Geraghty, Talbott Differ On Vision For City

Mayoral candidates John Talbott and Jack Geraghty clashed over separate visions for an improved downtown, a proposed gas tax and who’s the better leader.

About the only thing they agreed on during a debate Friday was that neither has received any campaign money from Seattle developer David Sabey.

Geraghty told the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce that the proposed River Park Square redevelopment is a key to downtown’s future.

The city is participating in that $100 million project by renting a parking garage and helping developers secure a loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“You’re an acknowledged opponent of River Park Square redevelopment. What specific alternative do you have?” Geraghty asked Talbott when each candidate was allowed to ask the other a question.

Talbott replied that he doesn’t oppose the project, only the part of it that relies on a $22.6 million federal loan.

“It will take money low-income housing relies on to get a loan,” Talbott said.

Not so, countered Geraghty. The funds come from a special program that is used for economic development.

“It is not putting any of the housing money at risk,” he said.

Talbott said the city should concentrate on improving the east end of downtown, the area south of the convention center stretching to the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute. It should make better use of the Intermodal Center and encourage better housing, commercial and retail development in that area.

“We’ve got to revitalize all of downtown so that all of the people can share in this revitalization, not just a few,” Talbott said.

“I’m still looking for a specific alternative,” Geraghty said. “I don’t see any other investors.”

Although the downtown redevelopment would add an estimated 1,000 jobs to the Spokane economy, Talbott contended that most would be “part-time, low-income, minimum-wage” retail jobs.

“Any job is a good job,” Geraghty said.

Asked by Chamber members whether they would support a proposal on the ballot for an increase in the gasoline tax to fix local streets, Geraghty said definitely yes, labeling the tax “extremely important.”

Talbott said definitely no: “I think it’s premature, until we look at city government and make sure money is being spent wisely.”

Talbott also criticized the city’s record on street repair, which Geraghty said was part of a six-year plan.

“We’re good at writing plans. Wouldn’t it be nice to see some follow-through?” Talbott said.

The problem, Talbott said, is leadership - a word he used more than a dozen times during the one-hour debate, in answers ranging from roads to growth management.

“We are the heart of the Inland Empire,” he said when asked how to promote regional planning among separate local governments. “We’ve got to promote leadership within the Inland Empire.”

After Geraghty said he would support a change of the city charter to revise the Civil Service system which dictates many of the city’s hiring practices, Talbott said that was another leadership problem. “They’ve had a bloc of votes for two years. Why didn’t they fix Civil Service?”

Geraghty said the city, under his leadership, is on the right track, opening community policing stations and promoting neighborhood councils. He directed his harshest criticism at Sabey, the owner of NorthTown Mall who helped to fund a pre-primary campaign that urged voters not to support incumbents.

“I don’t think we need to listen to big-time Seattle developers, using a Los Angeles-slick advertising agency, telling us how we should vote and telling us what our future should be,” Geraghty said.

That later prompted a question from the crowd: Did either candidate receive a contribution, or a loan guarantee, from Sabey?

No, said Geraghty, although he did receive a contribution from Sabey after he was elected in 1993.

No, said Talbott; he asked and was turned down. The retired Air Force officer loaned his campaign $5,000 of his own money before the primary, and is currently seeking another loan from his credit union, using his house as collateral to help fund his campaign.

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