Letters To The Editor

Fri., Oct. 31, 1997

SPOKANE MATTERS

Geraghty good, honest communicator

Effective communication plays a key role in the success of personal, business and organizational relationships. The ethics and principles established by the Public Relations Society of America reinforce the importance of good communication.

As colleagues in PRSA, I know Jack Geraghty understands and values thorough and truthful communication with Spokane’s citizenry. More importantly, he has the credentials and professional skills to do so.

With a brighter future for Spokane and all its citizens beginning to emerge, let’s elect a mayor with a positive vision, one who can unite our community rather than divide it.

Priscilla L. Gilkey Spokane

Geraghty gave neighborhoods a voice

For almost 10 years I have been a neighborhood activist. It is a title of which I am proud. Neighborhoods, as such, needed to develop a presence in the city political landscape. An imbalance has existed in this community in regard to the need for a broader voice in civic matters.

Mayor Jack Geraghty has done more in his first term in office to expand that civic dialogue than most people may be aware. His persistence in developing and passing an ordinance that has created neighborhood councils is a great example of this. There now exists a venue for citizen participation that gives us all an opportunity to shape the direction of our community as never before.

Citizens have greatly benefited from Geraghty’s foresight and leadership. His work is not yet complete. We need his continued leadership for four more years. Sheila A. Collins Spokane

Geraghty can’t manage his own debts

I find it amazing that Jack Geraghty would run for mayor again.

On Jan. 18, 1997, he was complaining that the reason he had so many debts and couldn’t make the payments was because it took so much of his time being mayor. If he couldn’t find time the past four years for his public relations consulting business, how would he do any better another four years?

How can taxpayers trust anyone to handle city money when they can’t handle their own finances?

Geraghty and the City Council borrow millions to fix streets and they expect us to pass a gas tax. They know the Legislature most likely will pass the 7 cent tax on gas this year. We were lucky they didn’t pass it last year. The combined tax would be an additional 9.3 percent on gas.

Vote for John Talbott and expect good leadership. Erma D. Boxer Spokane

Talbott lacks what it takes

Judging from what I have read in the newspaper and from a radio talk show interview, it’s apparent that John Talbott is an extremely poor choice for mayor.

His theories, ranging from fiscal management to engineering design, show he has little or no knowledge on either subject. His reversal of position on a Lincoln Street bridge is a classic example. He served on the committee selecting the type of structure, but now claims he didn’t know they were planning to build a bridge.

Talbott stresses that he will provide leadership and listen to what the people want. Which group of people will he listen to, and what if a more-vocal group outshouts the others? How will he choose?

The mayor is elected to make decisions based on a thorough study of an issue by qualified experts and to stick to it, despite the carping of a few self-serving obstructionists.

Talbott’s education and experience do not qualify him to evaluate engineering design procedures or decisions, which is what he really wants to do. Fred C. Malmstrom Spokane

Geraghty’s done a good job; Keep him

I met Jack Geraghty in the early 1980s, while working on a community project called Future Spokane. He was a positive, driving force behind that organization, working hard to make Spokane a better place to live. Geraghty’s leadership style was quiet yet deliberate. He was an effective consensus builder who helped get things done.

Geraghty has used those same leadership qualities as our mayor and Spokane is better because of it. Crime is down. Neighborhoods have a greater voice in city government than ever before. Good new jobs are coming to our city. Redevelopment of our downtown has begun - good news for every neighborhood in Spokane.

He has accomplished a lot in a contentious atmosphere created by negative forces, led by former councilman Chris Anderson. In spite of these naysayers, Geraghty has done a good job and he deserves to be re-elected so he can finish the good works he has begun.

I am proud of the job Geraghty has done as mayor. Spokane’s future depends on his re-election. Ginger Clark Spokane

Talbott talks a good job, all right

I have listened to John Talbott spin his web of deceit and must respond.

He talks about honesty, integrity and respect. Let’s looks at his honesty. His association with Dave Sabey is obvious, yet he continues to dodge alliance. As much as they have tried to camouflage their relationship, it is clear that they have joined forces, with Sabey doing the covert work and Talbott playing the innocent recipient of Sabey’s gifts.

What about his integrity? He fights many committees and boards he has served on or met with. Let’s see, he served on a community development board less than one year of a three-year term. He refers to his work on the Indian Trail task force, whose meetings he attended sporadically for three to four months of a two-year process. Now, he says he may have been confused when he claimed to have attended Spokane Horizon meetings, although there is no record of his involvement.

Talbott proves to be incapable of compromise. If things don’t go his way, he quits. How long would he last as mayor?

How interesting it is that he speaks of treating people with respect. Contempt would better describe the manner in which he treats the council, city officials and his opponent, Mayor Jack Geraghty.

This type of honesty, integrity and respect reminds me of his pal, “Take the Money and Run” Chris Anderson. This city doesn’t need that type of embarrassment again. Roger A. Riggs Spokane

Elect Talbott? There’s no good reason

I was not surprised by the Oct. 25 article regarding John Talbott’s nonparticipation in the Spokane Horizons process. The article only confirmed my fears: that Talbott loves to criticize and condemn.

The worst part is that he apparently lied regarding his participation. Instead of being up front and stating that he lied, he lamely created excuses. While he was trying to back himself out of a corner, he continued to criticize, trying to deflect attention.

The biography on Talbott in Sunday’s paper was also interesting. When he was involved as a member of a community development committee, he quit when things did not go his way.

Even though he states he will “work together as a team” if elected mayor, his past record shows that he likes to dictate, not build consensus.

Talbott may have been successful in the military because he could dictate. However, Spokane is not a military establishment. If elected mayor (heaven forbid) he will have to work with those who may disagree with him. How long before he quits because the City Council does not agree with him on an issue?

Why would I vote for somebody like this? Why would anyone? Paul E. Knaysi Spokane

Gas tax: Why give dealers 7 mills?

Re: Your Oct. 25 editorial endorsing the proposed tax increase on vehicle motor fuels for Spokane County.

I have only one problem with the proposed increase. How was the 2.3 cents figure arrived at and why three-tenths of a cent, anyway?

Add 2.3 cents to $1.309 and you get $1.332 a gallon. We all know that gas stations will round that up so they can charge their cute nine-tenths of a cent per gallon (they think they’re fooling people into thinking we’re paying 1 cent less per gallon). So we are in effect taxing ourselves an additional seven-tenths of a cent, which will go to the dealers.

Instead of giving the gas stations an extra seven-tenths of a cent profit, why not raise the proposed tax to an even 3 cents or drop it to an even 2 cents?

Either way, at least the increases would all go to our roads as proposed, instead of lining the pockets of the fuel dealers. Jean A. Willmore Elk

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION

McCann critic’s statements wrong

In response to Shirley M. Snyder’s Oct. 29 letter about my candidacy for the board of Spokane School District 81, it is important that the record be set straight. I don’t know where Snyder received her information. It is not correct.

She stated, “she has only taught in private schools, has sent her children to private schools and … (has) a clear aversion to her family being educated in public schools.”

In fact, I have taught in both public and private schools as well as supervised student teachers in both.

I have not made my own children an issue of this campaign. Two of them are graduates of Ferris High School, in Spokane public schools.

As a show of support for many dedicated teachers who earned both the respect of our children and us, my husband and I were involved in the Ham on Regal production, Ferris High School’s PTG fund-raiser, for several years. Joanne McCann Spokane

Barlow qualities right for board

Voters of Spokane have shown strong support for public schools in past elections. The 1996 school levy passed with over 80 percent approval. The anti-public schools initiatives 173 and 177 were defeated by a 65 percent ‘no’ vote in 1996.

Spokane voters have always carefully marked their ballots and have elected intelligent, concerned, hard-working supporters of public education to serve on Spokane’s District 81 school board. The present school board members are a fine example of dedicated citizens volunteering many hours to provide an excellent education to the 32,000-plus students enrolled in District 81 schools.

I urge voters to continue this tradition by voting for Don Barlow for the school board. Barlow has earned my vote for a variety of reasons.

Barlow is a strong supporter of public schools and school reform.

Barlow is a former teacher and school administrator, who is familiar with educational issues such as equity, setting high learning standards, and school-to-work programs.

Barlow will work to involve parents in the decision making processes of the school board.

Barlow has a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Pennsylvania.

Barlow has shown a commitment to the Spokane community by serving on a variety of boards such as Chase Youth Commission, Police Advisory Committee, the Red Cross and the Martin Luther King Center.

Barlow would bring a diverse viewpoint to the school board, as a Native American and as a single parent.

Please vote for Barlow on Nov. 4. Mary Anne Stuckart Spokane

McCann capable, committed, caring

I first met Joanne McCann, candidate for the Spokane School District 81 board, as a student in her second grade class. My sisters also had her as a teacher. As we ran into Mrs. McCann throughout the years, we were impressed by her ability to remember all our family members names and by her genuine interest in our lives.

Eighteen years later, I was fortunate enough to have McCann as my student teaching supervisor in college. She showed me the same personal interest and caring that she always had. She inspired me in my teaching by exhibiting superior teaching skills and knowledge of what it takes to be an effective teacher. McCann became my role model.

We, as a community, are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to be served by McCann. Her interest in the future of Spokane’s children would make all the difference in the world. Stacy L. Parham Spokane