Council District 1 (Northeast)
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In Fagan vs. Ramos race, it’s the notorious vs. the unknown
The race for Spokane City Council in District 1, representing northeast Spokane, pits a conservative, controversial incumbent against a political newcomer.
Eyman trying to stick to latest initiative, avoid questions over past actions
As Tim Eyman campaigns for his latest tax-limiting initiative, he’s ducking questions about a possible state investigation into previous campaign funds.
Vestal: Tim Eyman’s financial deals all too familiar
No one should be surprised at the complex financial maneuverings of initiative promoter Tim Eyman; he confessed to engaging in similar tactics 13 years ago.
Initiative sponsor Eyman could face campaign finance law charges
OLYMPIA – Perennial initiative sponsor Tim Eyman could find himself in court over charges he broke campaign finance laws for the way he moved money back and forth in previous initiative efforts. Some of that money went to Eyman for his personal use, and the transactions were not properly reported under state campaign laws, Public Disclosure Commission investigators said. They recommended the state attorney general’s office start “appropriate legal action.”
PDC report says Eyman broke campaign laws
PDC report says Tim Eyman broke campaign finance laws on reporting and spending money for personal use. Staff wants stiff penalties beyond what the commission can levy.
Councilman challenges Spokane’s borrowing from investment fund
Quick growth in Spokane’s collection of investments, and a predilection by city leaders to dip into the investment pool to fund one-time projects, has led at least one Spokane City Council member to suggest that practice runs afoul of the city charter. For the 20th time, the city of Spokane is planning to borrow money from itself, as the council considers on Monday whether to support the city administration’s plan to borrow $5 million from the Spokane Investment Pool. The latest loan would help pay for the recently completed, $17 million Central Service Center in east Spokane.
Washington Supreme Court OKs anti-tax I-1366 for ballot
OLYMPIA – Washington voters will decide this fall whether they want to try to force the Legislature into passing a constitutional amendment that would require supermajorities for tax increases. The state Supreme Court agreed Friday with a lower court that Initiative 1366, the latest ballot measure from Tim Eyman and his Spokane partners Mike and Jack Fagan, can’t be kept off the ballot because some people think it’s unconstitutional.
Super-majority for taxes will be on ballot
OLYMPIA — Voters will get a chance to decide whether they want to try forcing the Legislature into passing a constitutional amendment that would require supermajorities for tax increases, the state Supreme Court ruled today.
Judge refuses to block anti-tax I-1366 from ballot
OLYMPIA – The latest initiative designed to make it harder for the Washington Legislature to raise taxes survived a court challenge Friday when a King County Superior Court judge refused to block it from the November ballot. Judge Dean Lum said he believes the measure is clearly beyond the scope of a ballot initiative set down in the state constitution, but that’s not enough to keep it off the ballot.
WATCH: Fagan on “illegal aliens,” Allen and Stuckart push back
“Oh, well that explains everything, sir,” said Spokane City Councilman Mike Fagan. “You know, we are not Seattle. We are Spokane.”
Spokane City Council toughens penalties for wage law violations
Low-wage workers got a break Monday night, and maybe some overdue overtime pay, when the Spokane City Council stiffened penalties for businesses that violate wage laws. Council members backed the proposal on a 6-1 vote, with only Councilman Mike Fagan dissenting. The new law will make it a misdemeanor for employers to violate wage laws and allow the city to deny or revoke business licenses from workplaces violating minimum wage, overtime and other compensation rules.
Ramos to face Fagan in City Council race
Spokane City Councilman Mike Fagan has a clear opponent after the third day of ballot counting put a little more space between his challengers, Randy Ramos and Ben Krauss. Ramos, a recruiter with Spokane Tribal College, leads Krauss by 26 votes.
Two local primary races change as more ballots counted
The top finishers in two local primary races changed in the second day of counting ballots. In the race to face incumbent Spokane City Councilman Mike Fagan in the November election, Randy Ramos, a Spokane Tribal College recruiter, edged ahead of Ben Krauss, a Spokane police crime analyst.
Race to face Fagan in November remains close
In the battle to face incumbent Spokane City Councilman Mike Fagan in the November election, there is a new leader after the second day of ballot counting.
Condon and Lichty advance in mayor race
Spokane Mayor David Condon had the best primary election night of his elected life Tuesday, but he acknowledged the lopsided vote wasn’t a cause for unbridled celebration. “We all know what that spread means, don’t we,” he said. “We all know what happened four years ago, but I’m very grateful for the results.”
Condon will face Lichty in November election
Spokane Mayor David Condon had the best primary election night of his elected life tonight in his quest to re-election.
Political balance before Spokane voters
For the past year, the debate at Spokane City Hall often has devolved into two camps, the mayor versus the City Council. Or, more directly, David Condon versus Ben Stuckart. It’s true that Mayor Condon, who hails from Republican circles, doesn’t always agree with the City Council, which has held a left-leaning, veto-proof voting bloc since last summer. And it’s true that at times Condon and Council President Stuckart have entered into public political fisticuffs over issues including how much Condon’s inner circle at City Hall should be paid and an informal handshake deal between Condon and hotelier Walt Worthy to use city funds to pay for environmental cleanup.
Spokane City Council candidate had DUI in 2009
Randy Ramos, the only candidate actively campaigning against Councilman Mike Fagan in this year’s Spokane city elections, was charged with drunken driving in 2009 and still owes money to a debt collection agency for unpaid fines related to the incident.
Shawn Vestal: Spokane’s Eighth Man group loud, proud and short on substance
Could someone please find Spokane’s Eighth Man an actual issue? The group’s members have passion in spades. They have commitment. They have identified and named their enemies. They will stand up and beat their chests and be counted. But counted for what?
Mike Fagan will run for second term
Mike Fagan may be the Spokane City Council’s most controversial figure, but he also has strong ties to the Hillyard community he represents. Fagan announced Thursday that he’ll run for re-election.