City fills economic development post

Spokane Mayor Jim West’s senior adviser is being moved to a new job as the mayor’s interim economic development adviser to fill a position created when the current adviser announced he was going to work for private developer Marshall Chesrown.

Cody George, whom West brought to City Hall when he won the mayor’s office in 2003, will assume many of the duties held by Tom Reese, the outgoing economic development adviser.

George currently earns $61,500. The job of economic development adviser has a salary range of $67,366 to $83,028. Reese was earning $76,000 a year.

“I think it’s a great opportunity,” said George, a 1995 graduate of Medical Lake High School. He started working for West during West’s 2002 state Senate campaign and then moved to the Senate caucus as a state-paid public information officer in 2003. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Washington State University and has experience in television and film media.

John Pilcher, the city’s economic development director, said George was being moved without a job search because of pressing issues facing the city. Pilcher joined the city earlier this year and was selected by West over Reese, who had applied for a promotion to economic development director.

West is reportedly seeking a new senior adviser to replace George.

George said he will be assigned as the city liaison to major projects, including development of the University District and new housing projects on the north bank of the Spokane River.

Reese, who ends his city employment today, will become project manager for Chesrown’s 77-acre Kendall Yards project west of Monroe Street on the north bank. The new urban village development could see as many as 1,000 residential units and 1.5 million square feet of commercial space, and is widely viewed as key to economic growth in the city core.

Reese spent 13 years with the city as an urban design specialist and planner before becoming the economic development adviser in 2003 under former Mayor John Powers.

Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers said she believes the economic development adviser position should be left vacant to save money for other city services. She said the city is facing a revenue shortfall of up to $3 million in 2006, and that could cause additional cuts.

Also, Rodgers said that West had promised that his political appointees, including George, would leave City Hall with him when he ends his term as mayor. George’s move to economic development adviser offers the chance for George to become a permanent city employee, she said.

The economic development adviser position is exempt from Civil Service, but is under the protection of the city’s managers and professional employees union.

Pilcher said he was “thrilled” George was joining his division. “I think he’s got some great talents.”