Pace’s story mistaken

As official campaign chair for Councilman Dean Grafos in three elections for Spokane Valley Council, I must correct revisionist history put forth by Councilman Ed Pace. His spin and justifications for firing City Manager Mike Jackson are breathtakingly inaccurate.

In 2008-2009, there were Valley protests to rid the city of a multi-million dollar zoning revision running alongside a disincorporation drive expressing great dissatisfaction toward city leadership and the city manager. We had a high-priced manager who flew in from Western Washington, stayed a few days in Liberty Lake and then flew home, while exercising heavy-handed authority.

By summer 2009, Chuck Hafner and the late Sen. Bob McCaslin recruited three candidates for City Council as the Positive Change slate. Two were somewhat unfamiliar with exact specifics regarding zoning, the budget and the city manager. Sen. McCaslin then persuaded Grafos to run for a vacated seat on the promise the protests would become campaign goals. Sen. McCaslin also ran.

The relevant fact of this story is that the election was about the misuse of power, the zoning and the city manager. That manager understood electoral consequences. And the Rev. Pace was present for it all, as Grafos’ election opponent and opportunistic “friend.”

Elizabeth Grafos

Spokane Valley