Civil dialogue

An effort to recall Mayor Jim West isn’t about his guilt or innocence, sponsors of a proposed petition to oust the mayor said Friday night. It’s about whether city voters want him to continue leading the city.

“I’ve never said he was guilty of anything,” recall petition sponsor Shannon Sullivan told a group of about 50 gathered for a meeting in downtown Spokane. “His behavior was inappropriate as far as I’m concerned, and I don’t think he should be representing our city.”

Sullivan and lawyers helping her with the legal battle over the recall told the crowd they wouldn’t be able to print and circulate recall petitions until the state Supreme Court rules on West’s appeal. The high court could overturn a trial judge’s ruling that the recall can go forward or send it back to that judge for further work.

If that appeal is denied, they expect to have petitions ready the next day, attorney Jerry Davis said.

At that point, they would have to gather about 12,600 valid signatures from registered city voters to get the recall on the ballot.

And a majority of voters would then have to agree that West should be removed.

“I’m only asking to put it to the people,” said Sullivan, who added she was uncomfortable with all the attention surrounding the recall effort. “I’m not trying to single-handedly oust Jim West.”

While most people who came to the meeting spoke in favor of the recall, some had questions about aspects of the controversy that has engulfed West since May 5, when The Spokesman-Review first reported the mayor had consensual sex with a young man he met on a gay Internet site and offered gifts and a City Hall internship to another he thought was an 18-year-old high school senior.

The latter was actually a computer specialist hired by the newspaper to help corroborate the other young man’s report.

Some in the audience asked about the legality of a special investigative committee that was appointed by the Spokane city attorney.

Five members were appointed to that panel, but four have since resigned.

Others asked about the location and ownership of the computer West used, whether he misused the city’s Web site or whether he will receive a larger pension if he remains in office through the end of the year.

One warned that whatever they think about the allegations, they had to follow “the rule of law” because it protects everyone, not just West.

“If you support Jim West, get out there and advocate on his behalf, and more power to you,” said Mark Hodgson, another of the attorneys helping with the recall. “But Shannon Sullivan’s got an absolute right to ask for a recall.”

Darlene Townsend, a member of the audience, said leaders get elected because they tell people who they are and what they will do.

“When we recall a person it’s because they aren’t who they said they were,” Townsend said.

City Councilwoman Mary Verner, who watched much of the meeting from the back of the room, said she was encouraged by the civil discussion that took place.

Some of the comments she’s heard and e-mail she’s received have been anything but civil.

“The community is really polarized, and extreme positions can only lead to damage for the community,” she said.

Although the crowd was far smaller than the room was designed to handle, Verner said she thought the turnout was good: “There are a lot of competing events on a Friday night.”