UPDATE: A previous version of this story indicated two members of the CEO selection committee had contributed to Todd Mielke's political campaigns. Those two members, Jack Heath and Tom Johnson, have declined to sit on the committee, county staff confirmed Thursday. This story has been updated to reflect those decisions.

ORIGINAL STORY: Republican County Commissioner Todd Mielke has made it official, saying Wednesday he's put in his resume to replace outgoing Spokane County Chief Executive Officer Marshall Farnell.

"I will put my resume up against anyone," Mielke said Wednesday afternoon. The three-term GOP commissioner has recused himself from all votes on selecting a committee tasked with picking Farnell's replacement, saying in January that he was considering a run for the top executive position. Farnell, who has served the county since 1973, oversees a general fund budget of about $150 million and 2,000 county employees.

A selection committee made up of seven appointees chosen by sitting County Commissioners Al French and Shelly O'Quinn, will consider a list of 10 candidates, narrowed by Farnell, County Chief Operations Officer John Dickson, Human Resources Director Cathy Malzahn and Chief Financial Officer Bob Wrigley from all applicants for the job. The top three selections will be interviewed in a public forum by French and O'Quinn. Mielke would presumably take part in that interview should he not be selected as a top candidate.

A request for the full list of applicants for the job requested by the Spokesman-Review on Tuesday was turned down by Chief Civil Attorney Jim Emacio, citing the Public Records Act that exempts from disclosure:

 All applications for public employment, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant;

Mielke on Wednesday dismissed notions that the selection process was rigged in his favor. Two of the seven people chosen for the selection committee by French and O'Quinn have contributed to Mielke's campaigns.

"I wanted to compete for this position," he said. "I want to know if I was truly the top candidate."

The county continues to accept applications for the chief executive officer position, which pays roughly $160,000 annually. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree and at least 10 years experience in management experience, preferably in the public sector.

Spokane County's requirements for its chief executive officer are on par with other comparable counties statewide. Clark County requires 15 years of experience for its county administrator; Kitsap County just 5. Pierce and Snohomish counties elect their executives, as defined in their county charters.

A timeline established by a county resolution in January calls for the selection committee to review and recommend its candidates to the Board of County Commissioners by the end of April. The interview of the top three candidates for the job is tentatively scheduled to take place at a public meeting in May. Farnell has said he will stay on in an advisory role to assist the next CEO acclimate to the job.

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