Barnard: Fix Streets, Close Incinerator, Rethink Bridge Ex-Mayor’s Entry Into Race For Her Old Position Also Includes Call For Resignation Of City Attorney

Sheri Barnard has a reputation for a soft touch.

On Friday, Spokane’s former mayor emerged from her voter-imposed retirement swinging a hammer.

Barnard kicked off her mayoral campaign by calling for the resignation of City Attorney Jim Sloane, the closure of the waste-to-energy plant and a second look at the Lincoln Street bridge project.

“I’ve got that old fire going, and here I am,” she said to the applause and hurrahs of more than 60 people gathered in Riverfront Park near the Clock Tower.

Barnard, who lost her bid for re-election four years ago, said family and friends convinced her that City Hall needed her again.

Rekindling memories of her past term, Barnard said if she’s elected, she’ll get residents more involved in government by appointing task forces and calling citywide summits to study at least three of her top priorities.

Barnard pitched a campaign platform that included:

Finding the money to fix the city’s streets. “It is time for smooth streets instead of smooth talk,” she said. “When elected, my first act will be to call for a citizen summit on the streets of Spokane.”

She added that maybe the more than $6 million in state gas tax money slated for the Lincoln Street bridge project would be better spent resurfacing the roads.

Shutting down the controversial waste incinerator, which she voted against in 1992. She wants a citizen panel to study the best way to close it, as well as find “more economical methods of handling our solid waste.”

Even if the incinerator were shut down, county residents are still obligated to make payments on the $110 million plant until 2010.

Revisiting the Lincoln Street bridge project with a citizen task force. She favored construction of the bridge in 1992, but only after appointing a committee to study the project, she said. Now, the price tag keeps growing and several of the committee’s recommendations may be scratched, such as buying riverfront property north of the downtown library.

Calling for Sloane to step down.

“Lengthy lawsuits and constant bickering are costing the taxpayers thousands of dollars and leaving residents frustrated and confused,” Barnard said. “The city attorney is a powerful position, and it is time for a new attorney that is not entrenched.”

She quickly added that she likes Sloane, but as Spokane’s longest serving city attorney at nearly 20 years, it’s “time for change.”

Sloane refused to comment Friday on Barnard’s request.

Barnard acknowledged later that a mayor can’t fire a city attorney - even with majority council support. The city manager must recommend that action and send it to the council for approval.

“If I’m elected by a strong majority, it’ll definitely send a message to the current city manager,” she said.

Two other challengers have announced plans to run for mayor - state Rep. Duane Sommers and Gypsy activist Jimmy Marks. Mayor Jack Geraghty plans to see reelection.

While Geraghty wouldn’t comment on Barnard’s platform, Sommers gave it mixed reviews.

He agreed that streets are a priority but disagreed with trying to close the incinerator. He said he wasn’t close enough to City Hall to comment on whether Sloane should keep his job.

Attempts to reach Jimmy Marks were unsuccessful.

Barnard began her political career in the mid-1970s, when she joined the League of Women Voters. She later became president of the league’s local chapter.

She served on the city’s Plan Commission before successfully running for the council in 1983. She won the mayor’s race against Rob Higgins in 1989.

, DataTimes