Challenging Numbers Critic Of City Spending To Seek Seat On Council

An outspoken critic of city spending on Friday announced his plan to challenge incumbent Bev Numbers for her seat on the Spokane City Council.

Hailing his campaign as a “reality check” for the council, Ken Withey told people gathered at the Riverfront Park clock tower he wants to take city government “back to basics.”

“I firmly believe that the city should live within its budget just as all of us must learn to live within ours,” said Withey, adding that the council raised taxes when faced with shortfalls instead of cutting back.

Council seats held by Numbers, Joel Crosby and Orville Barnes are up for election this fall. Numbers announced her plans to run for reelection last week.

Withey recently helped lead a petition drive designed to put the Pacific Science Center planned for Riverfront to a public vote. Organizers gathered more than 12,000 signatures, and the measure likely will be on September’s ballot.

About 25 people - including several neighborhood activists and Councilman Chris Anderson - attended Withey’s noontime news conference.

Withey, an energy management specialist for the Central Valley School District, ran unsuccessfully against Councilwoman Phyllis Holmes in 1993.