Mccaslin Takes Different Stand On Growth Law Says Valley Chamber Vote Jibes With Campaign

As a candidate for Spokane County commissioner, Kate McCaslin calls Chelan County’s costly fight against the Growth Management Act “a waste of money.”

Repeatedly on the campaign trail, McCaslin has said she can live with the law, even though it includes provisions she doesn’t like.

But as a member of the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce’s legislative committee, McCaslin recently voted to recommend the chamber join Chelan County’s legal battle.

A motion seconded by McCaslin at the committee’s June meeting urged the chamber to become “a friend of the court” in the lawsuit that has gained Chelan County notoriety as the only jurisdiction to openly defy the 1991 law.

A friend of the court is an individual or organization that is not part of a lawsuit, but wants to provide information that could sway a case one way or another. The motion, introduced by Clark Hager, stipulated the chamber spend no money on the battle.

McCaslin said she wanted to lend moral support to Chelan County officials. While she doubts Chelan County will win, she said she hopes the suit will result in changes giving communities more flexibility in planning for growth.

The act requires cities and counties to plan for growth expected in the next 20 years, setting aside some land for urban growth and some where development will be curtailed. Opponents say it infringes on private property rights.

McCaslin said her vote in June isn’t inconsistent with her campaign statements.

“In no way, shape or form was it my intention that we would join in that lawsuit,” McCaslin said. “This county ought not be spending money in support of Chelan.”

Hager, a strident opponent of the act, had much more ambitious intentions. He said he hoped the motion would lead Spokane County to help Chelan win its legal battle.

“Clark and I are two different people,” said McCaslin.

Hager recently endorsed one of McCaslin’s opponents, incumbent Commissioner Steve Hasson, in a Valley Herald editorial. Hager since has sold the weekly newspaper he owned.

Hager’s motion at the chamber passed the committee 6-5, with one member abstaining. The matter was tabled by the chamber’s board of directors, which said it needed more information before deciding whether to step into the battle.

The state is withholding about $140,000 a month for road repairs and other projects from Chelan County because it has not begun work required under the law.

Voters will choose between McCaslin, Hasson and Don Manning in Tuesday’s Republican primary. Whichever Republican wins the primary will face Democrat Ron Hormann in the Nov. 5 general election.

Like McCaslin, Hasson says he would work for changes in the law, but says it would be foolish to waste money trying to have it overturned.

Manning says he will comply with the law, while working to have it repealed.

Hormann supports the Growth Management Act.

, DataTimes