Talbott Out To Rebuild Trust In City New Mayor Outlines His Political Goals For Year
Mayor John Talbott asked Spokane Chamber of Commerce members on Friday to forget their past disagreements with him and join his crusade to rebuild trust in city government.
“I know I was elected by the narrowest of margins, and I know that there are many people in this room who disagree with my views of … city government,” Talbott said.
“But, I want to ask you: Even if I’m wrong, doesn’t my election show that our city needs to communicate better with its citizens?”
During his “State of the City” speech to at least 200 chamber members, Talbott outlined his goals for the next four years. He poked fun at himself and the somewhat odd situation of addressing a crowd that included many people who vocally opposed him last November.
“I can say without question that if Spokane had better streets, I would not have been elected,” he said. “So there’s an added reason for many people to wish we had roads that were repaired.”
Talbott hammered on the topic of communication. City leaders’ failure to get residents involved in planning caused many projects to stall and sometimes die, he said. He cited the proposed Lincoln Street bridge project as an example.
“As a result, we have a serious credibility gap between our citizens and our community leadership.”
He said he plans to use four guiding principles as the “yardstick for every issue” that comes before him on the council. They are:
Enforcing fiscal responsibility. He renewed his campaign pledge to try to convince the council to hire an independent auditor who will scour city budgets for wasteful spending.
Adhering to the highest ethical standards. He said all residents deserve fair and equal treatment from city officials and employees.
Valuing public participation. “Taking time to listen at the beginning can save time in the end.”
Listening to city employees. They are the experts on how to best deliver services, from keeping the public safe to filling potholes, he said.
Talbott touched briefly on seven goals he planned to help the city accomplish by the time he addresses the chamber next January. They included hiring the auditor, putting a comprehensive road repair program in place, deciding the future of the Lincoln Street bridge and resolving the public financing portion of River Park Square. He also mentioned hiring a new police chief, defining the role of neighborhood councils and updating the city charter.
“I want to build a bridge, not across the Spokane River, but between city government and its citizens,” Talbott said.
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