Commission Candidate Goes On Offense Wilkinson Unloads Barrage Of Criticism On Roskelley

It looks like the race for the District 1 seat on the Spokane County Commission is going to be a dogfight.

At a Monday debate sponsored by the Valley Chamber of Commerce, Republican challenger Karl Wilkinson went on the offensive, criticizing incumbent Commissioner John Roskelley’s leadership style, record and priorities.

“My opponent is constantly accused of using his position to bully the planning process,” said Wilkinson, who described Roskelley’s leadership style as “Dark Ages, confrontational, head-on.”

Roskelley, who pretty much stuck to his record before the barrage of criticism, responded by calling Wilkinson ill-informed. At one point, he interrupted the challenger to say Wilkinson’s comments were “ridiculous.”

The two men will face off Nov. 7 for a four-year term on the commission.

The attacking style was a change in tactics for Wilkinson, a real estate sales manager, mediator and former member of the East Valley School Board.

Through last month’s primary, he concentrated mainly on getting his name out and gathering support. He has raised more than $58,000 in campaign contributions.

On Monday, though, he went after Roskelley, but not before the incumbent opened the debate by reciting his accomplishments after nearly five years in office.

Roskelley, a Democrat, touted his support of a critical areas ordinance the county adopted to protect shorelines and other environmentally sensitive lands.

He said he has voted to increase the Sheriff’s Office budget, including the approval of computers for prowl cars and a 16-deputy traffic unit.

Roskelley said he was particularly proud of the county’s financial position. “We’ve gone from a point where we were deficit spending to a point where we have $12.8 million in reserve,” he said. “And we didn’t raise the property tax rate this year, and we’re not going to next year.”

He said his goals include adopting the county’s new comprehensive land-use plan and improving roads, parks and sewers for a growth spurt he sees coming.

“We need to be ahead of the curve,” Roskelley said. “I’m absolutely positive our growth is going to increase in the next couple of years.”

Then it was Wilkinson’s turn. He called Roskelley an environmentalist who puts his own agenda ahead of county residents.

“I’ve talked to people in social services, and they’re telling me the priorities are shifting from people to the environment,” Wilkinson said. “We need to change that back.”

He also criticized Roskelley for not doing enough to streamline the county’s building permit and planning processes. The economy is suffering as a result, he said.

“My opponent has said that the rules are clear. They are not,” said Wilkinson, who vowed to do what he can to improve growth and prosperity for everyone. “Ask anybody who has been through the maze down there.”

Wilkinson disputed Roskelley’s claims about his support of law enforcement. Sheriff Mark Sterk has endorsed Wilkinson and has publicly criticized Roskelley’s support of the Sheriff’s Office, the challenger said.

Responded Roskelley, “The sheriff is a Republican. I’m a Democrat. I’d never expect a Republican to endorse a Democrat, no matter how much I give him.”

Wilkinson also took issue with comments attributed to Roskelley in a recent newspaper article. In the article, the incumbent intimated that “fringe elements” from the development community were supporting Wilkinson’s campaign.

Wilkinson acknowledged that he has support from developers and business owners, but he said he also is endorsed by firefighters groups, the city police guild, nurses, doctors and social workers.

“These are not people I would call the fringe elements,” he said.

And he hammered Roskelley on leadership style.

Wilkinson said Roskelley has a reputation of micro-managing county staff and attempting to intimidate people. “My style is more power with, rather than power over,” he said.

Late in the meeting, Wilkinson relayed a story that he says illustrates the difference in the two men’s styles.

Wilkinson said he was entering the Courthouse recently when a security guard who operates a metal detector at the door implored him not to “forget us little people” if he’s elected.

Wilkinson said he later found out, in talking to the woman’s supervisor, that Roskelley doesn’t greet the security staff when he enters the Courthouse.

Roskelley, clearly peeved at the implication, interrupted. “Oh, come on, Karl,” he said. “That’s just ridiculous.” Roskelley later agreed with a supporter who called Wilkinson’s story “tacky.”

Wilkinson was unrepentant. “I’m trying to stay positive,” he said after the meeting. “But what I said is a true story. If it hurts, it hurts.”