Holmes, Higgins Belong On Council

The people of Spokane deserve a City Council that creates an atmosphere of competence and progress. Political food fights and personality conflicts ought to remain a thing of our past - and will, if voters go to the polls Tuesday and support two truly outstanding candidates: Phyllis Holmes and Rob Higgins.

Holmes seeks a second term in Position 3. The council has benefited from the calming, thoughtful presence of this former school teacher. She has helped improve relations between city and county government. She listens to neighborhoods. Backs the struggles to renovate downtown. Supports increased street funding.

Her quirky, narrow-interest challengers don’t come close.

For position 2, Higgins offers deep roots in the community and exceptional credentials for service in city government. His master’s degree from Texas A&M focused on city administration. In the late 1970s he managed the Spokane Taxpayers Association, a watchdog on local government spending. From 1982 to 1989, he served on the City Council and was one of its most capable members. He served for two years on the state Transportation Commission, volunteered in his kids’ schools and coached in youth sports. Now, at age 49 and with three children raised, he offers his services again.

Higgins is a strong supporter of downtown restoration and has the expertise to help squeeze more performance from the city budget. An executive with the Association of Realtors, he’s probusiness, a friend of law enforcement and concerned about the tax burden, which, he says, often “boils down to grandma and grandpa - can they afford this?”

Another solid candidate in this race is Judith Gilmore, who has backing from prominent local Democrats, worked for ex-Gov. Mike Lowry and the National Abortion Rights Action League, and has served on several civic committees. Also worthy of mention is Charlotte Karling, a pleasant small-business person, Republican Party activist and church volunteer who would be a stronger council candidate were she to gain some seasoning on city government committees.

But it’s Higgins and Holmes who offer what’s needed to continue the gradual restoration of our city government’s credibility: nonpartisan competence in municipal government and a strong record of service and commitment to the community.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = John Webster For the editorial board