‘Strong’ mayor and elections

For the last 20 years Spokane has operated under a so-called strong mayor system of government.

In fact, that system involves both a strong mayor and a strong city council, which means that a “strong” form of city government mandates that its two top leaders — mayor and city council president — be not only nonpartisan politicians but effective managers.

In Spokane, the mayor has complete managerial authority over senior city staff (including, for example, the chief of police), and complete authority over policy choices in dealing with the City Council and other jurisdictional and agency leaders within Spokane County.

The city’s council president controls the City Council agenda, manages the evolution a broad array of legislation by ordinance and resolution, and leads the council in enacting the city’s annual budget in collaboration with the mayor’s administration.

Then as well, Spokane’s “strong” leaders — mayor and City Council president — must be nonpartisan per the city charter, namely partisan not only for the best interests of all the citizens of Spokane and their future taken together, but also for the long-term sustainability of the city’s provision of urban services its residents and businesses deserve, expect and pay for.

Oddly, neither of the two primary candidates supported by substantial West Side money (in excess of $200,000 in the case of the Washington Association of Realtors apparently) has either managerial or political experience of any kind.

The one was simply a friendly face on TV and at community events for many years. The other carries only a high-profile local name. Each would be a figurehead for unelected interests.

Support Ben Stuckart and Breean Beggs.

They do have the local roots and demonstrated talent and experience to do the “strong” tasks of leadership and government Spokane’s future requires.

Paul Kropp

Spokane