Financial Consultant Enters County Race Martin Burnette Wants To Promote Private Property Rights

A North Side financial consultant wants to be the third and final member of the Spokane County Commission to promote private property rights and cut red tape for developers. Martin Burnette, 42, officially will announce his candidacy Wednesday for the District 1 seat. District 1 extends north of Wellesley Avenue to the Pend Oreille County line.

Burnette joins the race against George Marlton, a lawyer who was appointed to the District 1 job last month but must run again in September; author and mountain climber John Roskelley; and Spokane City Councilman Chris Anderson.

Burnette is a registered Republican who campaigned for current Commissioner Phil Harris last year and gave him $350.

“I’m trying to stay out of that campaign,” Harris said of Burnette’s candidacy. “But I’ll say this: Martin’s a well-read individual who has a lot of knowledge on all walks of life. He’s a real gentleman.”

Last month, Harris and fellow Commissioner Steve Hasson fired the county’s top three planners to save $230,000 a year in salary and benefits. Critics said the move was made to stifle growth management and to make it even easier for developers to get projects approved.

Burnette said he supports the move on the basis of efficiency and because he believes the top planners had overstepped their authority in the past.

“County employees need to serve the public and the public’s best interests and not their personal agenda,” he said.

Burnette touts his financial expertise and ability to deal with the press. The Spokane native and North Central High School graduate is a bachelor and has been an independent investment and insurance planner for 18 years.

He “intends to restore financial accountability to the county government, support tougher stands against criminals and protect landowners’ rights.”

Marlton was appointed to the District 1 seat after the recent resignation of Skip Chilberg, who now sits on a state growth management appeals board.

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