Petition backers add 230 names

Petitioners seeking to stop domestic partnership benefits for Spokane city employees submitted 230 additional signatures on Friday, the last day referendum backers could add signatures to their petition.

City Clerk Terri Pfister said the referendum now has 6,543 signatures on file, which if valid, would be more than enough to force the Spokane’s new “domestic partnership benefits” ordinance onto the primary or general election ballots this year.

The referendum needs 5,145 signatures from registered city voters to qualify for the ballot.

Mike Smith, an organizer of the petition drive, said he believes referendum backers have gathered more than enough signatures to force an election, even if some signers are found not to be registered city voters.

Petition drives typically need a 15 to 20 percent cushion to make up for invalid signatures.

Smith said his organization made a concerted effort to get signatures only from qualified voters.

The referendum now goes before the City Council, which must hold a public hearing and decide whether to accept the signatures and repeal the ordinance or send the signatures to the Spokane County auditor for validation.

Council President Dennis Hession has tentatively scheduled the hearing for July 5. He said the council will likely ask for validation of signatures.

Once the signatures are validated, the council would hold another public hearing. It could then repeal the law, or send it to voters.

Hession said the referendum, if validated, could go on either the primary or general election ballots this year.

The council on April 25 voted 5-2 in favor of the ordinance that would extend city employee benefits to domestic partners of unmarried employees either in opposite-sex or same-sex relationships. Participants would have to sign an affidavit declaring their partnership. However, the extension of benefits is subject to union contract negotiations for all but 17 non-represented city workers, plus the City Council.

Proponents said the ordinance provides fairness and equity to unmarried employees.

Opponents argued it condones cohabitation, which they contend is morally wrong.

The cost of extending benefits is likely to become an issue in any referendum campaign. One estimate put the cost of extending health care benefits to domestic partners at $176,000 a year, but City Council members have said the actual cost is negligible because any extension of benefits would be offset by labor concessions in other areas.

The ordinance also applies to life insurance, pension rights and family leave.