Eighteen apply for temporary Spokane Valley City Council seat

Eighteen applicants are vying for the chance to temporarily fill an open Spokane Valley City Council seat.

The position is open because council member Bill Bates is on medical leave. The temporary member will serve until Bates returns to the council or for one year, whichever comes first.

The council decided Tuesday to interview the applicants June 10, beginning at 5 p.m. The meeting is public and will be televised. The council expects to make a selection June 17.

The position pays $750 a month, and full benefits are available.

Here are the applicants:

Gary Babcock is a retired truck driver.

Fred Beaulac, general manager at Hatfield Enterprizes Inc., a trucking company, has served three terms on the planning commission, the last of which ended in December 2012. He ran for City Council during the last election.

Brand Bersante , a building engineer, locksmith and security representative with the Spokane Public Facilities District, writes that he’d like to serve on the council to “learn more about my local government and where the money goes for projects.”

Stewart Bowmer, who’s employed by Huntwood Industries as a framer, owned and operated StewBees Gardening from 2004 until 2012 and served on the Albany, Oregon, planning commission in 1997-98.

Julia Brown, an undergraduate student at Eastern Washington University, has worked several summers as a lifeguard. She’s a Spokane County Interstate Fair ambassador and was the Chase Youth Commission vice chair from 2011-14.

Kay Bryant, the director of human resources at Broadway Court Estates, a retirement facility, served on the Central Valley School District Board from 1991 to 2003 and was president twice.

Bill Gothmann, a digital engineer and professor, served on the Spokane Valley City Council from 2006-11, and has been on the board of Valleyfest since 2014.

Timothy Hattenburg, a retired Central Valley School District teacher and the owner of Hattenburg Books, is a researcher and writer for Tornado Creek Publications and a driver for Simply Northwest. He serves on the Spokane County Library Board of Trustees and is on the Spokane Valley Library Bond Committee.

Frank Lekturich was the owner of A1 Drain and Sewer Service from 1999 to 2013.

Robert Lonn listed no occupation on his application but said he served on the Chamber of Commerce of Soap Lake from 1993-99.

Martin Muench, a former senior deputy prosecutor in Kitsap County from 2006-08, said he has 35 years of experience as legal advisor to city councils and county commissions.

Talia Noyes-Brestar is the membership coordinator for Associated Builders and Contractors.

Donna O’Leary, a Spokane County GOP precinct officer and housewife, worked as Spokane Valley Baptist Church nursery assistant from 2006-11 and has served as precinct officer and delegate since 2012. She’s also a member of Ponderosa Republican Women.

Kristopher Pockell, a machinist at Romney Motion Inc. and college student, is with the Libertarian Party of Spokane County and Washington state.

Robert Race lists his occupation as transportation dispatch manager with Inland Empire Distribution from 1992 to 2014.

Janna Rohrer-Brown, a self-employed drug and alcohol therapist, listed a prior conviction of stealing, with a reduced sentence because of a disability.

David Starr, a programmer at Fairchild Air Force Base, writes that he has been employed by the federal government for more than 30 years, but he will soon retire. He was convicted of a DUI in Alaska in 2004.

Thomas Towey, a retired manager at Rosauers grocery stores, has served on the Spokane Valley City Council, including as mayor from 2010-13. Towey is Bill Bates’ half-brother.