Spokane Mayor
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Condon calls Zehm case “indictment” on city government
Spokane mayoral challenger David Condon today called the city’s handling of the Otto Zehm case “an indictment” on city government, and called for greater police oversight as well as at least one dismissal from the city attorney’s office.
Feds sought meetings with city leaders on Zehm case in 2009
U.S. Department of Justice officials two years ago had significant enough “ethical concerns” with the city of Spokane’s legal department that they asked to meet with Mayor Mary Verner, police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick and City Council President Joe Shogan. But none of the three ever responded, and it’s unclear whether City Attorney Howard Delaney even informed them of the request that an assistant U.S. attorney labeled “urgent.”
Mayor, community dedicate new Garry park monument
About 200 people showed up at Chief Garry Park on Wednesday for the dedication of a memorial inspired by the park’s namesake, revered Spokane tribal leader Spokane Garry, who died in 1892. The Gathering Place monument, incorporating several Spokane tribal themes, replaces a deteriorating concrete statue of Chief Garry, which was removed in 2008, and the short-lived appearance of a totem pole favored by coastal tribes.
Timeline of events in Otto Zehm case
• March 18, 2006: Otto Zehm, 36, a mentally ill and unemployed janitor, is beaten, Tasered and hogtied inside a Zip Trip convenience store by seven Spokane police officers after being wrongly identified as a suspect in a possible theft. Acting police Chief Jim Nicks says Zehm was combative and “lunged” at the first officer on the scene, Karl Thompson, forcing the use of defensive tactics. Officers say Zehm has a prior arrest for assaulting a police officer. • March 20, 2006: Zehm dies at Deaconess Medical Center. Police acknowledge that the potential theft report that led to the confrontation was unfounded.
Verner’s winning margin unrivaled for sitting mayor
In Spokane, where voters routinely chew up and spit out their chief elected officials after one term, Mayor Mary Verner’s primary win Tuesday was rare. But to finish with nearly twice as many votes as her closest opponent, David Condon, is unprecedented. It’s a story best told by numbers.
Doug Clark: Mayor race yields losers, worse losers
The primary is past tense. The shocking election results are (mostly) in. In capturing a whopping 59.9 percent of the vote Tuesday night, incumbent Mary Verner is making the most serious run at becoming the city’s first two-term mayor since way back when FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover showed up to work in a red satin prom dress.
Verner takes commanding lead in re-election bid
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner took a commanding lead in early results Tuesday, capturing 16,290 of the ballots cast. Challenger David Condon laid claim to the second spot in the five-way primary with 8,515 votes.
Verner vows to seek resolution in Zehm civil suit
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner announced today that she is seeking “all courses of action” to end the civil case surrounding the fatal 2006 confrontation between Spokane police and mentally ill janitor Otto Zehm.
Councilwoman wants Prop 1 advisories on November ballot
Spokane voters could get a hint from the Spokane City Council when deciding the fate of a citizens initiative on the November ballot. The City Council will consider on Monday the addition of two nonbinding questions for the November election. The two proposals would ask voters how the council should respond to Envision Spokane’s Community Bill of Rights if it’s approved: raise taxes or cut services.
Mayor seeks rare re-election
Can Mary Verner break the curse of the one-term mayors? For a big clue, residents can look to the upcoming primary election. No Spokane mayor has won re-election in four decades, but Verner is intent on doing so. The mayoral primary – ballots go out this week – promises few surprises. At this point, only Verner and David Condon seem to have the support and campaign funds to win, although they face three long-shot challengers. But, assuming they take the top two spots, who finishes on top and the distance between them will give voters their first clue as to what November may hold.
Q&A: Michael Noder, running for Spokane mayor
Michael Noder gives his positions on taxes, libraries, streets and other issues facing the city in The Spokesman-Review’s Spokane City Council candidate questionnaire. Noder faces Robert Kroboth, Mary Verner, David Condon and Barbara Lampert in the race for a seat representing South Spokane.
Q&A: Mary Verner, running for Spokane mayor
Mary Verner gives her positions on taxes, libraries, streets and other issues facing the city in The Spokesman-Review’s Spokane City Council candidate questionnaire. Verner, the incumbent, faces Michael Noder, Robert Kroboth, David Condon and Barbara Lampert in the race for a seat representing South Spokane.