“The biggest change is the fact that I used to work for the homebuilders and Realtors, and today I work for the Spokane County citizens.”

Spokane County Commissioner Mark Richard, on why he would consider charging developers “mitigation fees” for new roadwork.

“That entire organization was just tremendously resilient up there. It’s amazing to me that every time we hit them with another punch, they’d fall back for a minute, but then they would just belly up and just do what they had to do to make it work.”

Jack Hockema, chief executive officer of Kaiser Aluminum.

“We found nothing to raise questions about the detective’s motives, but established protocols were not followed and the public trust was compromised.”

Deputy Spokane Police Chief Bruce Roberts, after suspending two officers who ordered the deletion of digital photos in the firehouse-sex case.

“That’s a definite. Let there be no doubt that we are going to exercise our right of first refusal.”

Spokane Park Board President Frank Knott, responding to the proposed sale of YMCA land to a condominium developer.

“I’ve been to numerous places where I won’t say there’s smoking in the building, but on patios and decks. When I’m the only one that applied for a variance, what does that tell you? Most of them aren’t caring.”

Bob Materne, owner of the Swinging Doors tavern in Spokane.

“When somebody’s struggling to put food in their family’s mouths, you can’t build a wall high enough.”

U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, at a town-hall meeting in Caldwell, Idaho, on illegal immigration.

“The fear and anticipation of what they were involved in must have been unbelievable. For them, there were only two options: victory or death.”

Devin Barber of Spokane, reflecting on the accomplishments of our nation’s founding fathers.

“It was never a concern that this would actually be executed. We were, as I say, all over this.”

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Certify, after the FBI disrupted an alleged terrorist plot to blow up commuter train tunnels in the New York area.