Mayor
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Doug Clark: Criminal snackers are likely slackers
Listen up, crime fighters. Today’s caper is to catch the Manito Munchies.
Two enter mayoral race
Spokane voters gained two more choices for mayor on Wednesday, and one of them already tops the list for fundraising. David Condon, former district director for U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and former debt collector Robert Kroboth filed to run in the Aug. 16 primary for mayor. They join incumbent Mary Verner; Mike Noder, who co-owns a local demolition business; and perennial political candidate Barbara Lampert.
Condon’s a candidate
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Doug Clark: Shogan clears his throat for charity, again
Say what you will about City Council President Joe Shogan. He’s a bit too opinionated, perhaps. He doesn’t suffer fools well and can be a bit quick to pop his cork.
Condon’s criticism of public salaries could backfire
Spokane mayoral hopeful David Condon has made government salaries an early issue of his campaign, targeting specifically city employees earning more than $100,000 a year. But until taking a leave of absence to run for mayor, Condon himself earned nearly $127,000 annually as a Spokane-based federal employee serving as district director for Republican U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Additionally, he has yet to decide whether he would follow incumbent Mary Verner’s lead in capping the mayor’s annual salary to about $100,000 or take the more than $170,000 a year allocated for the job.
Clark: Condon taps sour source for campaign dough
Despite the advancement in software filters and precautions, the Internet remains a treacherous world filled with swindles and cons. Take the two scams that appeared in my work mailbox this week.
City Hall to add security guard
Spokane City Hall will be watched by at least one security guard 11 hours a day starting next month. The decision, officials say, is the result of a few incidents in recent years when employees felt threatened by visitors, including one involving a man who slammed a hatchet down on its side during an outburst in a meeting with the city’s police ombudsman.
Verner calls for hiring more police officers
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner ordered the hiring of at least six new police officers to fill vacant positions within the department and called for adding more officers next year. The move comes after Verner, facing a contested bid for re-election this year, sent two plans to City Council members last week that would balance next year’s municipal budget without raising taxes and provide enough money to reverse recent cutbacks to the police force.
Verner presents mix of budget solutions
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner gave a preview Wednesday of a 2012 budget she says would be painless for residents who obey the law. Verner proposed to close a tentative $6.6 million revenue shortfall with a combination of administrative actions and $1.4 million in new revenue that would require council approval.
Spokane group collecting signatures for city medical marijuana initiative
Spokane citizens could soon have their say on the controversy growing locally and statewide on the enforcement of marijuana laws. Citizens for a Sensible Spokane, a group that supports legalization of the drug, is collecting signatures for an initiative to make possession of marijuana by adults the city’s lowest law enforcement priority. The proposal is similar to one approved by Seattle voters in 2003.
Condon running for mayor of Spokane
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner finally has an obstacle in her re-election bid. David Condon, the deputy chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., said Monday that he will enter the race for Spokane mayor.