Return Beggs to council

In a speech to supporters in March, Mike Fagan described fellow City Councilman Breean Beggs as someone who “is catering to special interest groups.”

I don’t often agree with Mike Fagan, but in this case he was absolutely right. Breean is indeed dedicated to special interest groups. But they’re not the sort typically associated with politicians: the wealthy and powerful, pandered to for politicians’ gain. Breean is dedicated to different sorts of special interest groups: his constituents and, more, every citizen of Spokane.

Breean’s commitment to the well-being of the community as a whole is exemplified by his advocacy for one of the community’s most vulnerable members, Otto Zehm. Thanks to Breean’s work representing Otto’s family in their lawsuit against the city, justice was secured not just for the Zehms, but for the entire community. Without Breean’s relentless pursuit of the right in this landmark case, the name Otto Zehm might be all but forgotten today.

All residents of Spokane could count on the same passion, zeal and commitment Breean Beggs brought to the Zehm case being dedicated to their service - and the interests of the whole community - if Breean is returned to the Spokane City Council.

Michael Cain

Spokane