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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Jonathan Brunt

Jonathan Brunt

Current Position: Asst. Managing Editor (Govt)

Jonathan Brunt joined The Spokesman-Review in 2004. He is the government editor. He previously was a reporter who covered Spokane City Hall, Spokane County government and public safety.

Email
jonathanb@spokesman.com
Phone
(509) 459-5442

All Stories

News >  Spokane

Hopefuls’ attendance similar

Although Mayor Dennis Hession criticizes challenger Mary Verner for missing "key votes" on the City Council, documents show both candidates have a 98 percent attendance record. Hession first leveled the charge in a campaign attack ad that began airing earlier this month: "And for dozens of key votes, Mary Verner didn't even show up," the ad says.
News >  Spokane

Some say mayor’s proposed rate cuts a political move

With election ballots in the mail, Mayor Dennis Hession announced Monday that he will propose 2 percent cuts in sewer, water and trash rates for next year. "What people are telling me is that the utility rates are having a significant impact on their ability to make ends meet," Hession said.
News >  Spokane

Candidates have much in common

In an atmosphere where mayoral candidates are accused of being lying, racist, flip-flopping scoundrels – and that's leaving out any accusations about mayoral spouses or their supporters – it can be hard to remember that Mayor Dennis Hession and Councilwoman Mary Verner actually share many of the same opinions on the biggest issues. “Both voted to settle the River Park Square funding controversy with the company that owns this newspaper.
News >  Spokane

Mayoral hopefuls vulnerable

Spokane's mayoral race started as a relatively civil affair with disagreements over management style, but it has evolved in recent weeks into a fight over decisions made or not made by Dennis Hession and Mary Verner. With ballots already mailed out and just over two weeks before the election, each candidate is likely to continue talking at forums and in ads about what they see as the other's vulnerabilities with voters.
News >  Spokane

Stark, Rush have different outlooks

He was the youngest person ever elected to Spokane City Council, but after a term in office, Councilman Brad Stark is in a tough fight to become the youngest member re-elected. Despite the power of incumbency and an edge in fundraising, Stark came in second in a four-way primary for the seat.
News >  Spokane

Community development chief named

Five months after the firing of Spokane City Hall's longest-serving administrator, a replacement has been hired to oversee the community development department. The Spokane City Council on Monday unanimously approved Mayor Dennis Hession's appointment of Teresa Brum, who has worked for the city for 13 years, as community development director.
News >  Spokane

Shogan, Lampert vie for council president

If the past is any guide, Barbara Lampert's attempt to beat Joe Shogan for Spokane City Council president will be a significant challenge. Not only has she lost an election annually for more than a decade, she's been defeated by Shogan before – by more than 50 percentage points.
News >  Idaho

Same subject, different perspectives

Eight artists sketched the same model Saturday afternoon, but none of their work looked the same. And that's the beauty of Art in the Making, said those who participated in the event at the Resort Plaza Shops in downtown Coeur d'Alene.
News >  Spokane

Stark resigns job to campaign for City Council

For the second year in a row, Councilman Brad Stark has resigned from his day job during a political campaign. Stark, who is running against neighborhood activist Richard Rush in the November election to maintain his seat representing south Spokane, left his position as the director of membership and marketing for the Associated Builders and Contractors on Oct. 1.
News >  Spokane

Pools focus of parks bond

So many letters of the Shakespeare quote on Comstock Pool's bathhouse are missing that the statement no longer makes sense. To supporters of a tax increase to make pool and park improvements in Spokane, the unreadable line serves as a reminder of the deterioration that could soon make the pools as useless as the letters on the bathhouse.
News >  Voices

GU gains street possession

Despite opposition from the Logan neighborhood, the Spokane City Council on Monday gave the go-ahead for Gonzaga University to take possession of four and a half blocks of city streets. The action, approved unanimously, means the streets will be turned over to the university as long as several city conditions are met.
News >  Spokane

Spokane may have buyer for Carlyle

The city of Spokane believes it has found a buyer for the downtown housing complex it took over last year to prevent displacing dozens of people with mental disabilities. Spokane has owned the Carlyle Care Center, 206 S. Post St., since purchasing it last year for $3.2 million.
News >  Spokane

Park bond watchdogs have duties clarified

The duties of a group that will act as a watchdog for money the city will get if voters approve a bond measure in November was simplified Monday by the Spokane City Council. The city is asking voters to support a $43 million bond measure to pay for new pools, a new park near Joe Albi Stadium and other items. The council formed the Parks Bond Citizens Advisory Committee last week as a way to provide citizens assurance that money raised by new taxes will be spent wisely. But the idea for the group barely passed on a 4-3 vote after a long debate.
News >  Spokane

First Hispanic festival chance to show culture

Judging from audience reaction, the first celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month in Spokane likely won't be the last. With a couple hundred people watching a mariachi band on stage, attendees said Saturday's festival at Riverside State Park is an important step in showcasing Hispanic culture in the Inland Northwest.
News >  Voices

West Central tax spending up to residents

West Central neighbors will have a say in special projects paid for with tax dollars generated through new development. On Monday, the Spokane City Council approved creation of a citizens board to recommend how to spend taxes raised in the West Central tax district created by the council in May.
News >  Spokane

City OKs retiree benefit

Spokane City Council last week ended a 15-year dispute with retired firefighters over health care benefits. But the same decision renewed another dispute with retired police. In a decision that is expected to cost Spokane taxpayers nearly $10 million, the council voted 5-0 to join most other Washington cities in paying Medicare Part B monthly premiums for firefighters hired before October 1977. That's when the state took responsibility for police and fire benefits.
News >  Spokane

Council approves Playfair payment

The Spokane City Council on Monday agreed to make a down payment on 45 acres of the former Playfair racetrack – to itself. The 5-1 vote puts the city in position to buy the land, which is in the East Central Neighborhood, from its own utilities division, which purchased the property in 2004 to use for a sewer plant. Soon after buying the land, leaders decided not to build a plant on the site.
News >  Spokane

Council rivals Stark, Rush clash at debate

The race for Spokane's southern City Council seat already is well-defined. In a lively debate sponsored by the Cliff-Cannon Neighborhood Council Thursday evening, neighborhood activist Richard Rush argued that the City Council needs his voice to advance the comprehensive plan – Spokane's development blueprint created after years of citizen input.
News >  Spokane

Waste burner exceeds air pollution limits again

Spokane's Waste-to-Energy Plant late last month exceeded air pollution limits for the second time in less than a year. A spike in carbon monoxide pollution coming from the plant's smokestack Aug. 31 was registered after a power failure, which also triggered a fire outside one of the plant's two boilers.
News >  Spokane

City considers legalizing beekeeping

A former city councilman does it. So do a retired Air Force officer, many members of Spokane's Eastern European immigrant population and dozens of others. But, by keeping bees in urban areas within the city limits, they're breaking Spokane zoning rules. That could change later this month, if Spokane City Council members approve a proposal that would allow beekeeping in most Spokane neighborhoods. The measure has been pushed for more than a year by the Inland Empire Beekeeping Association.
News >  Spokane

Council approves Hession’s choice for planning director

Spokane has a new person to lead its planning efforts as the city considers new development strategies downtown, along shorelines and near the future north Spokane freeway. The Spokane City Council on Monday approved Mayor Dennis Hession's choice for planning director, Leroy Eadie.
News >  Spokane

Development shuts market

After more than 60 years, a small grocery and convenience store important to the population who remained when other downtown commerce fled closed its doors for the last time Friday. For the last few decades the Handy Market, which is across from the Fox Theater in the New Madison building, has served mostly poor customers in the surrounding few blocks. Many of those shoppers lived upstairs , or next door in the Commercial Building or Otis Hotel. All three structures are being vacated for major renovations that will bring more upscale development.
News >  Spokane

Otis evictions stretch services to limit

The emptying of another downtown building is putting extra stress on Spokane's social service agencies. This summer, several nonprofits provided staff to help dozens of residents of the New Madison and Commercial Building who were forced to vacate their apartments.
News >  Spokane

Otis sale finalized; dozens to be evicted

An estimated 86 residents of the Otis Hotel, one of the few housing options for sex offenders, will receive eviction notices today. Developer Chris Batten told Mayor Dennis Hession's affordable housing task force Tuesday that the group he represents finalized the purchase of the Otis Hotel on Friday. After the meeting, Batten stressed that residents will be assisted in finding new places to live.