Shifting vote to Condon

Four years ago I was one of the few Spokane Realtors who supported Mary Verner for mayor. This year I am supporting David Condon.

The empty foundation at the corner of Third and Division was to be a hotel. Delays caused by Mayor Verner’s administration were, I believe, a factor in the failure of this project. Instead of a new hotel at the gateway to our city, we now have a monument to the failure of Mayor Verner to support real economic development that creates real private-sector jobs in our community.

The home of a member of my family in northwest Spokane was robbed and ransacked. In reporting this crime we discovered that the city of Spokane no longer has a property crimes unit in our Police Department.

Mayor Verner negotiated a contract with the police guild that gave officers an additional week of paid vacation, reducing our safety. It seems Mayor Verner represents unions and not citizens in contract labor negotiations.

Our city faces an $8 million budget shortfall and our water rates are rising. The handling of the Otto Zehm case is a tragic embarrassment. We need new leadership. We need David Condon for mayor.

Joel Crosby

Spokane