Mayor earned criticism

My good friend Bob Isitt (Dec. 10) made a nice point about the misplaced criticism of Mayor David Condon, but I am still waiting for the Condon apologists to acknowledge that the mayor’s problems stemmed from a sophomoric lack of judgment and dubious decision-making.

Condon’s choice of Police Chief Frank Straub was a poor one, made by a mayor who was in way over his head administratively. Any experienced administrator would have understood that Straub’s record of previous behavior was going to come with him to Spokane.

When Straub’s regrettable but predictable behavior eventually manifested itself, Condon made his second blunder: by allowing Monique Cotton to bypass proper channels. He left the mayor’s office open to what was essentially blackmail by Cotton’s attorney: “Transfer and promote my client, or we go public.”

What Condon failed to understand is that he doesn’t own the mayor’s office, the people of Spokane do. Its public dimension does not allow for that kind of patronage and secrecy.

Finally, Condon’s last error in judgment can scarcely be called a mistake: He and his administration stonewalled the investigations into Straub’s actions and Cotton’s transfer until after the election. For that, he deserves this firestorm of criticism.

Matt Sullivan

Spokane