Applicants for open Spokane City Council seat narrowed to 5

A list of nearly two dozen applicants for an open seat on the Spokane City Council has been narrowed to five finalists, officials said. They are:

• Adrian Dominguez, an epidemiologist with the Spokane Regional Health District and an adjunct professor at Eastern Washington University. He was appointed last week to the city’s new independent ombudsman commission but said he would resign that post if selected for the council seat.
• Julie Griffith, former director of Community-Minded Enterprises and current director of Money Management International.
• Eric “EJ” Iannelli, chairman of the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council and a freelance editor.
• Melanie “Kitty” Klitzke, the Eastern Washington program director for Futurewise.
• Karen Stratton, a clerk in the City Clerk’s office and former executive assistant to former Mayor Mary Verner.

City officials said the full council will interview the finalists next Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the council briefing room at City Hall. Council President Ben Stuckart wants a replacement chosen this month. The open seat represents the northwest section of the city and was vacated by Steve Salvatori, who resigned because he relocated to Dallas. All six remaining council members reviewed and ranked their top applicants. A committee consisting of Stuckart and council members Mike Allen and Candace Mumm reviewed the rankings and determined the top five.