Chilberg Seeks Position On Growth Board Three-Member Panel Hears Appeals Of Local Actions Under State Act

Spokane County Commissioner Skip Chilberg is soliciting support for a $73,146 job that would give him influence over growth management decisions in Eastern Washington.

The position on the three-member Growth Management Hearings Board becomes available June 1. Graham Tollefson, a former Yakima County commissioner, has resigned for health reasons. The appointment would be until the end of Tollefson’s term, June 30, 1998.

Being an elected official from Spokane already gives Chilberg an advantage for the appointment, which would be made by Gov. Mike Lowry.

The growth hearings board is comprised of three people who hear appeals to local government actions under the state Growth Management Act. The decisions are binding unless appealed to Superior Court.

By state law, one member of the board must be a lay person and that slot is being filled by Judy Wall, a citizen activist from Wenatchee. Another slot, for an attorney, is filled by Tom Williams, a former Walla Walla mayor.

Tollefson’s position not only would have to be a former elected official, but, to ensure geographic diversity, someone from a county besides Chelan or Walla Walla.

The board will hear its first challenge in a Spokane case Tuesday when it considers whether the city is in violation of the Growth Management Act for failing to enact policies governing accessory housing units, commonly known as granny flats.

Chilberg was in Olympia on Friday and not available for comment. But he already has solicited letters of recommendation for the position from business leaders and politicians in both political parties.

All applicants would be screened by Lowry’s staff with a list of three forwarded to him for consideration, said Martin Munguia, deputy press secretary. The goal is to have someone in place by June 1.

There are other applicants for the job but their names were not available.

Chilberg, 51, served as budget director for the state of Idaho under Cecil Andrus. He was elected Spokane County treasurer in 1983 and county commissioner in 1992. He earns $55,746.

Chilberg already has been appointed by Lowry to chair the state Housing Finance Commission. He also serves on the national advisory council for Fannie Mae, the federal mortgage association that loans money for low-income housing projects.

He has been an ally of Lowry and served on the governor’s transition team, screening appointments to state agencies and boards.

Chilberg’s term as commissioner ends in 1996. If he gains appointment to the hearings board, the Democratic Party would recommend three people as a replacement.

The two remaining county commissioners, Republicans Phil Harris and Steve Hasson, then would select one of those to serve out the remainder of Chilberg’s term.