Jonathan Brunt

Mayor Mary Verner, who campaigned on a theme of openness and transparency in government, is keeping the names of her transition team a secret. Verner met last week in a private home with two groups of about 15 people, who she's asked to provide advice and suggestions for her administration. She plans to do the same on Saturday.

In the corner of the cellar of a century-old South Hill water pumping station, Bob Glasser was trapped as 27,000 gallons of water a minute blasted through a hole in the wall, preventing an exit. By the time the 50-degree water stopped rising, it was about six inches from the ceiling and he and another trapped city of Spokane employee had to tilt their heads to breathe.

Mary Verner was raised in Georgia, North Carolina and Alabama. "There were expectations about me as a woman born in the Deep South that just didn't fit my spirit, so I was eager to break away," Verner said in an interview last week.

Spokane's new mayor hopes to restore garbage pickup along alleys and will try to persuade City Council members to block a proposed utility rate cut as she takes control of City Hall today after a hard-fought election. Mary Verner, who becomes the city's 43rd mayor, also plans to hire a professional facilitator to help resolve ongoing problems between the city firefighters union, one of her top campaign backers, and Spokane Fire Chief Bobby Williams.

Dennis Hession has spent the past two years leading the state's second largest city, starting work at 6 a.m. or earlier and ending at 8 p.m. or after. On top of that, he just went through a grueling campaign schedule that ended in his defeat. So now that he's out of a job starting on Tuesday, where's he going on vacation?

The city's top non-elected official will be replaced as a result of this month's election. Mayor-elect Mary Verner, who takes office Tuesday, said she will replace John Pilcher with a retiring officer from Fairchild Air Force Base. She's asked Pilcher to consider another job in City Hall, saying one will probably be available – though she declined to say which one.

The cause of the smelly green water of the Manito duck pond is in plain sight. On the September day that wildlife biologist Mike Rule examined the water in the south Spokane park, a visitor came with a grocery cart full of day-old bread and emptied it into the pond – or more accurately, emptied it into ducks and seagulls.

A downtown block could soon be condemned to build what's already there: parking. The Spokane Public Facilities District has asked the Spokane City Council to condemn land across from the Convention Center and INB Performing Arts Center so it can be used for parking and a future expansion.

Spokane officials and a developer hope a new deal will scratch the proposed controversial condo tower that Peaceful Valley residents fought, fearing the shadow it would cast over their neighborhood. But a landowner on the other side of downtown says he's concerned the new agreement could cast another shadow – over the solar panels of what's been touted as one of the state's most environmentally friendly buildings.

Dennis Hession on Friday conceded the mayoral election to Councilwoman Mary Verner after a tense battle that turned the once political allies into bitter rivals. "I accept the voters' decision, of course, and I wish Mary Verner – and this city – every success," Hession said in a statement released Friday afternoon. "I have asked city employees to give Ms. Verner their full cooperation to enable a smooth and professional transition for the benefit of the citizens. This is a great city with a bright future, and I will always cherish my time as its leader."

Challenger Mary Verner took a commanding lead in the Spokane mayor's race Tuesday night, pulling ahead of incumbent Dennis Hession by about 2,900 votes in the first night of ballot counting. If ballot trends hold, Verner, a member of the City Council, will take over the mayor's office later this month from Hession, who was appointed some 22 months ago.

The Spokane City Council scaled back a proposal to extend tax subsidies to build apartments and condominiums in Peaceful Valley after several nearby residents said the plan would hurt the character of the historic neighborhood. Officials have been tweaking the multifamily tax exemption program for several months. Under the program, apartments and condos in approved areas can forgo paying taxes on new construction for eight or 12 years – depending if low-income housing is involved in the project.