Character First Isn’T Endorsed Rights Panel Says Program Not Compatible

Wed., June 23, 1999

By Rob McDonald robm@spokesman.com

If Character First is to take hold here it will do so without the official support of the Spokane Human Rights Commission.

The commission voted 7-0 Tuesday night not to endorse the program first introduced by Mayor John Talbott. Commissioner Victor Buksbazen did not vote.

The commission also went a step further and passed a formal recommendation asking the city not to pursue or endorse Character First.

The program encourages people to improve themselves by adopting a different value trait each month, such as orderliness, forgiveness, punctuality, obedience, patience and attentiveness.

“This is not the business of city government,” said commission member Brad Read.

The commission also said their mission statement was not compatible with Character First. Read said he was concerned with the religious groundings of the program’s founder.

At last month’s meeting, commission members said they want the city to open doors of opportunity and end oppression, rather than take up the job of teaching people to be nicer.

Talbott introduced the program and invited Character First representatives to make presentations in Spokane. In May, he backed out of it and handed over control of the program to volunteer John Gutierrez of Spokane.

“John (Talbott) has divested himself of this officially,” Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez did not attend Tuesday night’s commission meeting. When he learned of the vote, he said he had been hoping for the best.

“I can’t say anything negative about it,” Gutierrez said. He praised the group’s efforts in trying to improve the community. “Hopefully, they can see the positive in what we’re trying to do.”

Word has gotten out, he said.

“It seems to me the community is getting behind Character First,” Gutierrez said. People are still requesting information and he said he knew of families that are meeting in homes to pursue the program.

Gutierrez said he has no plans to bring Character First before the city again anytime soon, but said that could change down the road.

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