Endorsement for Walker pulled

Spokane City Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin has withdrawn her endorsement of sheriff candidate Cal Walker, saying she never intended to have her name used on campaign materials even though she was one of 48 GOP precinct committee members who voted in favor of Walker over Ozzie Knezovich and one other candidate.

McLaughlin’s name appeared on Walker’s campaign Web site and on other printed materials.

“I am not personally endorsing either one of them,” McLaughlin said Thursday.

The first-year councilwoman said she believes both would do a good job and wants to be able to work with each of them in her nonpartisan position on the City Council.

“I want to move independently as best I can,” she said.

The campaign removed her name from the Web site, but was unable to change previously printed material, she said.

Her name became attached to the Walker campaign as part of her membership in the county Republican Central Committee, made up of precinct officers.

The group met last December to make a recommendation on a replacement for former Republican Sheriff Mark Sterk, who resigned and left office at the end of March.

McLaughlin, who serves as a precinct committee officer, said she knew Sterk and trusted his judgment when he recommended that she vote for Walker over Knezovich and sheriff’s Lt. Jim Finke.

When a vacancy occurs in a partisan office, the party of the vacating officeholder recommends three people to the county commissioners to fill the seat. The GOP precinct officers voted 48 for Walker, 24 for Knezovich and 14 for Finke, who did not file for election.

On April 11, county commissioners chose Knezovich, serving then as a Spokane sheriff’s sergeant, as Sterk’s replacement. Walker continues to serve as Spokane Valley police chief through a contract with the county Sheriff’s Department.

McLaughlin said that when she contacted the Walker campaign to withdraw her endorsement she was reminded that she had submitted what’s called a “precinct committee officer support card” and marked a box which asked if her name could be used. The campaign used that as approval to include her name on campaign material, she said, adding that she was never personally asked for her endorsement prior to the campaign.

Jill Lindquist, campaign coordinator for Walker, said the support card was mailed to precinct committee officers about two months prior to the December vote by the central committee. Lindquist confirmed that the card was used as a basis of the endorsement, and that an effort was made later to confirm that endorsement for Walker.

McLaughlin, who was elected to the City Council in November and was yet to take office, said, “I was feeling pressured, and I was so new to this.”