Spokane Valley candidates meet in first debate

Space was tight when the Republicans of Spokane County hosted a Spokane Valley City Council candidate debate on Monday at CenterPlace Regional Event Center.

There are 13 candidates in this year’s races for five open positions, and 12 made it Monday night.

Beva Miles and Carol Snyder organized the debate.

Miles and Snyder said they wanted to get all the candidates together as early in the election season as possible, so voters would have a chance to meet them.

The races are:

Position 1: Mayor Rod Higgins is challenged by Art Merkel and Christopher Jackson.

Position 2: Caleb Collier is challenged by Brandi Peetz.

Position 4: Ed Pace is challenged by former city Councilman Ben Wick.

Position 5: Pamela Haley is challenged by Rob Samson, Ingemar Woods and Angie Beem.

Position 7: Michael Munch is challenged by Linda Thompson.

Beem is the only one who didn’t participate in the debate Monday.

The majority of the challengers are political newcomers with little or no experience in local politics. The number of contested seats is unusual and means voters can change the makeup and direction of council.

Questions ranged from whether there should be term limits on the Spokane Valley City Council to would candidates boost the dwindling road fund and how much financial responsibility apartment developers have for the infrastructure needed for new developments.

Because of the large number of candidates and the relatively short time, not everyone was asked the same questions.

The debate was recorded and can be viewed on YouTube.

Editor’s note: SR reporter Pia Hallenberg hosted the debate. Watch for upcoming stories on two contested races before the Aug. 1 primary.