Fire district 8
Gregory A. Hesse
Age: 58
Immediate family: Wife Denise and children Eric Hesse, Lacey Peckham and Lauren Peckham.
Education: Lewis and Clark High School, 1965; Associates degree in fire science, Spokane Community College, 1975.
Person who has influenced you the most: Terry Reed, retired assistant fire chief from the Spokane Fire Department.
Favorite president (dead or alive): Harry S. Truman.
Job history: Spokane Fire Department from 1970 to 2003, retiring as fire marshal.
Political Experience: Fire commissioner for Spokane County Fire District No. 8 from 2000 to the present, serving as board chairman in 2003.
Top three issues in your platform: 1. Ensure tax dollars are used responsibly through sound decisions, efficient use of facilities, equipment and staffing. 2. Continue to move forward with the current five-year strategic plan. 3. Continue to maintain a strong relationship with all staff within the fire district to include volunteers and residents, full-time firefighters and the chief’s staff.
Why you are the best candidate for the position: I have more than 35 years’ experience in the fire service, retiring from the Spokane Fire Department as fire marshal. I have been a fire commissioner for the past 51/2years and served as board chair in 2003.
Campaign Web site: None.
Funds raised for your campaign so far: $2,150.
Next campaign event: Speaking with different home-owners organizations within the fire district.
First priority if elected: Continue to move forward with our current five-year strategic planning process as budget allows.
James “Jim” Oberst
Age: 60
Immediate family: Wife Dee and adult children Tim, Tami, Todd, Traci, Kevin, Julie and Toni.
Education: North Central High School; Electronics degree, Spokane Community College.
Person who has influenced you the most: Grandfather, Paul Blauert.
Favorite president (dead or alive): John F. Kennedy.
Job history: Positions with: Wards, Northwest Electronics, Deaconess Medical Center, Spokane County Fire District No. 8, and J and L Snowplowing.
Political experience: SMEA union.
Top three issues in your platform: 1. Volunteer/full time firefighters. 2. Lid lift. 3. Annexation by the city of Spokane.
Why you are the best candidate for the position: Volunteer firefighter for 29 years and Battalion Chief for 24 years.
Supervisory experience in management at Deaconess Medical Center.
Vice president, general manager and member of the board of directors for the Moran Fair, which gives me experience, and knowledge of, working for the public.
Campaign Web site: None.
Funds raised for your campaign so far: None.
Next campaign event: Unknown.
First priority if elected: Volunteer/full-time firefighter interaction.
Chuck Vyverberg
Age: 54
Immediate family: Wife Donna and adult children Susie and Matt.
Education: Shadle Park High School, 1969; B.A. in Radio Television Management, Eastern Washington University 1975.
Person who has influenced you the most: Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric.
Favorite president (dead or alive): Ronald Reagan.
Job history: From 1976 to the present, worked in information technology for what is now Comcast cable.
Was also a disk jockey at a local radio station for three years.
Political experience: None
Top three issues in your platform: 1. Fiscal responsibility – making sure that fire district tax dollars are used wisely in maintaining the excellent level of service to which the community is accustomed. 2. Getting more citizen input with an independent Citizen Advisory Committee that will make recommendations to the Fire Commission. 3. Open and responsible government.
Why you are the best candidate for the position: I have witnessed the current incumbent’s lack of budgetary fiscal responsibility in managing the district tax dollars, which resulted in him voting to raise taxes. I will work for better fiscal responsibility in preserving the fire district tax dollars.
Campaign Web site: None.
Funds raised for your campaign so far: None.
Next campaign event: Undetermined.
First priority if elected: Get a citizen advisory board appointed to gather citizen input on the future needs of the fire district.