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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Run for commission a matter of approach

Larry R. Vandervert has nothing negative to say about his opponent and says incumbent Phil Harris has served residents well.

So why’s he challenging a 12-year county commissioner with a large campaign war chest?

“You’re quite popular, and I think you’ve done a good job,” Vandervert told Harris recently. “But I have a different approach.”

His strategy would be to make the county run more like a business and pass most decision-making powers to the county’s CEO so commissioners could stay focused developing a long-term vision for county government, said Vandervert, a retired Spokane Falls Community College psychology instructor who served on the Spokane school board in the 1970s.

Speed limits, road-paving decisions and most other rules and ordinances would be decided by the county’s CEO or other department heads, while commissioners would ensure employees follow their vision, Vandervert said.

Harris said Vandervert’s approach wouldn’t pass muster with the state or voters.

“Legislative action cannot be given to employees,” Harris said. “The people elected us to do those things.”

Harris is concentrating his re-election bid on his past three terms in office. He notes that while other governments have struggled financially, the county has avoided layoffs and service cuts while maintaining a reserve fund with 10 percent of its general operating fund.

He points to more sheriff’s deputies on the streets, an aggressive street-paving program and economic development projects such as the county’s recent takeover of a short railroad line in the West Plains to save and promote industry.

If voters liked him 12 years ago, Harris says, they should like him just as much now.

“I’m just me,” Harris said. “I haven’t changed a bit. I’m the same person I was then.”

Vandervert says his strategy could be developed to square with Washington law and points to the Snohomish County Public Utility District, which has adopted the strategy.

Vandervert isn’t running an active campaign and has raised no money.

Harris said if Vandervert believes the county government isn’t making progress, he must not be paying attention.

“We’ve streamlined government,” Harris said. “I think the county government in this county today is better than any other.”

Phil Harris

Age: 70.

Personal: Married. Father of three grown sons. Lives in Nine Mile Falls.

Education: Earned associate’s degree in business and administration in the U.S. Air Force.

Professional experience: Served in the Air Force for 20 years, including a year in Vietnam, retiring in 1973 as a master sergeant. Worked for the Boy Scouts for 18 years. Administered Spokane’s Masonic Temple for four years.

Political experience: Served on the Spokane County Planning Commission for eight years. Lost bid for Spokane County commissioner in 1990. Elected to Spokane County commission in 1994 and re-elected in 1998 and 2002.

Campaign finances: Raised $72,935, plus $1,038 in in-kind contributions.

Web site: Not operational.

Larry R. Vandervert

Age: 67.

Personal: Married. Father of an adult son and daughter. Lives in North Spokane.

Education: Graduated in 1957 from North Central High School in Spokane. Received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Eastern Washington University in 1966. Received master’s degree in psychology from EWU in 1967. Received doctorate in psychology from Washington State University in 1977.

Professional experience: Psychology instructor for Spokane Falls Community College for 31 years. Remains active in publishing academic papers on mathematics, psychology and other topics.

Political experience: Lost Democratic primaries for Washington state Senate in 1972 and 1976 against James E. Keefe. Elected to Spokane Public Schools board in 1973. Resigned from school board in 1975 to focus on earning doctorate. Lost bid for Spokane Public Schools board in 1981.

Campaign financing: None.

Web site: None.