Spokane Mayor
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Police major will serve as interim Spokane chief
The Spokane police force is expected to get a new chief today, at least temporarily.
Spokane’s new mayor takes the reins
Now all David Condon has to do is wait. After a year of researching, campaigning, debating and fundraising in what some thought was a long-shot bid to become mayor of the second-largest city in Washington, Condon took the final step required by law to take office. He took the oath to become Spokane’s 44th mayor Friday morning in a short ceremony in front of the Clocktower at Riverfront Park.
Changes begin among city staff as three top administrators depart
Even before he officially took office, Mayor-elect David Condon shook up City Hall on Friday when he informed three top administrators that they won’t be back to serve with him as mayor. Receiving notice were City Administrator Ted Danek, Public Works and Utilities Director Dave Mandyke and General Administration Director Dorothy Webster.
Verner looks back at trials, triumphs
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner will leave office at the end of the week as the city’s longest serving strong mayor of the four who have served in that capacity. But she also will be the 10th mayor in a row to only serve one term.
Condon to take oath as mayor
The new faces of Spokane city government will take their oaths of offices on three successive days late next week. Mayor-elect David Condon will be sworn in at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 30 in front of the Riverfront Park Clocktower.
Closed meetings lead to resignation
The portion of the Mayor-elect David Condon’s transition team devoted to public safety has decided to keep its discussions confidential, leading one member to quit the group. Tim Connor, communications director of the Center for Justice, announced in an email to Condon this week that he resigned from the committee as a result of the decision to keep deliberations secret.
Huckleberries: The Big One got away from birthday tracker
Kerri Thoreson was keeping track of everyone’s birthdays in Kootenai County before Facebook arrived and wanted to be friends. Kerri, a woman of many hats (Post Falls councilwoman, Coeur d’Alene Press columnist, KVNI morning host), rarely misses wishing the best to locals in print and on the radio show she co-hosts with “North Idaho Joe” Paisley. So Kerri was embarrassed when she missed the Queen Mother Of Local B-Days last week. Anna Pearce turned 65 Wednesday. Mebbe you know Anna by her screen/stage name: Patty Duke. Who wrote the New York Times best-selling autobiography “Call Me Anna.” Patty’s 65th birthday makes her eligible for Medicare benefits to go with those Social Security bennies she’s been touting in public service announcements. Curses, foiled again
Rush proposes end to city utility tax
It was as if pigs had grown wings and landed on the roof of Spokane City Hall. George McGrath, a conservative, longtime follower and critic of the City Council, approached the microphone at this week’s meeting and praised a plan proposed by outgoing liberal Councilman Richard Rush.
Ferris High School debate questions
Questions of school board candidates at the Faceoff at Ferris Debate.
Zehm settlement elusive
Despite calling for “all courses of action” four months ago to settle the civil suit brought by the mother and estate of Otto Zehm, it appears Mary Verner will step down as mayor of Spokane without resolving the case. Attorneys Breean Beggs and Jeffry Finer, who represent Zehm’s mother and estate, said they could not comment about negotiations. However, they did say they are still waiting to hear from the city and its insurance underwriter, American International Group.
District investigating Ferris political debate
An October debate for school board and mayoral candidates at Ferris High School was promoted as student-led and -run, from start to finish. But few, if any, of the questions were written by students; instead, many were submitted by a handful of adults with ties to the Republican Party, leaving at least two candidates who took part feeling duped, they said.
Democrats see opportunity in 5th District
A former dean of Gonzaga University Law School is among the Democrats considering a campaign against Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers next year. Dan Morrissey, who served as dean from 2001-’04 and now teaches corporate law at the school, said he is exploring his prospects for a race and expects to decide by next month.