Rodgers criticizes West donation

Spokane City Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers on Monday criticized a lobbyist, who is under contract to the city, for making a campaign contribution to Mayor Jim West in his effort to fight off voter recall.

Thomas Parker of Parker Northwest Associations of Seattle last month contributed $500 to West’s campaign to defeat a recall election set for Dec. 6.

Parker and his firm are under a $45,000 contract to provide the city with lobbying services at the state capital in Olympia.

West said Parker was instrumental in securing $1 million in state funds for development of a high-speed Internet connection known as “gigapop” among other lobbying efforts.

Rodgers said during Monday’s City Council meeting that the contribution may have violated an anti-kickback provision in the contract.

According to that provision, city employees are prohibited from receiving anything of value from a contractor.

“The way I read this, this is a violation of the contract,” Rodgers said.

Assistant City Attorney Mike Piccolo said the contribution to West’s recall campaign is most likely legal since it involves a political contribution being reported under the state’s public disclosure law, which governs campaign financing. The contribution would have to be used for legitimate campaign expenses, he said.

Rodgers pointed out that the City Council last spring voted unanimously to ask West to resign after a newspaper investigation showed he used his computer to seek personal relationships with young men. A recall petition gained 17,000 signatures to force the December vote on West’s future.

Parker, contacted by telephone late Monday, declined to comment. “I think it’s better not to say anything,” he said.

Parker’s list of clients includes the Fox Theater, Independent Colleges of Washington, Intec, Seattle’s Monorail project, Spokane Public Facilities District, the state’s Superior Court Judges Association, Union Pacific Railroad, Washington Association of Home Care Agencies, Washington State Catholic Conference and the Whatcom County Council of Governments, according to state records.

West said Rodgers “is being vindictive against someone who would stand up for me.”

West said Parker is highly regarded as a lobbyist, and that the contribution stems from their long-standing professional relationship that dates back to West’s years in the Legislature. Parker grew up in Spokane, West said.

“Cherie can be petty if she wants,” West said. “She is making a mistake.”

In other matters, the council heard from citizens seeking to maintain $1.3 million in funding for local grants to nonprofit human-service agencies that help poor, young, elderly and sick people in Spokane.

West’s proposed budget would cut $300,000 from the grant program. Some of the city money is used by local agencies to obtain larger grants.

Spokane resident Karen Baker said, “Give this department full funding for 2006.”

Bonnie Roberts of Spokane said the proposed cut does not reflect the priorities of Spokane residents.

Michael Rossi, a resident of the Eagle Ridge subdivision in southwest Spokane, called on the council to increase fire protection to his neighborhood, and to reject the possibility of cuts in fire personnel in 2006.

H.T. Higgins, owner of Big Daddy’s Casino on the South Side, renewed his request for a reduction in the city’s 20 percent tax on card rooms. Higgins was accompanied by several employees who urged the council to consider a proposed reduction to 15 percent in 2006 and 10 percent in 2007.

Spokane County recently lowered its card room tax to 2 percent. Spokane Valley has a 10 percent tax. Higgins has said he will relocate to one of those jurisdictions if the city doesn’t lower its tax. He cited a state report showing his business lost $200,000 in the year ending July 1, 2004, and he pointed out that 123 employees earn salaries ranging from $25,000 to more than $40,000 a year.

Mayor West said he is considering support for a reduced card room tax. Voters are being asked today to raise their property taxes to bolster sluggish city revenues.

Members of Spokane Preservation Advocates also asked the council to intervene to stop the potential demolition of the Rookery and Mohawk buildings on Riverside Avenue downtown. Joanne Moyer of the organization said time is running out to save the two buildings.

West, in an interview, said an investor is seeking to gather money to save the buildings.