Wilkinson Runs For Commission Candidate Has Ties To Schools, Real Estate And Boy Scouts
A Spokane Valley resident with a history of community service and strong ties to the real estate industry declared his candidacy for county commissioner Monday.
Karl Wilkinson, a 50-year-old Republican and four-term member of the East Valley School Board, is seeking the District 1 seat currently held by John Roskelley.
“You know the difference between a mud puddle and a geyser? Enthusiasm,” Wilkinson said. “I plan to serve with enthusiasm.”
Wilkinson vowed to work hard to bring “predictability and accountability” to a county government that he sees as lacking in both.
He is the second Republican to announce a run for the position. Retired county road maintenance worker Jerry Hester said last month he would campaign for the seat.
Roskelley has not formally announced his intention to seek reelection this year, but he has made it clear he plans to run again.
There has been widespread speculation that the business community has been looking for a candidate to back against Roskelley, a first-term Democrat who has angered some developers with his skepticism of their projects.
Wilkinson may be that candidate.
He has 22 years’ experience selling real estate and is currently the general sales manager for Janek Co., a local real estate firm.
Simplifying land-use rules and ensuring that county employees “serve the public and not their own self interests” are two of Wilkinson’s top priorities.
Wilkinson said he thinks current county rules regulating development are too nebulous and complicated. That opens avenues for manipulating the system, which is unfair to developers and county residents alike, he said.
He advocates a streamlined, “predictable” checklist that makes the county’s land-use rules clear to developers up front. That way, there would be no surprises about what’s expected of them, Wilkinson said.
The Vietnam War veteran also said that the government should do all it can to “protect rights, not take them.”
In addition to his real estate work, Wilkinson owns a mediation company and is active in Boy Scouts. He once worked as a schoolteacher and has served as president of the Spokane County School Directors and as a member of the National School Board Federal Relations Team.
Seven friends and family members praised Wilkinson at a campaign kickoff held at the East Valley School District administration building Monday. They called him caring, committed and qualified.
“His heart is with the people. It’s not with money. It’s not with business,” said Jan Ekstrom, president of Janek Co.
Wilkinson and his wife of 30 years, Tamy, have six children.