Hafner states views in Valley council race

Morgan fails to respond to questions on city issues

Thu., Oct. 17, 2013

By Nina Culver nculver47@gmail.com

Meet the candidates

• Chuck Hafner, 81, was appointed to the Spokane Valley City Council in 2011 and won an election later that year to keep his seat. He retired from the Central Valley School District as the assistant superintendent of secondary schools in 1991. Earlier in his career he was principal of Central Valley High School, University High School and Mead High School. He was vice president and general manager of Appleway Equipment Leasing Inc. from 1996 to 1998.

• Donald Morgan Jr., 28, graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy in Post Falls in 2001 and then attended the College of St. Thomas More in Texas. He is an amateur radio enthusiast and currently works as a financial adviser at Independent Wealth Connections.

The race for Position 5 on the Spokane Valley City Council pits longtime Spokane Valley resident Chuck Hafner against newcomer Donald Morgan Jr.

Hafner, the incumbent, headed up the Positive Change Committee that helped usher five council members to wins in the 2009 election. He is well known in the community thanks to his decades as a school teacher, principal and superintendent. He has raised more than $4,600 in campaign contributions while Morgan has collected $167.

The Spokesman-Review asked each council candidate the same questions. Hafner’s answers are below. Morgan did not respond to repeated requests for comment. The answers from candidates for Positions 1, 4 and 7 are available at www.spokesman.com.

Q: How do you propose to pay for street preservation in the future after current funding sources are exhausted?

Hafner: We have four years until this revenue source needs to be addressed. Hopefully, with the increase in sales tax and real estate taxes, we will be able to continue our preservation program.

Q: What are your views on the recent debate over partial nudity at local businesses? Should the City Council approve an ordinance regulating barista attire?

Hafner: During our Thursday (Oct. 3) afternoon session this was discussed. Upon listening to other council members, a decision relating to the vision of our city was decided. ( Editor’s note: The council decided to create an ordinance to regulate barista attire.)

Q: There has been some discussion this year about hiring two additional police officers in Spokane Valley in 2014 or 2015. Are you in favor of this? If so, how would you pay for the estimated $300,000 annual cost?

Hafner: It is my understanding that the improvement in sales and real estate taxes will cover the expense, knowing that it has to be sustainable.

Q: Would you vote in favor of increasing property taxes or adding a new tax to generate income to pay for additional police officers, street preservation or other services?

Hafner: Only if it is necessary in order to provide these services to our community.