Mayoral Hopefuls Back To Basics Powers, Talbott, West Stress Themes In Final Debate Before Tuesday Vote

In their last debate before Tuesday’s primary, the three main candidates for Spokane’s strong mayor focused less on personal attacks and more on the key themes of their campaigns as they squared off at Gonzaga Prep on Sunday night.

State Sen. Jim West emphasized his experience in Olympia, attorney John Powers talked about his broad-based support and Mayor John Talbott stressed that Spokane was in good shape and making progress.

Outside of the River Park Square dispute, Talbott said, “our city government is in very good shape.”

West and Powers differed, of course, and took the mayor to task for the raucous behavior of the City Council and how the city hired its attorney for the River Park Square case.

The most pointed attack of the debate, which was organized by KREM-2 to be broadcast tonight at 6 p.m., came when the candidates were given the chance to question each other.

Leading off, Powers asked West how he could represent all of Spokane when he has depended on Republican support from outside the city to be elected from the Sixth District.

“How do you reach out and relate to our community?” Powers said. “I seriously question if Sen. West is a viable citywide candidate.”

West was quick to respond.

He noted that he won citywide election to the City Council in 1980 and added “this race is not about party politics.”

West then declined his turn to ask a question, saying there was enough bickering and innuendo in the race already. Talbott and darkhorse candidate Robert Kroboth also passed, leaving Powers as the only candidate to ask a question.

But if Powers had his uncomfortable moments, so did West.

Inlander Publisher Ted McGregor, one of the debate panelists, asked West if he was the right candidate to end the bickering at City Hall, given the angry threat he left on the answering machine of a lobbyist in 1998. The threat led to a misdemeanor charge, which was later dropped after West apologized and paid a fine.

“I made a big mistake,” West said. “I paid dearly for that mistake. But I learned from that mistake.”

Both West and Powers have used the council’s dysfunction as a weapon against Talbott. Talbott, however, said the council’s arguments are part of a healthy process.

“Some would call it bickering, others would call it heated and constructive conversation,” Talbott said. “I think we’re doing quite well. We’ve moved the debate out of the closet and onto the street.”

Talbott and the City Council were also criticized for hiring a Seattle attorney to lead the city’s defense in the River Park Square litigation without first looking to a Spokane attorney.

“It’s another example of how this council is not functioning in an open and deliberative process,” Powers said.

“We aren’t coming before the public in an open and professional way.”

Talbott, however, said Seattle attorney O. Yale Lewis Jr. had unique qualifications and was free from any conflicts of interest.

The candidates also split on how they would deal with an equal rights ordinance that would extend protections to gays and lesbians.

Powers said he supported it, while Talbott said he would respect any law the citizens or council passed but disagreed with it for religious reasons. West, however, said he would not support it at all.

“I don’t think we can carve out special classes,” West said.

“Especially if it’s a class where people still disagree if it’s a learned behavior or one you’re born with.”