Powers, Talbott Try To Put New Face On Mayoral Race Candidates Take The High Road After Contentious Primary Campaign

Maybe it was a post-election-night malaise.

Maybe it was the spiritual surroundings of the First Presbyterian Church.

Or maybe it was the dawning of a new political reality following a primary that placed John Powers far out in front of incumbent John Talbott in the race to be Spokane’s strong mayor.

Whatever the reason, the first joint appearance between the two final candidates, a forum Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church, was a muted affair.

While Talbott and Powers had sparred fiercely in the weeks preceding the primary, both seemed after the high road as they focused on their purposes for running and not on each other.

After the forum, Talbott said he didn’t plan on changing his message following the primary, which saw Powers win 40 percent of the vote to his 32 percent.

State Sen. Jim West, who had 26 percent of the votes, was eliminated, as was Robert Kroboth (2 percent).

“I’m just going to be talking,” Talbott said. “I’m going to go where I go.”

Talbott also said he hoped the campaign for the general election would be positive.

Talbott, who has been accused in the past of being an angry and divisive presence, has so far this campaign tried to stick to his strengths. He has occasionally faltered, however, particularly when attacked by Powers on open government.

“The temperament of the debate is up to him,” said Talbott. “If he wants to fire the first shot, I’ll dodge it.”

Powers, however, now has the luxury of leading the race. If his unknown status pressured him into scoring points by attacking Talbott prior to the primary, he can now assume the mantle of front runner.

But Powers said he would maintain his criticisms of Talbott’s record of open government, which has triggered the most heated debate between the men.

“I see it as a continuing issue because it’s one I hear about all the time as I go across the community,” he said. “I think negative is to attack people, but I don’t think it’s negative to attack process and what we’re talking about with open government is process.”

The end of the primary campaign and start of the general election race also signals the start of a new fundraising season.

So far, Powers has far outdistanced Talbott, raising $135,000 to Talbott’s $36,000.

Talbott said the wide margin did not trouble him.

“I’m going to go forward raising what I think is necessary, and we’ll spend what we raise,” he said. “But we’re trying to win the most votes, not the most money. Too much money can be a hindrance.”

While the candidates have been thinking about the practical realities of campaigning, that wasn’t apparent from their lofty words at the First Presbyterian Church.

Powers repeated some of the themes he has stressed throughout the campaign: restoring healthy relationships to the city, tackling poverty and strengthening the city as the heart of the region.

“There’s nearly 700,000 people in the Inland Northwest that look to Spokane for leadership,” said Powers, a bankruptcy attorney and political newcomer. “We need to fulfill our duties, and as the heart of the region, we have to do better.”

Talbott spoke about the importance of volunteers to the city, how a new dynamic at City Hall has created a new energy and how he wants to continue to lead the city.

“We serve you, we work for you and we better be listening,” he said. “I’m here to lead, yes, but to be a servant leader.”