Council fired stellar manager

After a lot of testimony by citizens, including former mayors of Spokane Valley, regarding Mike Jackson’s honesty, integrity and commitment to Spokane Valley citizens, four very ambitious, like-minded council members voted to fire an honest and effective city manager.

The City Council makes city policy, period. Perhaps their lust for empowerment over hiring and firing of city staff and influencing city contracts led them toward replacing this well-respected city manager with a “puppet” manager they could control.

This firing process was not a normal three-touch system, where public comment is heard twice before the council, and then the council makes a decision. Hanging a notice on the front door, sending select emails and starting the council meeting 15 minutes early, doesn’t constitute being forthright. Perhaps they place themselves above previous processes, even above accountability to the citizens.

Since November, these four council members have melded into, what I consider, an organized “gang of four.” Having the majority vote, they still bully or intimidate council members who oppose their view or request additional information.

It’s concerning to me that if Mike Jackson’s honesty and integrity doesn’t fit into their “new direction” for our city, what sort of city are they proposing?

James Pollard

Spokane Valley