Breaking down the primary
Spokane mayor
Mayor Dennis Hession touts “a quiet revolution” in City Hall since he came to power at the end of 2005 after the recall of his predecessor, Jim West.
His opponents say City Hall mostly has just been quiet, describing Hession’s decision making as slow and his communication skills as poor.
Voters next month will narrow the five-way race for the $139,000-a-year job to two candidates. The top two vote-getters will face off in the November general election.
Hession has put much of his focus on getting the city budget in shape, and the city’s bottom line, at least in the short term, is healthy. So much so that Hession stood firm against renewing the city’s two-year tax increase well before most Spokane City Council members, and last week, he proposed adding 24 police officers and 10 members to the Fire Department. But that came after he opposed an earlier City Council attempt to add more officers.
Two of his challengers, Al French and Mary Verner, sit on the City Council and share many of Hession’s stands on issues.
Al French made public safety a cornerstone of his campaign early on and quickly won the endorsement of the firefighters’ union. He says his business experience gives him an edge on management and decision making.
Mary Verner argues that too many citizens have been left out of the decision making at City Hall. She criticized Hession for moving too slowly to deal with low-income housing issues and added that she would work to “move Spokane’s growth in a direction that is environmentally and socially sustainable.”
Two other candidates, who aren’t raising money, also are on the ballot.
Michael Noder, a demolition contractor, says he entered the race to highlight problems he’s seen in the Regional Solid Waste System run by the city. He argues that his business experience makes him a good leader. He has promoted the renaming of the police academy after Otto Zehm, who died in police custody last year, and says he would have voted against subsidies or tax credits to developers like those recently given to Kendall Yards and to some apartment and condo builders.
Robert Kroboth has largely avoided the public spotlight. His Web site says he opposes subsidies or tax credits for developers and the fluoridation of the water supply.
“Al French, 56, architect and developer. Elected to second term on City Council in 2005. Has bachelor’s degree in architecture from University of Idaho.
“Dennis Hession, 57, incumbent Spokane mayor. Was business attorney before being appointed mayor in 2005. Elected City Council president in 2003. Has bachelor’s in psychology and law degree from Gonzaga University and master’s in tax law from University of Florida.
“Mary Verner, 51, executive director, Upper Columbia United Tribes. Appointed to City Council in 2004 and elected to the position in 2005. Has bachelor’s in medical anthropology from Davidson College in Davidson, N.C., master’s in environmental studies from Yale University and law degree from Gonzaga University.
“Michael Noder, 50, co-owner of MoMike Demolition. Serves on the county’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee.
“Robert Kroboth, 73, retired debt collector. Ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2000. Has declined to participate in media interviews or debates.
Spokane City Council
Only voters in the district that candidates are seeking to represent can cast ballots in the race. The top two vote-getters in each matchup will advance to the general election. Spokane City Council members earn $18,000 a year, and each term lasts four years.
District 1
Spokane’s Northeast District has a record number of candidates trying to unseat incumbent Bob Apple, as leaders from neighborhoods around the district take a shot at a council position. Apple, however, is a formidable incumbent, with a long history of civic activism who has developed a reputation during his first term on the council as a political maverick.
All five candidates call for better police and fire protection, though they disagree on whether the city should seek another temporary property tax increase to pay for it. Most also support greater oversight of the Spokane Police Department.
“Bob Apple, 50, operates a construction company and owns a bar in Hillyard that he now leases out. He opposes any effort to extend the two-year property tax increase voters were told in 2005 would be temporary, and he has pushed for years to establish an ombudsman to help oversee the Police Department.
“Luke Tolley, 28, operates a family-owned golf cart dealership and has been active in the Hillyard and Whitman neighborhood councils on the district’s north end. He supports extending the two-year tax levy to pay for more police and firefighters, and either an ombudsman or a review panel for the Police Department.
“Gary Pollard, 63, retired government employee serving as chairman of the Riverside Neighborhood Council and active in the Community Assembly. He opposes asking voters to approve another temporary tax increase, citing the promise two years ago that it would be temporary. He argues that any money proposed for a police ombudsman should instead be used to hire more officers.
“Donna McKereghan, 54, a former Eastern Washington University professor who runs a Web development company out of her home and a Logan neighborhood leader. She opposes another temporary property tax increase, saying “we’re taxed to the hilt.” She advocates hiring an ombudsman to oversee all city departments rather than just the Police Department.
“Robert Stokes, 38, a health benefits adviser at the Veterans Administration hospital, campaigning as a representative of the average person. He supports another property tax increase to pay for public safety needs and creation of an ombudsman for the Police Department.
District 2
Three candidates are working to bump Brad Stark from his South Side seat.
Each has adopted different themes.
Karen Cannon, who is new to city politics and admits to not being as well-versed on the issues, says her open mind will help her better represent the citizens. She says her top priorities are bringing quality jobs to the city and reducing poverty.
George McGrath says his goal is to bring taxpayer accountability to City Hall. He has been a strong opponent of subsidies and tax credits awarded to some developers.
Richard Rush has focused on the city’s comprehensive plan, which is the city’s long-term growth initiative, and said the city too often ignores it. His said his goal is “making this a walkable, bike-able, world-class city, a city that the comprehensive plan envisions.”
Stark has been the council’s most vocal opponent to Mayor Dennis Hession – though he recently has endorsed the mayor’s staffing plan for police and firefighters. He has pushed for a fire station to be built in the Latah Valley.
“Brad Stark, 28, works for Associated Builders & Contractors. Held former jobs at Boy Scouts and Red Cross. Has political science degree from Gonzaga University.
“Richard Rush, 56, stay-at-home father. Has sociology degree from Auburn University and business administration degree from Maharisha University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa. Active in Cliff-Cannon Neighborhood Council.
“George McGrath, 71, works for state Department of Corrections selling items manufactured by prisoners. A regular at City Council meetings. Has marketing management degree from Kenosha Technical Institute.
“Karen Cannon, 40, works for Domini’s sandwich shop in downtown Spokane and Catholic Charities. Formerly worked as nurse’s aide. Has government studies degree from Eastern Washington University.
District 3
Spokane’s Northwest District is unique among municipal races: It doesn’t have an incumbent running. Instead, a former councilmember faces four relative newcomers for an empty seat.
“John Waite, 42, owns Merlyn’s Science Fiction and Fantasy store downtown and is vice chairman of the city Cable Advisory Board. He has operated a citizen activist Web site, makegovwork.org, for several years and wants the city to get a handle on its budget and be more transparent and accountable.
“Lewis Griffin, 66, retired from the Air Force then served as city administrator of Colfax and Liberty Lake. He’s concerned the city isn’t following the comprehensive plan and thinks the city, county and developers should together work out smarter growth in areas such as Five Mile and Indian Trail.
“Jeremy Huston, 29, office manager for an insurance business and a manager for the Moezy Inn Tavern. He lacks government experience but says he has deep roots in the North Side and a fairly simple philosophy that taxpayers should get their money’s worth, whether through more efficient government agencies or more events at Albi Stadium.
“Dan Peck, 50, retired Qwest Communications employee, now president of Spokane North and Mead Little Leagues. He became active in plans for the sports complex near Albi Stadium and opposes alcohol sales there. While he lacks government experience, he says that’s not as important as “good old common sense.”
“Steve Corker, 65, a semi-retired public relations specialist who now teaches at Gonzaga University. He served on the council from 2000 to 2003, when the city was shifting to a strong mayor form of government and wrestling with the River Park Square garage controversy. He ran for mayor in 2003 and the district’s other council seat in 2005. He touts his experience.
Council president
It’s the primary race that shouldn’t have been.
Voters will have three choices on the ballot for City Council president, a position that pays $40,000 a year. But one, City Councilman Rob Crow, decided to drop out after the deadline to do so, which means his name is still on the ballot and, because of that, the race appears to be a contested primary.
If Crow holds to his word, he would not accept the seat if he’s elected. That would give the council the power to choose its own president.
The two other candidates, incumbent Council President Joe Shogan, 58, and perennial candidate Barbara Lampert, 61, ran against each other in the 2003 general election for the northwest council seat. Shogan won with 78 percent of the vote and later was appointed to the president’s position when it was vacated by Dennis Hession.
Spokane Valley City Council
Three political newcomers are vying for the open Position 3 seat in a race dominated by debate over growth and transportation, along with the quest for a city center.
Rose Dempsey and Joseph Edwards both filed last-minute challenges to David Crosby for the nonpartisan Position 3 seat that Councilman Mike DeVleming will leave this year. The position pays $750 a month, plus insurance benefits.
All candidates share the sitting council’s desire for a Spokane Valley city center, but each has a different vision of how to accomplish it.
Crosby leans toward the current plan to secure land near the University City mall and find a company to develop it, while Dempsey is open to the possibility of a smaller project to establish the city’s core. Edwards said it might be more logical to build the center closer to Interstate 90.
Crosby, who advocates smaller lot sizes that he contends will promote lower housing prices, serves on the Planning Commission, which likely makes him the most recognizable candidate, but he has faced questions over his years of delinquent taxes.
“David Crosby, 47, Realtor and owner of American Dream Homes. He promises to revitalize Sprague Avenue, establish a city center and promote affordable housing.
“Rose Dempsey, 63, music director at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Coeur d’Alene. She promises to improve communication between the City Council and the public and to start a discussion on consolidating Valley school districts.
“Joseph Edwards, 57, co-owner of Edwards Taxi. He promises to make the council and mayor more accountable to residents.
Cheney City Council
Position 2
First-term Councilman Patrick Rast thinks things are going well, while two challengers worry about the effects of growth and the adequacy of the municipal water system.
Doug Nixon also wants to make sure police and fire protection don’t suffer.
Jason Alvarado wants to discourage large retail chains, such as Wal-Mart, from opening stores he thinks would hurt Cheney’s small-town way of life. Rast and Alvarado share a desire to widen State Route 904 between Cheney and Four Lakes.
Primary voters will eliminate one of the three candidates for the $310-a-month job.
“Patrick Rast, 57, has worked at Eastern Washington University for 27 years as a biology technician and, for the past seven years, as an electrician. He has attended San Diego Community College and EWU.
“Doug Nixon, 61, is a longtime Farmers insurance agent who moved to Cheney 8 ½ years ago from Everett. He has a bachelor’s degree in business from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma.
“Jason Alvarado, 24, grew up in Spokane Valley and moved to Cheney five years ago. He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Eastern Washington University and is working on a master’s degree in public administration.
Position 6
Raymond Gawenit is asking Cheney residents not to vote for him in the race to replace Councilman Les Harris, who is stepping down. Too late to get his name off the primary ballot, Gawenit got a new job that will prevent him from attending council meetings.
Candidates Annette Mather and Jim Wallingford have ties to law enforcement and promise to emphasize police and fire protection. Candidate Tim Gainer says he would work on the city’s economic relationship with Eastern Washington University.
While Wallingford and Mather worry about the city’s sometimes inadequate water supply, Gainer says that problem is being solved with a new well. Wallingford and Gainer both ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 2005.
“Tim Gainer, 44, is the brother of Mayor Allan Gainer. He has been system engineer for the local cable company, Davis Communication, for 25 years.
“Annette Mather, 43, attended Spokane Falls Community College and Spokane Community College and has lived in Cheney most of her life. Mather is a program assistant in SFCC’s Security Department and an unpaid reserve officer in the Cheney Police Department.
“Jim Wallingford, 54, was a Cheney police officer for 18 years, retiring last year as a detective. Now he’s security director at Big Slick’s Casino in Spokane. He attended Eastern Washington University..
Nine Mile Falls School District
Three candidates are running for four-year terms on the Nine Mile Falls School District Board of Directors, Position 1.
Issues facing the district include school bonds and the hiring of a new superintendent. None of the candidates has held public office before, and are all first-time candidates.
The two candidates with the most votes will move on to the general election in November. The position pays $50 a meeting.
“Scott Cheney, 51, software engineer and small-business owner. He wants to focus on curriculum and bullying. He also is concerned the schools’ block schedule is taking instructional time from students.
“Rhonda Hause, 36, program coordinator with Washington State University Spokane County Extension. Hause wants to ensure the district hires a top-quality superintendent to replace Michael Green, who left the district to work in Vancouver, Wash. With passage of a recent bond for elementary schools, she also wants to focus on middle and high school improvement and overall district growth.
“Cori Reeves, 48, works in sales and has worked in financial aid offices. Reeves would like to improve communication with the district and the community to make sure voters are appropriately informed of the issues.
Orchard Prairie School District
Nine candidates are vying for three four-year terms on an unpaid board grappling with growth and fear of consolidation into a larger, adjoining school district. The top two vote-getters in each race will advance to the general election.
The district, in northeast Spokane County, has 70 students in grades kindergarten through seven. Its size makes the district unique and provides students with an education similar to a private school, with small class sizes. About 40 percent of the district’s population lives out-of-district and request transfer to the school.
Position 3
“Roy Franklin, 50, is eager to use his education and experience to improve education.
“Ron Ilg, 40, pediatrician and neonatal specialist. Describes himself as a “moderate conservative.”
“Dan Cutler, 56, software engineer at Infinetix. Plans “to try to be open and consider all sides of the issues that come before the board.”
Position 4
“Tina Sowl, 41, pharmaceutical sales representative, was appointed to open seat this year. Platform is to foster better communication between parents, staff and the school board.
“Lorna St. John, 61, lifetime Orchard Prairie resident who promises to fight against consolidation of the district with larger neighboring school districts. The district “has had to defend against consolidation for 50 years,” St. John said.
“Suzanne Savall, 50, principal at East Valley’s Otis Orchards Elementary School. After living on the prairie for 22 years would like to give back to her community.
Position 5
“Carol Ann Hollar, 67, incumbent, teaches at Whitworth University. Wants to continue the work she has done for seven years.
“Tracy Pierson, 46, works as brands manager for Food Services of America. Platform is helping school district deal with growth expected on the prairie. Pierson is the president of the school’s parent-teacher organization.
“Erik Highberg, 41, attorney, has two children attending the school. Says he wants to work to provide more extracurricular activities and better technology.
Riverside School District
Better communication and a balanced budget are key issues for the candidates seeking the Position 2 seat on the rural Riverside School Board north of Spokane.
The two capturing the most votes will advance to the general election. Awaiting the winner of the four-year term, paying about $50 a month, are tough decisions on how to cope with the district’s declining enrollment, which results in fewer state dollars. Riverside was also a party in a lawsuit against the state over special-education funding. Nearly 15 percent of the 1,800 students require special education services.
“Larry Moskwik, 60, the incumbent.
“Steven Queener, 54, a former special-education teacher who resigned this year.
“Jim Fairbanks, 30.