Retain lone dissenter

Al French supports the proposed Spokane County jail in Medical Lake, falling in step with Commissioners Mielke and Richard. Commissioner Bonnie Mager challenges them on whether the time is right to build a new jail. Crime rates are dropping in Spokane and across the country. We are in the midst of the great recession. The jail population is now 800 compared to 1,100 in 2007. Programs the jail consultants recommended have not been fully funded and implemented.

Commissioner Mager did not agree with Commissioners Mielke and Richard in locating the jail in Medical Lake instead of the current jail site, which was recommended by the jail consultants – twice.

Mr. French has aligned himself with Commissioners Mielke and Richard on this as well as the costly raceway, and I expect he will on many other issues. We must retain Commissioner Bonnie Mager. Even though she is only one vote, she is there to “shine the light,” as she often says.

Anne Stuyvesant Whigham

Spokane