Editorial: Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake endorsements

Over the past few weeks, we’ve offered recommendations to voters on initiatives and in local races that appear on the Nov. 5 ballot. Today we have a few final suggestions in a handful of hotly contested races. Specifically we took a careful look at the Spokane Valley City Council and Liberty Lake mayoral races.

Spokane Valley City Council

In the three races for Spokane Valley City Council, perhaps the biggest issue is homelessness. It’s a crucial challenge for the city and the region. Yet the differences between the candidates on this particular issue are few. Almost all agree that the city must do more to help the homeless and to mitigate the impacts they have on the community. Almost all also agree that a regional approach is preferable so that one community is not simply shifting the burden onto another. The biggest differences are in timing and what ordinances are needed.

Homelessness aside, then, voters will find important differences on other policies and in character. One of the most telling issues is whether the city should review its equity and inclusion policy. The candidates split on that question in each race.

Three candidates (Brandi Peetz, Lance Gurel and Tim Hattenburg) believe there’s no harm and potentially much to gain from an ongoing conversation about how city government can be accessible and responsive to all people. Their opponents (Michelle Rasmussen, Arne Woodard and Bo Tucker, respectively) have staked out hardline positions that the city shouldn’t reopen that discussion. The latter group is wrong. Their reluctance and even hostility to just having a conversation that might or might not result in code changes hints they lack the collaborative open-mindedness that would benefit the council.

In the specific races:

Position 2: Voters should re-elect Brandi Peetz, a one-term incumbent. She has performed admirably during her first term. She brings particular expertise on law enforcement and public safety, having been a 911 operator and a program support specialist at the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council. Her opponent, Michelle Rasmussen, has a laudable but overzealous focus on public finances that would hamstring the city from pursuing important projects as it continues to grow.

Position 3: Lance Gurel, a political newcomer, is the better option. He is a certified public accountant who understands that fiscal conservatism doesn’t mean that you never spend money on anything. Rather, he would demand accountability and commonsense leadership that works with and for all residents. His opponent, incumbent Arne Woodard, has demonstrated the sort of leadership that is grounded in his firmly held personal beliefs rather than engagement and compromise. Spokane Valley deserves better.

Position 6: Tim Hattenburg brings a much stronger résumé than his opponent, Bo Tucker, in this race for an open seat. Hattenburg previously served on the Spokane County Library Board for a decade and has been active in local politics. He would have a practical, realistic approach to running the city, preferring not to raise taxes but acknowledging that it might be necessary as a last resort given the demands that growth is placing on infrastructure.

Liberty Lake mayor

Liberty Lake incorporated in 2001, and Steve Peterson has served as mayor for all but four of the years since, including as the current incumbent. Under his watch, the stateline city has grown rapidly while maintaining the livability and amenities that make it such a great place to live. He’s asking for four more years to continue focusing on managed growth that includes smart investments in green space, trails and economic development. Voters should give it to him.

His opponent, Shane Brickner, is no slouch as a candidate. He has served on the Liberty Lake City Council for eight years and has been a police officer in the city for 12 years. He’s had a hand in the city’s successes. But he doesn’t offer a compelling vision to justify ousting Peterson. There’s nothing wrong with his vision, it just doesn’t differ much from what Peterson also wants and has already delivered. Brickner makes a good case that long-term planning is important, but no one disputes that.

In this case, two candidates bring similar agendas to the ballot. Liberty Lake voters should choose the one with a proven track record as mayor – Steve Peterson.