State Dismisses Rights Commission Complaint Man Says Panel Hurt Reputation Of Character Program He Promoted

Sat., May 13, 2000

By Rob McDonald robm@spokesman.com

The state’s Human Rights Commission will not investigate Spokane’s commission for alleged human rights abuses.

State officials have decided that the seven complaints submitted last week by John Gutierrez against the Spokane Human Rights Commission either fall outside state law or do not meet criteria for action.

Gutierrez, a former volunteer in Mayor John Talbott’s office, submitted a 60-page document to the state office, attacking the local human rights agency.

Spokane Human Rights Commissioner Victor Buksbazen also signed the complaint.

Gutierrez said the Spokane commission poses a “substantial threat to the health, safety and general welfare” of Spokane citizens.

Gutierrez could not be reached for comment but said in a fax message that he will pursue the matter with an unnamed out-of-state law firm.

The state Human Rights Commission faxed Gutierrez a letter Friday that in part read, “The allegations lack specific detail and are general conclusions.”

According to Gutierrez, Spokane’s commission hurt the reputation of Character First, a city-improvement program that promotes positive character traits. The commission voted against supporting the program, Gutierrez said, with intent to discriminate against religion.

State officials said the decision to not promote the program was made by the City Council, not the commission. Michael Murphy, the state’s district manager for Seattle and Spokane, said the accusations by Gutierrez were political in nature.

Gutierrez wrote the complaint about the time Buksbazen was accused of pushing his Christian values on a Jewish woman while conducting commission business. Buksbazen was cleared of wrongdoing in that matter.

Gutierrez awarded Buksbazen the Virtue Award in August at a Character First gathering that Gutierrez organized in Spokane. Buksbazen was the only commissioner who supported the program.

“In my five years with the commission, I have not seen a similar type of complaint with regard to a particular religious organization,” Murphy said. “In examining the materials they submitted, it just did not amount to something that this agency would take and investigate.”

The state Human Rights Commission will be in Spokane at 6 p.m. Thursday at City Hall for an annual public hearing.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.