Powers Extends Offer To Miggins Outgoing City Manager Says He’S Considering Temporary Job

Spokane Mayor-elect John Powers has asked City Manager Hank Miggins to join his administration for its first few months, and Miggins said he’s considering the offer.

Powers said Tuesday that he and Miggins are discussing a plan that would have Miggins work under Powers until Powers can hire a chief administrative officer.

“This is a serious consideration,” Powers said. “I’m pleased that Mr. Miggins is considering continuing on.”

Miggins, who was hired amid much controversy in February, said he was interested and that the discussion was mostly about compensation.

As city manager, Miggins receives a $90,500 annual salary.

There is no city manager position under the strong mayor form of government, but Powers will have a chief administrative officer to aid him in the day-to-day running of the city. Powers has announced that a team is searching for the CAO, but a new hire may not be in place until March.

Miggins was hired when the City Council voted 4-3 to fire Acting City Manager Pete Fortin, whom the council majority felt was too closely tied to the city’s involvement with the River Park Square redevelopment project.

The decision to hire Miggins, a former colleague of Councilman Steve Corker and a friend of Mayor John Talbott’s former campaign manager, was roundly criticized by members of the council minority as cronyism.

But over the past year Miggins has appeared to earn the council minority’s respect. At Monday’s council meeting, Councilwoman Roberta Greene went out of her way to thank Miggins and the city staff for their efforts in putting together the 2001 budget.

Along with finding an administrative officer, Powers is faced with replacing City Attorney Jim Sloane. Sloane has announced his intention to retire at the end of the year but has offered to stay on to help with Powers’ transition.

Powers said he will make a detailed statement concerning his transition later this week. He is to be sworn in as mayor Dec. 28.

The City Council is also preparing for its new year. It has asked for applications to fill the vacant council seat resulting from the shift to strong mayor and the departure of Talbott. As of Monday, nine candidates have applied.

Most of them are newcomers to city politics. The exception is Barbara Lampert, who has run for a number of city and statewide offices. Also applying is Khalil Islam, chairman of the Spokane Human Rights Commission.

A number of prominent figures have indicated that they plan to apply or are considering it. Past council candidate Al French said he will submit an application by Friday, and former Councilman Bob Dellwo said he would apply. Other names mentioned include past council candidates David Bray and Louise Stamper and former Plan Commission member Jim Kolva.

The deadline for applications is Dec. 31. Forms are available at the City Council office and online at www.spokanecity.org.

Those who have already applied are Lampert, a nursing assistant; Islam, an assistant dean at Eastern Washington University; Cindy Little, a graduate assistant at Whitworth College; Krista Aman, a freelance artist; Bob Sanburn, a Spanish teacher; Michael Fagan, a purchasing agent for a Post Falls manufacturing company and anti-tax activist; Bryan Potratz, a temporary worker and former campaign volunteer; Shawn Quine, a hotel desk clerk and college student; and Randy Quinn, pastor at Deer Park United Methodist Church.