Mayor upbeat on state of city

Mayor Dennis Hession delivered an upbeat message Friday in a speech that may have implications for this fall’s City Hall election season.

Seeking to broaden his appeal, Hession stood to the side of his lectern with a touch of informality and, as first reported on spokesmanreview.com, declared Spokane a “city of promise.” He spoke before a gathering of Greater Spokane Incorporated – a newly merged organization of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce and economic development groups.

In another bit of informality, he said: “I’d like to step away from my prepared remarks for a minute” to talk about the importance of the partnership between government and business.

“We as a city have a goal of being best in class as a city. That’s a lofty goal,” he said in quickly returning to his talking points. “What does that mean? And who cares? We care because we strive for excellence.”

The business-lawyer-turned-mayor punctuated his speech by showing a video on his accomplishments, narrated by him.

Councilman Brad Stark, a Hession critic, said the mayor did a good job of cheerleading but avoided tough issues such as the need for a law protecting views along the Spokane River from being overrun by high-rise condos.

“I’m not going to knock him on style,” Stark said.

The State of the City speech may have set the stage for the fall mayor’s race, in which Hession is expected to face Councilman Al French, who has spent five years on the council sharpening a moderate, pro-business image.

Friday’s audience may be pivotal. French, who is expected to announce his candidacy on Tuesday, has pushed for modernization of the city’s land-use and development code as well as improvements to speed applications for development.

“I wasn’t sure whether it was a State of the City address or a commercial,” the 55-year-old French said, adding that “taxpayers have heard enough promises. They want performance.”

Hession, 57, was appointed mayor in December 2005 following the voter recall of Jim West. A former Park Board member, Hession has supported environmental protection but couched it in “quality-of-life” terms, apparently to broaden its appeal to business interests.

Hession won election to the council in a narrow race against Dean Lynch in 2001 and then ran for council president two years later. In that position, he presided over council efforts to get West to resign.

Hession lauded several business leaders as well as the organizers of the ice skating event downtown and then launched into a series of lofty themes – “Our integrity will never be compromised,” as an example.

He then followed up with a recitation of the need for economic growth, environmental protection, completion of a North Spokane freeway and even the need for work force readiness.

Hession called for efficiency cuts of at least $1 million this year; increased access to public records on the city’s Web site; and a “quality of life initiative” that would, among its goals, increase the number of trees in the city.

Hession pledged to use city resources to promote Spokane. “We are committed to being a catalyst to economic growth and opportunity,” he said.