from 1995 to 2004.

He is running for a job occupied by incumbent Commissioner Todd Mielke, a Republican.

Roskelley said he’s seen a decline in the county’s financial picture since he left office, and he wants to change that. He acknowledged that a slow economy has cut into the county’s budget, but savings that piled up during his tenure have helped the county work through its current budget problems.

“Granted, the economy was strong when I was in office, but what we did in terms of cutting spending and socking away a significant reserve was the key to keeping the current commission’s head above water these past few years,” he said in a press release.

He pointed out that during his years as commissioner, the county avoided property tax increases. Part of that came as a result of a strong economy, he said.

Roskelley said his accomplishments included development of a new comprehensive land-use plan, an ordinance to protect sensitive land and an ordinance regulating cell phone towers, among other issues.

“My campaign is about looking to the future, a broader vision,” he said.

Roskelley criticized Mielke for supporting ballot measures to raise taxes for public safety programs.

After leaving office, Roskelley served six years on the Growth Management Hearings Board for Eastern Washington.

24 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

skime on January 12 at 11:17 a.m.
John is using and hiding behind the $$$$ picture for his real plan. A NEW comprehensive land-use plan, an ordinance to protect sensitive land and an ordinance regulating cell phone towers, among other issues.
metaline on January 12 at 11:34 a.m.
Ditto!
The Land Use Plan and the Shoreline Management Plan are tools allowing the State and Department of Ecology to effectively take over private lands. Protect Private Property rights. Keep DOE out of our backyards.
The_Seer on January 12 at 11:44 a.m.
We’ll stay out of your backyards as long as you stay in your backyards. Once you venture forth you, and yours, are fair game.
We need more private landownwers to place their parcels in land trusts to preserve the “near nature, near perfect” paradigm that makes our region attractive to ALL who live and work here, not just landowners.
zelda on January 12 at 11:50 a.m.
Yay! It is not a good thing to have all three seats occupied by developers. It’s been one fiasco after another.
Al_Loysius on January 12 at 11:51 a.m.
FYI previous election results:
2008: Mielke 57%
Thorburn 42%
2004: Mielke 55%
Wolverton 45%
valleyman on January 12 at 11:51 a.m.
Who are you kidding Seer? Yes, by all means… Give your control over to the state… for they know all and are far better judges of how to use your private property than you, a small fish in a pond filled with sharks…
cwbreck on January 12 at 12:24 p.m.
Seer…what do you mean by “Once you venture forth you, and yours, are fair game”??? what do you consider venturing forth?
using public lands…is that what you mean? I’m trying to see what the helll you are talking about—I agree that it’s great when private lands go into a trust but you hopefully don’t think it should be a mandate
Dazzeetrader11 on January 12 at 12:25 p.m.
Roskelly didn’t do one thing to generate a surplus. He’s trying to take credit for McClasin and Phil Harris’ work. He’s a typical liberal….years removed he didn’t so one thing but spend like crazy. It was Harris who was singularly responsible for the surplus.
greenlibertarian on January 12 at 1:27 p.m.
Roskelley is a far more formidable candidate the Thorburn or Wolverton.
Scottcycle on January 12 at 1:35 p.m.
Roskelley was the commissioner that famously complained about all those “rich golfers” who use county owned golf courses. Meanwhile he prefers the elite sport of climbing famous mountains in exotic locations, while receiving a paycheck from the county.
David Bray on January 12 at 1:36 p.m.
Roskelly wants to be elected so he can push his own agenda. His record is historically pertaining to what he wants, regardless of the will of the electorate.
I’m glad he’s no longer a commissioner and I hope he’s not elected again.
The_Seer on January 12 at 1:39 p.m.
“venture forth” Using your land for commercial purposes like cell phone towers. You will, and should be, regulated. Period. End of story.
SpokaneCan on January 12 at 1:49 p.m.
@ david - do you really think that Al French isn’t on the commission for those very reasons? Al is a crook and should not be allowed to EVER hold an office again.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on January 12 at 1:51 p.m.
Mr Roskelly… I am Spokane born and raised.. gone for 42 years to life outside Spokane…. I have serious interest in helping your campaign… I worked for Barb Chamberlain, Bonnie Mager, Dennis Hession ( even Mayor Verner for a while).. Jon Snyder, Frank Malone, Richard Rush, and Ben Stuckart… as a “grunt” and i am maybe old…but if you are willing to haul your old butt back in to the fray to help this pathetic political situation we have… I am yours… and will work for you during the campaign season… click on my name… and there is a short BIO on me.. my cell is 509 220 4534 and my email is chefgusolsenW@gmail.com I am not a “”Democrat” or any other label..but am present and known in the Peace and Justice Community…. Lets talk or have coffee..please and thank you… john/Gus
Al_Loysius on January 12 at 2:02 p.m.
Dear Greenie,
I would say Thorburn was a formidable candidate. She is a doctor and former County Health Officer. He is a playboy mountain climber. She had the issue of being fired from her job (blaming Mielke) and the Spokesman-Review was pretty blatantly cheering for her. In spite of that, Spokane County tends to vote moderate-to conservative. This is not King County. Plus, the local Democrats are a disorganized mess. Roskelley can probably carry the 3rd District precincts (where hardly anybody votes) but that will not offset the more moderate to conservative precincts in the Valley, Mead, Indian Trail, upper South Hill, Cheney and West Plains. That has been a fairly consistent voting pattern for a long time unless the more conservative candidate is involved in a big scandal or just plain drops the ball in the campaign. Plus, this is a presidential election year, and I suspect Obama will be a drag on Democratic candidates in Spokane County.
Al_Loysius on January 12 at 2:07 p.m.
A little free advice for John. The problem with a guy like Chief Gus Olsen (above) is not with his heart or his passion. Being openly identified with the Peace and Justice community is that it is a kiss of death politically. Remember, this is not ultra-liberal King County where they love a ultra-liberal like Jim Mc Dermott. If you use guys like that, you need to keep them off the radar and keep their mouth shut.
greenlibertarian on January 12 at 2:49 p.m.
Al, I’m quite aware of the political makeup of the voters of Spokane County.
Thorburn ran a poor campaign and had a GIGANTIC load of baggage.
Name recognition alone goes far in winning an election, Roskelley has that.
Of course it wouldn’t be easy for him to win, but it’s unlikely there’s anyone else positioned as well as he his to compete in this election, from that side of the aisle.
“Playboy”, eh Al? You got a lot of gall saying that.
When you consider the undecided swing voters who actually do decide the election, they haven’t a clue as to what’s going on and who’s who, they’ll likely vote based on the last commercial they saw/heard or last sign they saw, or they flip a coin or they think “that name sounds nice” and vote accordingly.
Yes, these are the people who decide elections, they are the least informed, typically.
America, what a country.
Al_Loysius on January 12 at 3:35 p.m.
Greenie,
You are probably right for taking me to task for calling John a playboy, I was looking for a term that describes Mountain Climbers:
+ Too much time on their hands;
+ Need to find meaning in their lives by exposing themselves to dangers like falling down a mountain, falling into a crevasse, getting buried by an avalanche, getting eaten by a Yeti or freezing to death;
+ Fairly wealthy, often inherited money so you can buy all sorts of expensive gear and cool jackets at REI;
+ Often rich guys like Sir Edmund Hillary or Jim Whittaker (it also helps to be a member of British nobility (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_climbing)
+ You get to spend time with the wine and cheese crowd sipping champagne in Switzerland and France;
Did I mention having way too much time on their hands?
greenlibertarian on January 12 at 4:46 p.m.
Fairly wealthy, often inherited money so you can buy all sorts of expensive gear and cool jackets at REI;
Wow, I can see this is going to be a dirty campaign already. Figures, the right is always afraid of a well qualified, well spoken figure that leans to the left, and is not a doofus like Alan Colmbs or Ed Schutlz.
That’ll be some task, trying to paint Roskelley as an effete, aloof, rich, snob, when anybody who knows even a little about him knows that’s not true.
If he’s got inherited money, it must have come from his wife’s side, ‘cause Fenton grew up poor and lived a workingman’s life. So if, IF, he’s inherited big money from his inlaws, you’ll hold that against him?
Disgusting.
Yep, the sharks are out already.
Pathetic.
skierdc1 on January 12 at 6:23 p.m.
I have to agree with Green here. What kinda slimy talk goes on by the ill-informed. The current three musketeers in office are in the developers back pocket and I could site numerous instances (ie. costly lost lawsuits) where Mielke and Richards simply ignored the state law.
And as far as accuracy Al, I believe it is Mielke who comes from money, not Roskelley. Maybe if you have some “time on your hands” Al you can offer up some evidence!
brianrbreen on January 12 at 6:34 p.m.
Mielke’s father was a cop, back in the day when cops didn’t make that much. Just for the record.
brianrbreen on January 12 at 6:49 p.m.
Also for the record…. he was a little sh*t…. just like all cop’s kids. :)
Al_Loysius on January 12 at 7:49 p.m.
Greenie and Skier,
You complained but did not specifically deny the charges that he buys expensive mountain gear and fancy jackets at REI. If he were a “man of the people” he would buy his stuff at the White E or the General Store. I also did not use the words “effete, aloof, rich snob.” Those were your terms.
You have to admit that mountain climbers are not like ordinary folks, I would bet 99% of Spokane does not take vacations where getting killed is a definite possibility. That suggests somebody who has too much time and too little meaning in his life and needs some kind of adrenaline rush to give his life meaning.
In other words, somebody who has an odd value system. I would not vote for Evel Knievel either for that reason.
By the way, don’t give me the excuse about “it is all for science.” Mt. Everest has been climbed about 99,999 times already by lots of rich boys, some of which are buried up there.
greenlibertarian on January 12 at 7:59 p.m.
And some people are sick in the head.
Not all lawyers deserve the derision heaped upon them by the public, but some, present company included, are officious enough for whole lot of them to be scorned and not trusted.
I repeat, pathetic.