Spokane County Democrats call on David Condon to resign as mayor

The Spokane County Democrats are calling on Mayor David Condon to resign, something the embattled executive has said he won’t do.

In a statement from party chairman Jim CastroLang, the Democrats cite an independent investigation linking Condon’s staff to the delayed release of potentially embarrassing public records until after the election. They also note the controversial choice of Craig Meidl as police chief.

The party did not take a formal vote before issuing the statement, but “I have no doubt that this is something we’re pretty unified on,” CastroLang said.

Condon, a Republican, has said the report, released a little over a week ago, went too far in blaming City Administrator Theresa Sanders and City Attorney Nancy Isserlis for failing to inform the City Clerk’s office of records related to former Police Chief Frank Straub’s ouster. He also defended the hiring of Meidl earlier this week, saying the public interview process emphasized the city needed a chief who was “the best fit” for the job and that Meidl has been auditioning for the part during his 22 years with the department.

In media interviews last week following the release of the report, Condon said he was not considering a resignation.

Mayoral candidate Shar Lichty, who was endorsed by the Democratic Party, failed in her bid to unseat Condon last fall, and he became the first Spokane mayor elected to two terms since 1973.

CastroLang said the party had not called on Condon to resign until now because they wanted to wait for the investigative report.

“I was very reluctant,” he said. “I don’t want to turn this into a partisan thing.”

The statement mentions Condon should resign to avoid “the inevitable recall process that is to come.” CastroLang said he wasn’t aware of any effort to initiate a recall, but the party would support it should one occur.

The City Clerk’s office said Thursday afternoon no recall petitions against Condon had been filed.