Council examines prospective candidates

Spokane City Council members tried to make sure Friday that anyone who wants to join them on the job realizes the hours are long and the pay is low.

That theme came up repeatedly as council members interviewed eight applicants to fill an opening created by former Councilwoman Mary Verner’s election as mayor last month.

“There are long hours,” council President Joe Shogan said repeatedly. It’s not just the weekly meetings on Monday night, he added, but a requirement to serve on seven or eight other boards, committees or commissions as well as “social obligations” – some optional, but others required.

All the candidates said they understood that, although a few said they discovered it after applying for the job and studying what’s required.

A council position, officially a part-time job under the City Charter, pays $18,000 a year, although the council has discussed a study to determine whether the job should be full-time, and pay more. All applicants said they were aware of the pay and could handle the schedule and salary with their other jobs.

Other questions included what the applicants thought were the most pressing issues for south Spokane’s Second District, and the most common answers were crime, growth and jobs. Applicants also were asked what they thought of the Comprehensive Plan and whether they would run when the seat is up for election in two years. Most said they would run if they felt they were being effective.

Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin asked each for an opinion on “Smart Growth,” a concept that directs development into certain areas of a community, and Councilman Steve Corker asked each what they thought the city and county should do in the wake of the failure of a sales tax increase that would have paid for federally mandated improvements in the emergency communications system.

Council is scheduled to make the appointment at Monday night’s meeting from among the following applicants:

“Michael Allen, director of corporate and foundation relations and the former associate athletic director at Eastern Washington University.

“Carrie Anderson, coordinator for the Urban Forest Council and member of the community assembly.

“Jeffrey Bierman, a physics professor at Gonzaga University and member of Spokane Preservation Advocates.

“Kenneth Garceau, a Realtor with John L. Scott Real Estate who served on the Regional Advisory Committee on Traffic Impact Fees.

“Dean Lynch, owner of DBL Property Management and a former City Council member.

“Dean Ozuna, audit/tax manager with Williams & Webster P.S. and a professional skateboard racer.

“John Prosser, president of Patriot Electric active in the Rockwood Neighborhood Council and the community assembly.

“Rick Shulman, Realtor/Associate Broker with John L. Scott Real Estate active in the Comstock Neighborhood Council.