Testy Times For Freeholders
Spokane County freeholders, the people elected to solve the problems of local government, are no better than politicians, according to some disgruntled members.
“I’m used to manipulators. In fact, I’m considered pretty good at it,” said freeholder Kathy Reid, a Democratic Party leader.
“But I’ve never seen such amateur, flagrant manipulating as I’ve seen on this board.”
Reid’s comments Thursday night came during the most contentious meeting in the group’s two-year history.
Members of a faction that disagrees with the majority’s proposal to consolidate Spokane city and county government accused the majority of twisting arms, cutting deals and reneging on a promise to give serious consideration to alternative proposals.
“We have a group ramrodding this through, saying they’re in the majority and if you don’t like it, you’re just bellyaching,” said Betty Nunnery.
The 25 freeholders, who were elected in November 1992, intended to reach consensus on all issues.
They had given up that goal by last February, when the majority voted to pursue consolidation instead of less sweeping reforms. But the group agreed to reconsider the decision, as a concession to those who had misgivings about the plan.
Since then, several alternatives have come to the group. One, calling for partial consolidation, was supported by a third of freeholders.
None of the proposals has received the kind of debate the dissenters feel they deserve.
Freeholders agreed Thursday to reconsider the alternatives before they finish their work. But Reid said the concession is too little too late.
Instead she plans to write a minority opinion to accompany the charter.
Majority members objected to claims they haven’t been fair.
“This is a messy process, with 25 people representing the people,” said Ann Prideaux. “It’s not going to be neat and clean like it would be if there were only four or five people.”“One thing I remember we all agreed on is that we would rather have a good charter that fails than a bad charter that passes,” he said.