Downtown organization fires its president

The president of the Downtown Spokane Partnership was fired this morning. Mike Tedesco, who led the organization since October, said three members of the board told him of the decision this morning. Tedesco said he was told that he was being terminated “without cause.” “I’m just confused about the whole situation,” said Tedesco, who had a two-year contract to run the group. Todd Woodard, vice chairman of the board, said the vote was 15-0 with two abstentions. He said Marla Nunberg, who is the vice president of the group, will serve as the interim president. Woodard, who is the spokesman for the Spokane International Airport, confirmed that Tedesco was being fired “without cause.” He declined to provide further details on why Tedesco was being removed. “We respect Mike Tedesco’s right to privacy and we can’t comment on the issues,” Woodard said. The partnership’s board met for three hours on Tuesday and made the decision but opted not announce it or tell Tedesco until today. The Downtown Spokane Partnership contracts with the city to manage about $1 million the city collects in special taxes on downtown merchants and business owners in the city’s Parking and Business Improvement Area. The group uses the money to boost security, employ cleaning crews, market downtown and make other improvements.