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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Endorsements and editorials are made solely by the ownership of this newspaper. As is the case at most newspapers across the nation, The Spokesman-Review newsroom and its editors are not a part of this endorsement process. (Learn more.)

Editorial: Submit your ballots in vital Spokane races by Tuesday

Those campaign signs you see in yards are there for a reason, but most voters aren’t picking up on the cues.

As of Friday afternoon, the Secretary of State’s Office reports that of the 209,758 ballots sent out to Spokane County voters, 40,586 have been returned. And yet, that puny return rate of 19.3 percent outpaces the statewide average of 13.4 percent. Ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday to be counted.

The Spokesman-Review has weighed in on four City Hall races that have more than two candidates. The top two vote-getters advance. We will issue endorsements on a broader range of races in the general election. Below are summaries of our endorsements. The full versions can be read online: www.spokesman.com/tags/2015-endorsement/

Spokane Mayor: We recommend the incumbent, David Condon, who has worked hard to find innovative and efficient ways to run the city. He’s reformed the Spokane Police Department and City Hall attitudes on how citizens should be treated. Condon has also overhauled water rates and brought about a plan that coordinates street reconstruction with new water and sewer line installation and other utility improvements. The approach is saving city taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and getting the river cleaned up faster.

City Council, District 1: Incumbent Mike Fagan gets the nod, not because we support his policymaking or extreme anti-vaccination views, but because he has worked hard for constituents inside and outside his district, and he’s facing two candidates who are ill-informed on the issues.

City Council, District 2: The district is losing a business-oriented voice on the council with the departure Mike Allen. The race features three solid candidates, and we recommend voters choose either LaVerne Biel or Lori Kinnear. Biel is a businesswoman who is being endorsed by Allen, Condon and former council members Steve Salvatori and Nancy McLaughlin. She has a solid understanding of how government can either support or deter businesses. Kinnear is the legislative aide to Councilwoman Amber Waldref and a former adviser for the Women’s Business Center. She’s drafted a number of ordinances and tirelessly attends meetings and hearings. She is well-informed on the city’s challenges.

City Council, District 3: Four good candidates are vying for the seat vacated by Steve Salvatori one year ago and now occupied by appointee Karen Stratton. We recommend voters choose either Stratton or newcomer Evan Verduin. Stratton, whose parents preceded her in politics, has spent her professional career working for Washington State University and the Community Colleges of Spokane, private nonprofits, and the city of Spokane. She wants to improve communication between the council and the mayor. She says she is wary of mandating paid leave and that the city should find incentive-based ways of encouraging employers to improve pay and benefits. Verduin owns a small design business and is a member of the Plan Commission. He wants zoning ordinances to be more responsive to the concerns of small businesses. Verduin is endorsed by Condon and would bring more balance to a liberal-dominated council.