Questions For The Candidates Spokane County Commission Position 1

QUESTIONS

1. CONSOLIDATION: Should the city and county merge some services?

2. SEWERS: How soon after their completion should high-density developments be required to hook up to the county’s sewer system? 3. EXPANDING COMMISSION: Should the County Commission be expanded to five seats?

4. JOBS: What steps do you think the county can take to attract more high-paying jobs to the area?

5. GROWTH: Want more or fewer restrictions on growth and development, or are the current restrictions about right?

CANDIDATE ANSWERS BILL SPRAGUE, Republican

1. Yes. Right off, the radio room for Police Department and Sheriff’s Office should be combined, if it’s acceptable to both parties. There are probably others that could be looked at, too.

2. Six months or less.

3. Would vote for it. People would be better served by more commissioners.

4. Get away form “I can’t” attitude and start believing that we can, and act accordingly.

5. Would like to see things left alone. Let’s live with the restrictions we have today.

KARL WILKINSON, Republican

1. Possibly. Public safety and sewering are areas where we need some effort toward better cooperation.

2. They would have to be hooked up as they were built. Septic tanks aren’t bad, but probably not in high-density developments. Have to look at them on an individual basis.”

3. I believe so. It increases representation. It increases communication between commissioners. It brings more perspective to board. Five heads are better than one.

4. We need to improve our reputation. We need to eliminate turf wars and increase cooperation. We need to invest in it. We would be well-served to spend some of the county’s reserve funds on the economy.

5. It’s not a matter of restrictions. They’re adequate. It’s a matter of letting people know what rules are. Problem is they keep changing them. “It’s a moving target.”

CLIFF CAMERON, Democrat

1. Yes. Sewer and water services, particularly anything pertaining to the sewage treatment plant. It’s a resource everyone should share in.”

2. Sewer connection should be condition of high-density development, especially multi-family projects. Shouldn’t use septic tanks for that, even temporarily.

3. Yes. Would mean better representation, especially for the Valley.

4. Establish a port district. Businesses need funding and a way to start up immediately. A port district would give them both.”

5. “Restrictions we have are mandated from state, so they’re adequate.”

JOHN ROSKELLEY, Democrat, incumbent

1. Where possible, yes. The most likely ones are planning, parks and utilities, with planning being most obvious.

2. It’s six years now, and that’s enough time. Would hope it would be concurrently, but that’s not really realistic.

3. “No. Too expensive to add two more commissioners. Plus, there are two large areas of the county that may incorporate. If they do, we won’t need more commissioners. And, bigger government doesn’t necessarily mean better government. “Look at the city of Spokane.”

4. By what we’re doing now, which is keeping the taxes low and not raising general property tax rate. Go to Legislature in Olympia for laws that can help us attract businesses. They have tax-increment financing in Idaho, and that may be something we want to consider here.

5. New comprehensive plan is going to determine what kind of regulations we have in future. Looking forward to having that process completed.