Former County Engineer Has Experience With Budget

Steve Hasson has only himself to blame if Ron Hormann takes his place on the Spokane County Commission.

Hormann, whose peers named him the best county engineer in Washington in 1994, quit a year later rather than accept a demotion. While Public Works Director Dennis Scott replaced Hormann as county engineer, Hasson and Commissioner Phil Harris approved the move.

Retirement after 26 years gave Hormann time to launch his own campaign for commissioner. A Democrat, he will face Hasson or either of two Republicans challenging Hasson in this month’s primary.

County officials said they replaced Hormann to promote teamwork and streamline government. Hormann called his treatment and that of other ousted employees “a disaster,” and said he assumed commissioners wanted to give developers “more freedom.”

More recently he said his campaign isn’t about revenge. “It’s not personal at all,” he said. “Actually, I’m enjoying retirement.”

Hormann said managing growth must be the top county priority.

He supports the state Growth Management Act, while the three Republicans feel it needs to be softened or repealed.

It’s not realistic to promise big budget cuts when more than half the money the county spends goes to pay for law enforcement, Hormann said.

But, he said, departments should have to prove their need for money more than once a year, a strategy commissioners are trying now with the sheriff’s department.

Hormann said he has an advantage over other challengers.

“I know the budget system, I understand Spokane County and as a commissioner, I could be effective almost immediately,” he said.

, DataTimes