2021 Voters Guide

2021: NOT YOUR TYPICAL OFF-YEAR ELECTION

Traditionally nonpartisan campaigns turn political amid COVID pandemic mandates

By Jim Camden

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Washington voters face elections every November, but most years that follow a presidential election produce the calmest, least controversial campaigns.

2021 is not such a year.

The ballot for most voters is typical for an offyear election: short and focused on local races for city offices, school boards or other local districts

with no partisan races for county, state or Congress to be decided.

Races for mayor or city council can always heat up over a local issue, but school board races often go begging for candidates, with matchups tending toward relatively civil disagreements about local issues or funding.

This year, however, some Spokane-area school board campaigns See OFF-YEAR, 7

School board spending spikes as candidates debate pandemic

By Jim Allen

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

School board races in Spokane County this year are drawing plenty of interest – and money.

Overall fundraising has far outstripped anything seen in recent memory, with two races for Spokane School Board attracting a combined $92,742 as of Wednesday.

By comparison, six Spokane school board candidates raised only

$74,900 in 2019.

But individual candidates for Spokane School Board are behind the $36,040 raised so far by Mead school board candidate BrieAnne Gray.

Gray, a Spokane nurse practitioner, is more than doubling the $17,451 raised so far by her opponent, incumbent board member Carmen Green.

“It’s inspiring to see so many people fired up about education and getting active in the process,” Gray said Wednes-

day. “Like me, they are looking for a change.”

But Green’s campaign chest is eye-popping considering the history of campaigns in Mead.

In the 10 years previous to 2019, no Mead School Board candidate opted to raise more than $5,000, the most a candidate can raise without having to report contributions.

That trend stopped two years ago when Michael Cannon won a seat on See SPENDING, 19

For more information on Spokane County elections, contact Government EditorJonathan Brunt at (509) 459-5442 or by email at jonathanb@spokesman.com.

T2 • Sunday • October 17, 2021

Special Section

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

Geffken, Bedford vie for Spokane Public Schools seat

By Jim Allen

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Supporting students should be the top priority at Spokane Public Schools, board candidates Melissa Bedford and Daryl Geffken agree.

What they don’t see eye to eye on is how well the district has performed that task during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Bedford largely supportive and Geffken less so.

On a broader scale, Geffken worries that the district has overreached its authority in some areas; Bedford believes it’s not reaching far enough, particularly on equity issues.

The race at Position 3 offers another twist in the liberal-vs.-conservative storyline seen in many school board races this fall: Bedford moved to Spokane two years ago from Nevada and appears to have the inside track.

Geffken, a former youth pastor who has lived in Spokane for 17 years, finished well behind Bedford in the primary and lags in fundraising.

As of Oct. 13 Bedford had raised more than $25,000, with significant support from labor unions, including the state teachers’ union and the Democratic Party.

Geffken Bedford Geffken, a financial adviser, has attracted about $17,000, almost entirely from local businesses and individuals.

Both have taken their message to homes throughout Spokane, but drawing different conclusions.

“I think the biggest thing that I’ve been hearing is that a teacher should totally be on the school board,” said Bedford, an assistant professor in the education department at Eastern Washington University.

“That makes sense,” Bedford said. “But for all the other issues out there that people are talking about, like sex ed and critical race theory, the most important thing is how can we make sure we support our students during a pandemic. “We certainly have a lot of hurdles we are dealing with, but we need to trust teachers that they are going to get students up to grade level.”

Bedford’s views align with current progressive board members Jenny Slagle and Nikki Lockwood,

whose families have contributed financially to her campaign.

Geffken said he’d like to see some diversity of opinion on the board.

“The district needs someone who isn’t coming from a singular viewpoint,” Geffken said. “The district needs to hear a whole range of viewpoints, more than a single perspective – that’s the thing that keeps me campaigning.”

Geffken differs from Bedford on most major issues; however, they haven’t met to discuss them. Citing the demands of her job, Bedford has declined invitations from The Spokesman-Review and the League of Women Voters to participate in virtual debates and forums.

Bedford’s progressive leanings extend to the district’s recently approved boundary changes. She’s supportive of the district on most policies, but Bedford said she would have been more resistant to the plan.

Bedford, who taught at Title I schools in northern Nevada, said that the pandemic has laid bare the struggles of poorer families, and that more equitable lines would have helped level the field.

“If I were serving, I don’t believe I would have sup-

ported the lines that were drawn,”Bedford said.

Geffken said he views equity more as “an idea that presupposes that every single person has value, and how can we move you forward?”

In the spring of 2020, Geffken said he witnessed a district in retreat and unprepared for the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We tried to keep the boys engaged,” Geffken said, referencing his children.

But soon he was getting texts from one of his sons at 9:15 a.m. on a Wednesday.

“He was done for the day,” Geffken said.

Geffken said he felt similar frustrations last fall as he sought answers on why Spokane opened with distance learning while some neighboring districts opted for a hybrid model.

“We just weren’t getting any answers,” Geffken said.

“We just asked, ‘Can you provide some data points to help us understand why students can’t come back in some way?’ “ Resolved to run for the board, Geffken said that during doorbelling, his feelings were confirmed that he could “add a voice to a lot of parents who weren’t getting answers from the district.”

See POSITION 3, 24

About the candidates SPOKANE SCHOOL BOARD, POSITION 3

Melissa Bedford

Age: 35 Education: Earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral

degrees in education, specializing in Literacy Studies, all from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Political experience: First run for office.

Work experience: Former public school teacher (elementary); current education professor at Eastern Washington University.

Family: Partner; no children Campaign contributions: Raised $25,100 as of Oct. 13. Contributors include the Washington Education Association ($2,000), Washington State Democrats ($1,947), Spokane Regional Labor Council ($500), Spokane City Councilwoman Betsy Wilkerson ($250).

Daryl Geffken

Age: 47 Education: Graduated from Shorewood High School

in Shoreline, Washington. Earned bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Washington, master’s in divinity from Multnomah Biblical Seminary and doctorate in Leadership and Organizational Theory from Gonzaga University.

Political experience: First run for office.

Work experience: Currently a financial planner at D.A. Davidson. Served as a youth pastor in Portland, in Bremerton and at First Presbyterian Church in Spokane.

Adjunct professor in student development at Gonzaga and Eastern Washington universities.

Family: Married. Two children.

Campaign contributions: Raised $16,900 as of Oct. 13. Contributors include: Pyrotek ($1,000), retired president and CEO of Clearwater Paper Corp. Linda Massman ($1,000), former Spokane Airport Board Chairman David Clack ($250) and former candidate for Spokane School Board Katey Treloar ($250).

QUESTIONS

CANDIDATES

Spokane School Board candidates speak to the issues Melissa Bedford

Daryl Geffken

Kata Dean

Riley Smith

Do you agree with the mask mandate for children in schools?

Yes. I believe we need to do our part in protecting our most vulnerable populations, and right now that includes children 12 and under who are unable to get vaccinated.

We need to prioritize keeping students in class full time. If that requires a mask, then so be it. Our students cannot go back to remote learning.

Children need to be in school, full time and feel safe as we follow accurate science and data, but I do not agree with mandates from Olympia making our local decisions.

I will trust and follow the science, and the research is clear: Masks help reduce the spread of the Delta variant, which has put children and their families at more risk than previous strains.

Do you believe critical race theory is currently being taught in schools?

No, critical race theory is not being taught in our schools because it is not a curriculum.

It’s not hard for community members to believe that the tenets of critical race theory inform the policies and priorities of the district.

Yes. I have experienced it first-hand with my daughter. I have also met with community members along the campaign trail with similar experiences.

I’ve read our curricula and spoken with teachers: Our schools are not teaching “critical race theory,” which is a graduate-level legal framework people pay to learn.

What’s your stance on the state’s comprehensive sex education program?

I support the state’s comprehensive sex education program because it is medically accurate and developmentally appropriate.

It is something we should teach as it relates to health. That said, the topic is also very intimate and can have such a level of morality that we need to give parent choice the priority.

As sex ed relates to health, the human body and its biology, yes. However, the curriculum goes too far in certain aspects and strips parents of their position and responsibility to frame the topic with their children.

The voters in our district and I agree: Our state should provide age-appropriate sexual health education to keep our children safe and healthy.

Should schools have armed security personnel in buildings?

No, schools should not have armed security personnel in buildings.

Keeping our students safe and allowing professionals to quickly respond and triage a situation is critical. Our safety professionals need continued support to perform their duties when we need them most.

It should be a priority to facilitate training for our School Safety and Security Specialists in the best ways to deescalate and problem-solve for students with behavioral and emotional problems along with providing with proper resources.

No. I believe students would be better served by mental health and substance abuse resources, not weapons, to keep them safe and healthy.

What does equity in schools mean to you?

It means ensuring all students have access and opportunities within the education system according to their needs. It means providing students with the necessary resources for them to each reach their personal and professional goals.

Equity is the goal of meeting people where they are and endeavoring to empower them to become the best version of themselves. It’s built on the belief that each person has value, and it’s our privilege and responsibility to understand that value.

Each child individually will need help achieving their full potential. I am concerned about the term “equity” as to ensure all children have the same outcomes.

Equity is about removing barriers to success and expanding opportunity for every student in our system.

Do you believe all board members should be allowed to speak to the media, instead of just the board president?

I believe board members should collaborate and communicate, while also affording individual board members the opportunity to share their thoughts with the media.

There are no restrictions at a council, state or federal level on elected officials being able to speak to the media. I believe all School Board members have the right to speak.

I do think other board members should be allowed to speak to the media and represent a variety of community member voices and opinions, and I don’t see how one person can do that fairly.

Yes, I believe board members should be able to speak to the press to better engage with our families and communities.

School candidates present contrasting visions

Dean, Smith agree on few matters except need for new blood

By Jim Allen

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Kata Dean and Riley Smith agree on at least one thing: The Spokane Public Schools board could use some fresh perspective.

Each promises to bring just that if elected to a six-year term at Position 4 – Dean as a mother of four children attending every level in district schools, and Smith as a recent student who can identify with the issues kids are facing.

“I can really relate to what those students are feeling in their seats, and relations with the teachers in every grade level, and I want to make sure those voices are heard,” said Smith, who graduated from North Central High School in 2016.

Dean points to her experience working with drug- and alcohol-addicted teens.

“I want to use my experiences as a mother and as an advocate for children in crisis,” Dean said.

“I want to bring that fresh

perspective to the school board.”

Dean and Smith agree on little besides a desire to see the district listen to underrepresented voices.

For Smith – who works to distribute food to needy families – that means paying more attention to equity issues. He also wants the district to boost its commitment to technical education and the trades.

Dean said she’s frustrated with district and state response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the long period last year in remote learning and recent mask mandates.

The race is officially nonpartisan, but the lines are clearly drawn. Smith is endorsed by the Spokane County Young Democrats and the Spokane Regional Labor Council, and won praise from the Progressive Voters Guide.

He also won the backing of the Spokane Education Association.

Dean is backed by the Spokane County Republican Party and earned a

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Mead

About the candidates SPOKANE SCHOOL BOARD, POSITION 4

Kata Dean

Age: 41 Education: Associate degree in biology from Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho).

Smith

Political experience: First run for office.

Work experience: On-site advocate working with drug

Dean

90% rating from WeBelieveWeVote.com, a conservative Christian nonprofit that aims to help people “vote consistently according to Biblical truth and Constitutional principles.”

The seat is held by appointee Aryn Ziehnert, who opted not to run for a full term. Dean won almost 32% of the primary vote to 23.5% for Smith, but most of the other votes went to candidates who appear closer to Smith’s positions.

Dean grew up in Boise, where she played several sports at Capital High School. She attended college in eastern Idaho and later moved to Salt Lake City, where she met her husband, Collin, a medical device salesman.

After 12 years in Las Vegas and three more in Utah, the family moved to Spokane in 2017.

With five children attending district schools at the time (the oldest graduated from Ferris in

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THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

2020), Dean was active as a volunteer in the classroom.

In that role, Dean said that even at relatively well-off Moran Prairie Elementary, she was struck by the poverty she witnessed in classrooms.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic and the retreat to distance learning, which for most students lingered well into the second semester of the 2020-21 school year.

“I was hearing people talk on the sideline, parents and students feeling like the district isn’t putting the needs of kids

and alcohol addicted teens (ages 16-18), and sex offenders and sexual abuse victims (ages 8-12): Utah Valley Mental Health; Life Coach at Begin Again.

Family: Married to Collin Dean. Has five children, attending Moran Prairie Elementary, Chase Middle School and Ferris High School.

Campaign funding: Raised $24,300 as of Oct. 11.

Contributors include Pyrotek Inc. ($1,000), Mead School Board member Michael Cannon ($250).

Riley Smith

Age: 23 Education: Graduated from North Central High School.

Earned bachelor of arts from the University of Washington.

Political experience: Democratic precinct committee officer.

Work experience: Operations coordinator at a local

nonprofit that supports hunger relief efforts. Legislative Assistant at Spokane City Council. Managed Zack Zappone’s campaign for State Representative, as well as Betsy Wilkerson’s current campaign for City Council.

Family: Married to Amadi Alegria.

Campaign funding: Raised $22,600 as of Oct. 11.

Contributors include Washington State Democrats ($1,947), Spokane Regional Labor Council (1,000), Washington Education Association Political Action Committee ($1,000), Spokane City Councilwoman Betsy Wilkerson ($1,000).

first,” she said.

“I wondered, ‘How come our kids cannot be in school, when districts across the street were in hybrid?’ ” she asked, not-

ing Mead as an example.

“There was a real disconnect,” said Dean, who ran for the school board See POSITION 4, 24

Special Section

October 17, 2021 • Sunday • T3

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

Cheney School Board candidates talk COVID-19, equity, more

By Jordan Tolley-Turner THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

This November, Mark Scott looks to challenge a nearly 18-year incumbent, Marcella Estrellado, for a spot on the Cheney School Board.

Here are the views of candidates for District 1 on COVID-19 and schooling, the potential of a new high school, equity and other issues.

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“Teachers go to college and they’re not required to take a class that says ‘what to do in a pandemic,’ and ‘how to teach distance learning in a pandemic.’ ”

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Marcella Estrellado

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CHENEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

COVID-19

Estrellado said the shift of March 2020 was incredibly sudden and rapidly became much more than the district expected.

“Teachers go to college and they’re not required to take a class that says ‘what to do in a pandemic,’ and ‘how to teach distance learning in a pandemic,’ ” Estrellado said. “The fact that we had people working seven days a week for a good four or five months just to do the best we could ... I don’t have any regrets.”

Scott believes the district could have done some things differently and offered his overall thoughts on students’ needs for in-person learning.

“We could definitely have looked at taking some more prudent risks to help students deal with the social and emotional challenges of being a long way from their peers and fellow students, as well as the great role models that our district has as teachers and administrators,” Scott said about the previous school year.

“I think that this is a challenge that is not going to go away soon, and we’re going to need to continually look at balancing safety and the overall health of our students in their relationships with fellow students, staff and needing that exposure to be in a better place instead of stuck at home,” he said.

Estrellado said the district should follow government and health officials, adding, “I think that the

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“ ... We’re going to need to continually look at balancing safety and the overall health of our students in their relationships with fellow students, staff and needing that exposure to be in a better place instead of stuck at home.”

Mark Scott

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

fact that we are actually back in school, as it stands right now, that’s a win.”

Gov. Jay Inslee announced over the summer that students and staff would be required to wear masks inside during school statewide.

Multiple people in Estrellado’s family have had COVID-19, including her husband, who was hospitalized for eight days.

“If you’ve never been touched by COVID, it’s easy to say, ‘Oh, masks bother me,’ but it’s way less of a bother than getting COVID,” Estrellado said.

“Our biggest challenge is that we’re not over COVID yet, so we are still dealing with how to best keep our kids safe and our community safe, and yet move forward in progress of our teaching and learning,” Estrellado said.

Scott also said the opinion of “senior governing bodies” should be considered when making the mask decision, but “there’s an element of ‘where are the local outbreaks’ that need to be considered. If we are not in an outbreak in this county or region, then we shouldn’t have to necessarily follow the same guidelines that another area might be in.”

District growth

The candidates also discussed the prospect of a new high school for the district as its student population continues to grow.

“I think it is inevitable,” Estrellado said. “Right now we have 1,200, maybe 1,300, in our high school, and we have the room for that because of our new expansion. But, with the continuous growth we’re not going to be able to have that be the only solution, and so we will need a new high school.”

Estrellado said the district has tried moving boundaries to keep schools relatively even.

“There are times when people may not view that as a positive thing, but we’re trying to keep our ratios in good order so we can serve our students well,” Estrellado said.

Scott also agreed a new high school will be needed eventually, adding he would like to research what size high schools operate the most efficiently.

“I think we have to make an evaluation if that high school is sufficient for the community right now or if an additional high school is going to be needed for the growth of the Cheney School District, which is a pretty big and diverse school district which includes quite a few other communities,” Scott said.

As for the district’s foreseen growth as a whole,

Scott said, “I think we need to be leaders that are thinking in the future and have a vision for a school district that takes into account the growth of the community and the growth of the student body so that we’re in front of the power curve not behind it.”

Equity, levies, more

On the broad topic of equity within the district, Estrellado said “with happenings last year it became even more prevalent that ‘OK, we really need to have some discussions, maybe even harder discussions than we’ve had in the past.’

And I support that.”

Scott said the national conversation on equity and what’s best for the Cheney School District will need to be discussed among community members and voters.

“I think Cheney School District needs to stay true to its mission statement, and I think they’ve done a good job at that and trying to make sure that all students, regardless of any specific group, have the ability and opportunity to learn and be successful and learn in a safe and inclusive environment,” Scott said.

For any future levies, Estrellado said the district analyzes its needs well before any levy is passed, adding, “When we’re talking about what we need for our kids to achieve and stay current,

About the candidates CHENEY SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 1

Marcella Estrellado

Age: 56 Education: Graduated from Connell High School. Earned

bachelor’s degree in business from Eastern Washington University with an emphasis in management information systems.

Work experience: Six years with IBM in marketing to K-12 schools, four years in property management, nine years as a stay-at-home mother, four years in lowincome apartment property management, seven years and counting with Eastern Washington University in registration.

Political experience: Has served on Cheney School Board since 2003.

Family: Married. Has three children.

Mark Scott

Age: 44 Education: Graduated from Springdale High School.

Earned applied sciences in law enforcement degree from Spokane Community College, bachelor’s degree in education from Whitworth University, master’s degree in public administration from Central Michigan University.

Work experience: Part-time and full-time teacher in Washington and Idaho for five years. Washington Air National Guard since 2011.

Political experience: First run for office.

Family: Married. Has three children.

those are our priorities and that’s what we need to do.”

Scott said he doesn’t “particularly want to raise taxes for any new levies” as Cheney High School was recently modernized and expanded, but evaluations will need to be made in the future.

For students to learn at the best possible standard, Estrellado said in-person learning is the most effective for most students.

Scott said the best learning can be done with “resources, a reasonably high standard and a good school culture with a positive environment, one that is safe for them to express themselves and be themselves,” adding, “also a place that has their best interests in mind and allows them to learn at the pace that is best for them.”

Estrellado wants to remain focused on student learning and graduation rates.

“We want to make sure we are educating kids prop-

erly so that they reach their goals ... Right now, we have a graduation rate of 91% and we’re always striving to do better and improve that,” Estrellado said.

One of Scott’s priorities is appropriately managing district resources.

“We need to make sure that those funds are utilized in the best way, and we are responsible for making sure that all the programs that are the most necessary are provided for students to be successful.”

Scott said he would seek input on the community’s wants and needs, adding he has the experience and background as a military commander to “take input and also make tough decisions.”

“The most important thing to me is making sure that all students have the opportunity for success in life and that we as a community, and a school district, prepare them the best we can for the challenges that they might face in life,” Scott said.

Cheney Schools incumbent Dolle faces newcomer who wants new perspective About the candidates

By Jordan Tolley-Turner THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

A Cheney School Board member with 12 years in office said her experience brings important insight when dealing with tough issues facing schools.

But her opponent said the district needs new perspective and a new voice on the board.

In the August primary, incumbent Suzanne Dolle finished second to Zachary Zorrozua, a social and mental health professional.

As the pandemic continues Washington schools are under a mask mandate, Dolle firmly believes the masks are keeping students safe and that the law must be obeyed.

Previously, Zorrozua was frustrated about the district’s lack of communication but now is satisfied with the district’s efforts.

Zorrozua is also happy to see sports return.

Zorrozua mentioned he would personally like for COVID-19 protocols to be made by the school instead of districtwide.

Dolle believes the district will need another high school. The district has been looking for land to accommodate the building.

Zorrozua is frustrated another high school hasn’t already been built, saying most schools already are at capacity and more houses are being built within the district only adding to the population problem. He said as more students are added to the limited space, teachers have a harder time keeping up and that some students end up “slipping through the cracks.” He expressed COVID concerns at the high school with so many students under one roof.

“That should’ve happened 10 years ago,” Zorrozua said.

The Cheney School District is vast, more than 370 square miles, and many bus drivers are needed to cover the entire district. But

CHENEY SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 2

Dolle

Zorrozua

because of a driver shortage, multiple schools of the same grades start at varying times, not just the elementary, middle, and high school to get all students to school.

“We are offering incentives for the bus drivers and Cheney pays for training and getting them on board,” Dolle said. “We’re doing everything within our power to attract and keep some bus drivers.”

Although Dolle said she believes the district did a great job teaching online last year, it is a priority to get the students fully back on task and meeting standards as well as meeting their social and emotional needs.

Zorrozua said he is disappointed in the number of vacant jobs in the district.

He believes the increase of vacancies has been caused by previous employees becoming “sick and tired” of being treated poorly by students.

“Principals have to hold their staff accountable, and the kids need to be held accountable for their behavior. They can’t be assaulting other kids, and they can’t be cussing out teachers and not having any consequences,” Zorrozua said.

Zorrozua is concerned about substance abuse, noting the use of vaping among students.

“Some of those kids that have substance use issues are potentially at a really high risk of overdose or just further complicating their addiction,” Zorrozua said.

Dolle called the district “amazing.”

“I’ve been on the school board for over 12 years, and I’m very proud of the work that has happened while I’ve been on the school

Suzanne G. Dolle

Age: 68 Education: Graduated

from Westport Road High School in Louisville, Kentucky in 1971. Spent four years studying elementary education and youth mental health at University of Kentucky.

Work experience:

Worked in school districts across the U.S. as a substitute, preschool teacher, and in school offices.

Political experience:

Has served 12 years on the Cheney School Board Family: Married. Has three children.

Zachary Zorrozua

Age: 38 Education: Graduated

from Cheney High School in 2001. Earned bachelor’s in social work from Eastern Washington University in 2003 and master’s in social work in 2007.

Work experience: Has spent 17 years working in mental health and substance abuse positions, including as a primary provider doing mental health therapy with clients; 10 years working in administrative work, including as a supervisor for a Spokane Public Schools satellite classroom and at group homes and treatment centers in Spokane area.

Political experience: First run for office.

Family: Married. Has two children.

board,” Dolle said.

Zorrozua said he’s ready to start to work for change.

“I really hope that all the people that voted for me in the primary fill out their ballot and send them in so I can start bringing these concerns to light,” Zorrozua said.

RE-ELECT

Carmen Green Mead School Board

G ree n ForMead.com

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T4 • Sunday • October 17, 2021

Special Section

2021 VOTERS GUIDE CENTRAL VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

LANDA FACES WRITE-IN Race between Central Valley school board candidates CANDIDATE FOR CV SCHOOLS SEAT Orebaugh, Chalich mirrors nationwide COVID debate

By Jim Allen

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

By Jim Allen

About the candidates

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Few political races in the Inland Northwest are more reflective of the times than the campaign for District 5 on the Central Valley School District board.

It pits p r i m a ry winner Pam Orebaugh, a nurse who opposes Chalich mask and vaccine m a n d a t e s, against retired teacher Stan Chalich, a supporter Orebaugh of the current measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 who is mounting a write-in campaign.

Chalich acknowledged the challenge of a writein campaign, but supporters are counting on his name familiarity and the fact that only 25% of eligible voters cast ballots in the primary.

Also on the ballot – officially, at least – is Rob Linebarger, who finished second to Orebaugh in the August primary but has since thrown his support to her.

Meanwhile, Linebarger is leading a recall effort against the three board members who aren’t up for re-election. Conservatives also have a writein candidate at Position 2 in Bret Howell.

Not surprisingly, the Position 5 campaign is dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic and how it’s been handled by those in power: Gov. Jay Inslee and the current Central Valley board.

Even more in tune with the times, the Orebaugh-Chalich campaign is being waged less with yard signs than with daggers on Facebook and other social media.

In a Facebook post on Sept. 9, Orebaugh wrote of Chalich: “Please help pass the word he is liberal and against any changes to protect our kids.”

Chalich said he’s trying to bring school politics back to a more civilized era. He cited the Aug. 23 board meeting – when directors abruptly adjourned after some attendees refused to wear masks – as the catalyst for his decision to run.

However, his website

CENTRAL VALLEY SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 5

Pam Orebaugh

Age: 51 Education: Earned bachelor’s degree in science

and nursing from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a master’s degree in science and nursing with an emphasis in education from Aspen University in Colorado.

Work experience: Has worked as a registered nurse since 1992. Worked as a flight nurse for more than 10 years. Currently the lead faculty nurse educator for obstetric nursing at the Washington State University College of Nursing.

Political experience: Helped with conservative campaigns, including the Referendum 90 signaturegathering and campaign that was opposed to the state’s comprehensive sex education law.

Family: Married. Has five children.

Stan Chalich

Age: 77 Education: Attended Veradale Elementary School,

Progress Elementary School, Greenacres Junior High, Issaquah Junior High and Central Valley High School.

Earned associate degree at Columbia Basin College Montana-Western in Dillon. Earned bachelor’s in education and history.

Work experience: Worked for 49 years in Central Valley as a teacher and coach. He coached football, wrestling, basketball, baseball and tennis during his career. Originally a social studies and history teacher, over the course of time, Chalich says he put the emphasis on civics, government and the legal system.

Also taught sociology, psychology and economics.

Awards include Teacher of the Year and the 2009 Flame of Democracy award from the Washington State Bar Association for excellence in teaching civics and government.

Political experience: Ran for Spokane Valley Fire Commissioner in 2017.

Family: Married. Has three children.

Rob Linebarger

Linebarger, who is active in the effort to recall members of the Central Valley School Board, in part, for following mask mandates, advanced to the general election in the primary but has since endorsed Orebaugh.

includes sharp commentary by retired doctor Jerry LeClaire, who criticizes Linebarger’s allies by saying their “critical reading skills are so poor they cannot read the writing on the wall of the rathole into which they have descended.”

In an interview last week, Chalich referred to Orebaugh’s followers as a “radical group trying to push their interests down your throat.”

Again referencing the Aug. 23 board meeting, he likened the anti-mandate bloc as bullies.

“I don’t like bullies,” Chalich said. “Compromise is the key to democracy.”

However, Orebaugh said her supporters believe that the bully is Inslee.

“We’re being labeled as right-wing extrem-

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ists, but all we’re asking for is to follow the Constitution, and our Constitution says we have a three-tiered government, not a governor who does everything by himself.”

At the same time, Orebaugh acknowledges that the board is limited by the mandate and the threat by the state See CVSD, 23

Teresa Landa’s path to a seat on the Central Valley School Board was undisputed through most of the sum.

No one announced a bid to oppose the longtime educator with deep roots in the Central Valley School District.

Not wishing to challenge an incumbent, Landa had bided her time until Landa Tom Dingus decided not to seek reelection at District 2.

“I saw this as a personal challenge to Howell provide some leadership,” Landa said.

Less than three weeks later, during a school board meeting on Aug. 23, things got personal for Bret Howell.

A single father with two sons, Howell was frustrated over the statewide mask mandate that he felt was overly restrictive for one of his two boys, who had suffered a traumatic head injury.

“They didn’t give us a lot of options,” said Howell, a mechanical engineer and CEO of Nexen Inc. in Spokane Valley. “I got frustrated, and I felt there has to be a way to accommodate this, where we can do this in a safe way.”

Despite several warnings, many attendees refused to wear masks, and the board canceled the meeting.

As Howell saw it, “the board walked out on myself and over 100 other parents and citizens that were there to speak.”

Howell, who describes himself as a constitutional conservative, said he was in “good company” that night, with other parents who share his views and experiences with the district.

“Faced with what appears to be no end to this madness, I decided to run for CVSD Position 2 as a write-in candidate,” Howell declares on his website.

But from Landa’s perspective, the madness is coming from those who disrespected the board – “the kind of behavior that you would not accept in a classroom,” she said.

Howell isn’t the only write-in candidate running for the Central Valley board. Another conservative opposing mask mandates, Pam Orebaugh, won the primary at Position 5, leading to a write-in campaign by another former Central Valley teacher, Stan Chalich.

That sets up two in-

About the candidates

CENTRAL VALLEY SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 2

Teresa Landa

Age: 72 Education: Attended McDonald and University

elementary schools, Bowdish Middle School and Central Valley High School. Earned bachelor’s degree in home and family life from the University of Washington, master’s in education from Whitworth, and superintendent certification from Washington State University.

Work experience: Taught at South Pines, McDonald, Opportunity and Sunrise elementary schools. Worked as an assistant principal and K-12 director in Central Valley School District. Served as superintendent of Newport School District and in administration at Educational Service District 101.

Political experience: First run for office.

Family: Single. Has two children.

Bret Howell

Age: 51 Education: Attended Chester Elementary, Bowdish

Middle School and University High School. Earned associate degree as an automotive machinist at Spokane Community College, then transferred to Washington State University.

Earned a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering technology at Eastern Washington University.

Work experience: Mechanical engineer at Chinook Technologies, Itronix-General Dynamics, Dixon Pumps. CEO of Nexen Inc. since 2001.

Political experience: First run for office. Write-in candidate.

Family: Single. In the process of adopting two foster sons who attend Central Valley schools.

sider-vs.-outsider races against the backdrop of the tumultuous meeting on Aug. 23 and the filing of a recall petition recently against the three board members who aren’t up for re-election.

Both Howell and Landa are Spokane Valley natives.

Landa spent 26 years in the district as a teacher and administrator, serving at South Pines, McDonald, Opportunity, Liberty Lake and Sunrise elementary schools, and as the district’s K-12 director before moving on to become superintendent at the Newport School District.

“Central Valley has a very good reputation as a lighthouse district – smaller districts would look at CV at what’s going on there, because it’s a place that’s worth emulating,” Landa said.

Howell said that overall, the district “has done a fantastic job” and that his boys have enjoyed a good learning environment. He also believes that teachers should command higher salaries, “because they’re so important, and the way we get good ones is to offer a little more money.”

Landa said that since the pandemic began, the district has continued to make the right moves.

On masking, Landa said, “I think we need to follow the direction of the people who know, and that seems to be the people in the public health department.

No one knows the complete answer, but what is the most probable way to fight it?”

Answering her own question, Landa recalled that polio was eradicated through vaccination.

“And now we don’t have it in our country,” she said.

For Howell, the issue of masks is personal. Howell, who is in the process of adopting two foster children who have special needs, said he received “no support or empathy” from the school or the district despite having written direction from his physician.

“The district refused to honor the doctor’s medical mask exemption and tried to force my son to wear the mask despite the fact that mask-wearing had repeatedly caused him debilitating, fourday-long migraine headaches,” Howell said.

The candidates disagree on two other hot-button issues, critical race theory and sex education.

Critical race theory is an academic concept that looks at the nation’s history, society and laws and how it intersects with race and minority groups. Central Valley school officials stress that it isn’t a part of any district curricula.

Landa said critical race theory isn’t being taught in district schools, but that a critical examination of the nation’s history “can’t help but go along” with social science instruction.

“Why did we have slavery, and why were the Irish and other groups treated the way they were? It’s part of history,” Landa said.

See DISTRICT 2, 23

QUESTIONS

CANDIDATES

Central Valley School Board candidates on the issues

Teresa Landa

Bret Howell, write-in

Pam Orebaugh

Stan Chalich, write-in

Do you agree with the mask mandate for children in schools?

I believe the school district should follow the mandates as required by our state for publicly funded institutions. Exceptions are allowed for special needs.

No. Masking is an option.

The freedom to make choices regarding personal health is a God-given and Constitutional right. Parents know their child’s individual needs better than the state ever could.

I do not agree with any mandates without an option for opting out.

Numerous teachers have discussed how filthy the children’s cloth masks are, how they do not wear them properly and how they touch them all the time.

I agree with following the law and the guidance of local, state and national health experts to do all we can to keep our children safely learning in-person.

Do you believe critical race theory is currently being taught in schools?

No, but community members differ in their understanding of CRT. CRT is typically explored in higher education law and philosophy courses.

I believe that critical race theory is slowly creeping into our curriculum. Sometimes it is disguised with a different name and is justified with words such as “Social Justice” or “Equity” or “Inclusion,” but CRT is by its own nature divisive.

I do not believe it is officially in the curriculum. Many teachers in our area signed a national petition stating they would teach it. There is not a checks and balance to ensure this is not being taught in CVSD schools.

CVSD has stated that they currently do not teach, nor does the district have any plans to teach, critical race theory. I believe the board. I also taught history and civics for 49 years at Central Valley High School, and can verify that it was not taught.

What’s your stance on the state’s comprehensive sex education program?

To protect children from sexual predators and keep children safe, we have an obligation to include developmentally appropriate sexual health education with optout options.

It should be managed on a local level. The state CSE program is divisive, questionable and age-inappropriate. Sex education should have a primary focus on health and natural biological processes.

Unfortunately, it is state law. The sex education program for CVSD must be designed with significant parental and community input, and transparency.

CVSD will need to make minimal changes to our current curriculum in order to be in compliance with SB 5395. I support the district’s efforts to honor the multiple viewpoints while meeting the state requirements.

Should schools have armed security personnel in buildings?

Security personnel are necessary in our public schools.

Being armed is determined by their level of training and the needs of the district.

It may be good policy to have an officer there during school hours, especially at the high school level, to help reduce response times in the event of an emergency.

Yes, for numerous reasons.

They are there should a serious situation arise and they need to immediately intervene, and they can develop relationships with the students.

No. A report by the Sentencing Project makes clear that their presence does not protect against school shootings. Instead of officers, we should invest in counselors and mentors for our students.

Special Section

October 17, 2021 • Sunday • T5

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

Longtime Nine Mile Falls school board member stresses experience

By Jordan Tolley-Turner THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

A longtime Nine Mile Falls School District board member faces a political newcomer in the November election.

Greg Flemming has served on the Nine Mile Falls board for 20 years.

He faces Elise McCrorie, who lists herself as a software engineer on the Spokane County voters guide.

McCrorie declined to be interviewed. In her candidate statement in the voters guide, her focus aims to keep children safe online.

“She envisions a community where kids have the tools necessary to keep themselves safe online, and parents feel empowered to have difficult conversations around internet use and social media,” her candidate statement said. “Nine Mile Falls needs a school board director who can address the challenges of the digital age.”

Flemming believes the Nine Mile Falls School District did well with online and social distance learning and that the students were educated to the best of the staff ’s ability.

He stressed masks are required in schools because of the state mandate, not as a result of a decision made by the school board.

“It’s regulated by the state. If our kids don’t wear masks and if we don’t (adhere to) the state mandate, we could lose our state funding, and that came directly from the superintendent of public instruction that instructed all of the districts across the state,” Flemming said.

Flemming said he would like Stevens County, the community and local experts to have more control over the scenario, but said the mandate is at the state level, so the district must adhere to it.

An influx of students is expected within the next three or four years as a result of a new housing development within Nine Mile Falls boundaries, Flemming said.

Flemming hopes eventually the district will build a new high school for the additional students as well as modernization and security purposes. But consideration of a bond measure to pay for that would be a few years away, he said.

Flemming said the safety and well-being of students and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic is a priority. Flemming also said he would like more funding from Washington’s Prototypical School Funding Model as it “doesn’t supply the funding for schools to function properly.”

When asked about the potential of raising taxes for future levies, Flem-

PANDEMIC POLICIES DEBATED BY MEAD SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES

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About the candidates NINE MILE FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD, POSITION 5

Greg Flemming

Age: 63 Education: Graduated from Shadle Park High School in 1997.

Work experience:

Works in procurement at Honeywell International Inc.

Political experience:

20 years on Nine Mile Falls School District board.

Family: Single. Has three children.

Elise McCrorie

McCrorie declined to be interviewed.

Age: 30 Education: Earned bachelor’s degree in computer science from Eastern Washington University.

Family: Married.

ming said the district tries to tax as little as possible but, “we usually have to ask for more in a smaller district ... We don’t have the business infrastructure to spread out our tax base.”

Flemming believes his time on the school board is a major factor in why he remains a part of it.

“Being on the board for 20 years, I have gotten to know the district and the staff quite well. I think that plays a big part in it, being on the board for so long,” Flemming said.

“I’m still very active with the board and the community.”

Flemming also believes that with challenges such as COVID-19, getting students caught up, and school finances as well as recent changes to the superintendent and some vice principal positions, it is not the right time to make a change on the board.

In a message for voters come November, Flemming expressed excitement in having students back in-person five days a week and requested the community to “get out and vote.”

Jordan Tolley-Turner can be reached at (509) 459-5153 or at jordant@ spokesman.com.

A political newcomer hopes to bring a “new voice” to the Mead School Board, but she faces a current board member and former board president who says the current leadership has guided the district well under difficult conditions.

The pandemic is playing a large role in the race.

Incumbent Carmen Green said the district must follow rules set by the state while also stressing that the current board reopened schools to in-person learning in September 2020, the largest district in the state to do so.

Her opponent, BrieAnne Gray, a nurse practitioner, says the district must do more to fight mask mandates imposed by the state.

As a mom of school-age children, Gray said she decided to run because none of the current board members have children in school.

“We’re facing some unprecedented challenges and discussions,” she said.

“These decisions that this board (is) going to be making are going to have effects on all of our children.”

Green, however, said not currently having children in the school district offers its own perspective. She has friends and connections within the district.

When she did have kids in school, she said she would focus so much on her own kids that she would often filter out everything other than their own experience. “(Not having kids in the district) allows me to have a freedom of unfiltered response,” she said.

One of the biggest issues in education the last year-and-a-half was the COVID-19 pandemic.

School boards across the country had to make decisions on keeping schools open, closing them down, dealing with online learning and requiring masks.

Green and the board members decided to open the school district back to in-person learning before most other schools in the state. They were the largest district in the state to do so, receiving some criticism for going against statewide recommendations.

The district had the staff and resources to do so, Green said.

“We were uniquely positioned to do that,” she said.

Gray said she was pleased when the district brought back elementary students, but parents were still upset with how long it took middle and high schoolers to get back into schools and get back to extracurricular activities.

As a nurse practitioner, she said she hears from kids who are struggling with anxiety and depression due to closed schools and paused extracurriculars. That needs to be addressed when making decisions for the district, Gray said.

About the candidates

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She said she is also disappointed that for students who are quarantined, there are limited options for online instruction for them.

“That’s difficult for them to progress,” she said.

Green said the board decided not to provide a livestream of class to kids in quarantine because of the cost associated with it, which she acknowledged does make it harder for kids to stay up to date.

On vaccine and mask mandates, Gray said she thinks the decisions should be made locally. Because that is not always an option, she said the board should work together with other districts to stand up for what their communities want.

Green said a lot of the regulations are out of the board’s hands. She said she will not break the law, such as removing a mask mandate.

“We are doing the best we can given the current environment,” she said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is among organizations that recommend that masks be required in schools.

The district is not expecting teaching shortages due to the vaccine mandate, Green said, but they are still waiting to see the effects.

Another topic up for debate is the curriculum.

Gray said board members need to take a better look at the curriculum schools are using, specifically when it comes to critical race theory and sexual health education as passed in Referendum 90 last year.

“The board is out of touch with what’s being taught and what’s not being taught in the classroom,” Gray said.

She said critical race theory is “a very, very big concern of the parents, the taxpayers, the grandparents.”

Critical race theory is an academic concept that looks at the nation’s history, society and laws and how it intersects with race and minority groups. The state Legislature passed a bill last session that requires schools to provide “equity training” to staff.

Many conservatives took issue with the bill, saying it would force schools to em-

MEAD SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 5

Carmen Green

Age: 58 Education: Graduated from Port Angeles High School

in 1981. Received a bachelor’s degree in communications with in emphasis on public relations from Washington State University in 1989.

Work experience: Currently works part time as a practice coach at Providence Medical Group, working with primary caregivers and clinic caregivers to make changes in delivering care to patients. Worked as the director of revenue cycle and director of support services at Providence Medical Health Care.

Political experience: Appointed to Mead School Board in 2014 and elected to board in 2017.

Family: Married. Has three children.

Campaign contributions: Raised $17,600 as of Oct. 13. Contributors include herself ($1,550), developer Lanzce Douglass ($1,000), former Mead Superintendent Tom Rockefeller ($125) and former Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession ($100).

BrieAnne Gray

Age: 38 Education: Graduated from Colville High School in

2002. Received her bachelor’s of science in nursing from Washington State University in 2011. Received her master’s of science from Frontier Nursing University.

Work experience: Works as a nurse practitioner for OBGYN & Associates in Spokane.

Political experience: First run for office.

Family: Married. Has three children.

Campaign contributions: Raised $37,000 as of Oct. 13. Contributors include Home Center Design and Construction ($1,000), Private Money Capital LLC ($1,000), Businessman Duane Alton ($625) and Mead School Board member Michael Cannon ($350).

brace “critical race theory,” but the term does not appear anywhere in the bill.

Green, on the other hand, said before any curriculum is approved it goes out to the public for feedback.

The district is not teaching critical race theory.

Gray also had concerns with a lack of transparency from the school board, especially when it comes to budget discussions. She said the community is still upset about the closure of M.E.A.D. and Riverpoint Academy in 2019 due to a $12 million budget deficit.

“Parents want honest answers and to be brought to the table when there is discussion,” she said.

Gray said the community knew that the 2018 budget was unsustainable. Had she been on the board, she said she would not have voted for it. She also said she would shift priorities in budgeting discussions to allow for new programs that fit the needs of the students, such as special education or gifted students.

Gray also pointed to her opponent’s Public Disclosure Commission records.

Green faced one complaint for failing to report her campaign contributions in a timely manner.

Green said there was a problem on her end when submitting her campaign contribution reports, and many contributions from couples were not showing up in the reports she had to file with the PDC. She said she has since been able to get them all to upload and update the reports.

The problem stemmed from Green’s use of an older, unsupported version of MacOS, commission deputy director Kim Bradford wrote in an email. Her ver-

sion of Mac was not fully compatible with the software needed to add contributions from couples.

Green said she has solutions to work around the problem with her computer and all contributions should now be accurate on the PDC site.

The Mead School Board officials also face a complaint for reposting a Facebook story from Green’s campaign page. The complaint includes a screenshot of the post where Green thanks people for putting up her campaign signs.

The complaint, filed by Danny Cole of Spokane, said the district “needs be held accountable for this gross misuse of taxpayers’ funds.” The complaint was filed Tuesday and is still under review.

Green said the post came from the secretary at the school district who had access to the district Facebook page but thought she was sharing it from her own personal account.

It was up for about two hours, Green said.

“She didn’t realize,” Green said. “That was a mistake.”

Endorsements for Green include Mead High School Principal Jeff Naslund, former Mead School District Superintendent Tom Rockefeller and Mead School Board director Bob Olson. Endorsements for Gray include U.S. Rep Cathy McMorris Rodgers; state Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley; and Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich.

Laurel Demkovich can be reached at (509) 416-6260 or at laureld@spokesman. com.

Endorsed By

Paid for by Citizens for Nathan Jeffries PO Box 453, Mead, Washington 99021 http://www.nathanforwater.com

T6 • Sunday • October 17, 2021

Special Section

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

EVSD board hopefuls share views on pandemic response

and the rest of the board have done the past eight years.

Petersen has been involved in the district since she moved in 2017.

Being a part of the Parent Teacher Organization and Trentwood Elementary’s principal hiring committee, Peterson said she enjoyed the process of communicating with teachers and being involved in local schools.

Peterson has five children attending East Valley schools and said she would like to see the schools remodeled.

Once one of the dis-

THE SPOKESMAN REVIEW

Candidates for a seat on the West Valley School Board took opposite positions earlier this year on tax proposals.

Voters approved levies to replace expiring ones to pay for operations as wells as technology, security and facilities.

Incumbent Dan Hansen supported the levies. His opponent, Jeannette Soliai, opposed them.

Hansen said he is running for reelection to continue making positive changes to the district. He was elected in 2014 and served one year as chair of the board.

He said the West Valley School Board is highly active at the state level and used this collaboration to its advantage.

“When the state was coming with budget cuts at the school level, we saw that coming because of our state partnership,” Hansen said.

He also said he will advocate for infrastructure improvements so the district can eliminate technology deserts that limit learning. He said he wants to, “make sure every student is fully supported, whether they’re high achievers, receive special education or experience difficult home lives.”

Soliai said she is running for the school board to provide a parent perspective. She said that she prioritizes listening to parents and providing different learning options for children.

She said these include, “providing different op-

portunities for neurotypical students and students with different backgrounds.”

She also cited the importance of outdoor education and lower student-to-teacher ratios.

“I feel that West Valley is doing quite well in those areas.” She praised the West Valley district’s graduation rates and opportunities at the high school level.

Balanced calendar

Hansen said he prioritizes exploring a balanced calendar for willing families. A balanced calendar means students experience a shorter summer vacation, but receive the same amount of days off, as breaks are scattered throughout the year. Some Washington schools, like the East Valley School District’s Continuous Curriculum School, already adhere to this model.

“So just as we offer options for learning styles, such as project-based education, the West Valley board wants to explore whether it would make sense to also offer one school with a balanced calendar for those families and educators for whom it makes sense.”

Hansen said the idea started gaining support as a result of the pandemic.

Soliai also said that she is in favor of a balanced calendar school year, but more research is required to know if it is the right fit for West Valley. She said the calendar provides “the opportunity for better retention for what’s learned, regular breaks for faculty, students and

Millwood

trict’s current tax levies expire, Peterson said the district should pursue a levy to remodel aging schools.

She noted that East Valley High School was built in 1960 and modernized in 1989. The middle school was built in 1968 and added on to in the 1990s.

Trentwood Elementary was built in 1962 and modernized more than 30 years ago.

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families, and more efficient use of resources.”

Soliai said the idea would need to be supported by students and parents, and she’s heard mixed feelings from parents regarding the concept.

Pandemic schooling

Hansen said West Valley dealt with the pandemic successfully given the circumstances.

“We know that it’s been really difficult for families. West Valley did as best as possible,” Hansen said. “It is incredibly difficult for everyone in the community.”

He said he wants extracurricular activities to operate as smoothly as possible, and wants to ensure students are in the classroom as often as possible. He expressed that the board will take some of the lessons learned during the pandemic and apply them to future operations.

Soliai said the district did “a great job communicating all of the decisions they made.”

However, she added that she felt that some regulations were too rigorous and beyond what the state required. She said although the district did its best to communicate and follow COVID guidelines, her conversations with families showed concerns about

the way the district handled its policies.

“Some major concerns were a slower return to in-person instruction than neighboring districts, concerns that children were taught to be fearful and a general lack of resources that addressed the mental health tolls on students,” Soliai said.

Levies

The West Valley school district approved a replacement operations levy in February 2021, with 57% of the community voting in favor. Voters also approved a capital projects levy, which pays for technology, security and facilities, with 56% support.

The district said the levies help pay for security, buses, teachers for smaller class sizes and extracurricular activities.

Hansen said he strongly supported the levies.

The operations levy replaced an expiring levy and maintained the rate at $2.50 per $1,000 in assessed home value. The capital projects levy increased the rate to $1.45 per $1,000 in assessed home value from the $1.08 per $1,000 the district was collecting before.

Soliai said she opposed both.

“I’m not in favor of increasing the levy in terms of the number of families entering the district.”

She said she does not want to cut programs that the levy supports, and rather, adjustments to the

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Work experience: Vice president of EDRC LLC, ownership of a local Subway store.

Political experience: First run for office.

Family: Married. Has five children.

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Carolyn Petersen

Age: 42 Education: Received a bachelor’s degree from Brigham

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BARKER

LaGrande, Oregon, 1993. Earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Eastern Oregon University in 1997. Earned an MBA in health care management from the University of Phoenix in 2005.

Work experience: Serves as the chief financial officer at MultiCare Valley Hospital.

Political experience: Eight years served on East Valley School District school board. His first bid for office started in 2013 followed by a reelection in 2017.

Family: Married. Has two children.

FORKER

says her position changed after the delta variant slammed the Inland Northwest starting later in the summer.

“I think lowering restrictions would be irresponsible right now,” she said in an email. “Back when I first said that, I was looking forward and hopeful that with the vaccination so easily available, vaccination rates would be higher, therefore allowing restrictions to be able to be lowered. It hasn’t turned out that way and with a new aggressive strain of COVID, I believe that the correct response is happening from the district and schools.”

She added that the key is working hard to keep students in school and able to participate in activities.

Voelker said he also will work to maintain East Valley’s strong financial position and carry on the enhancement of academic performance.

“Our community is poised for growth, and I look forward to helping our school district continue to grow and help students reach their full potential,” Voelker said.

He said he hopes to keep local property taxes relatively flat just as he

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Age: 46 Education: Graduated from La Grande High School in

WEST VALLEY SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES DISAGREE ON LEVIES APPROVED THIS YEAR

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O U PA N R T S K P D OK R IV AN E E

Two parents with children in East Valley schools face each other in the November election for a seat on the school board.

Incumbent board member Justin Voelker and challenger Carolyn Petersen agree with the district’s current protections to keep students in school while slowing the spread of COVID-19. East Valley schools are in-person and following state mask mandates while indoors.

Voelker, who works as a chief financial officer at Multicare Valley Hospital, said the district is staying cautious and firm on following the health care authority guidelines regarding COVID-19.

“The delta variant has added another twist to this pandemic when we thought we were almost over it,” Voelker said. “I know that the students and families are frustrated with the situation, but I’ve been very impressed with how our whole community has been pulling together.”

Peterson advocated for fewer pandemic restrictions when she was running in the primary, but

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About the candidates

ARGONNE

Both support in-person school, mask mandate

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curriculum as required by the state.

Last year, the Washington Legislature required all public schools to provide comprehensive sex education by the 2022-23 school year with some requirements beginning in the 2020-21 school year.

The mandate requires public schools to offer families the option of an age-appropriate curriculum focused on issues including human develop-

ment and consent.

Peterson said she hopes to be a part of the discussion when the curriculum rolls around during the 2022-23 school year.

Voelker received the most votes in the August primary with 45% of the votes. Petersen advanced to the general election with 30% of the votes.

Candidate Emelie Braxton lost in the primary.

She received about 24% of the votes.

About the candidates WEST VALLEY SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 1

Dan Hansen

Age: 60 Education: Graduated from Central Washington

University in 1984 and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with an English minor.

Work experience: Currently the strategic communications manager at STCU, where he has worked for 13 years. Worked at The Spokesman-Review for 21 years, primarily as a reporter but also as an editor.

Political experience: School board member since 2014, served one year as chair. Served as a member of the Millwood Planning Commission for five years.

Family: Married to Pam Hansen. Has two children.

Jeannette Soliai

Age: 31 Education: Studied landscaping management at BYU. Work experience: Stay-at-home mom.

Political experience: First run for office.

Family: Married to Kastle Soliai. Has two children.

“

... West Valley is a remarkable school district and that is because of the community.”

Dan Hansen

West Valley School Board member

budget should be made.

She said that with the increase of homes in the district, she expects the district to ask for lower levies in the future.

Final messages

Hansen said, “I firmly believe that public schools are a reflection of the community they serve, and we have a really supportive community in West Valley.”

He used high Advanced Placement class enrollment and graduation rates as evidence of the district’s success.

“I could go on, but West Valley is a remarkable school district and that is because of the community.”

Soliai concluded by saying, “My family is a biracial, multicultural family

and we aren’t being represented on the school board, and I think that that representation does matter.”

In regards to the current board, Soliai said, “The current board of four members has only one director with schoolaged children, only one female director, and no multicultural/multiracial families like mine represented. We need a mom with school-aged kids on the board, and more diversity to represent the diverse families that attend West Valley.”

Sophia McFarland can be reached at (509) 4595154 or at sophiam@ spokesman.com.

McFarland’s Reporting is funded by The Bank of America.

Special Section

October 17, 2021 • Sunday • T7

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

PHOTOS BY TYLER TJOMSLAND/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Members of the Spokane School Board pack up their computers Aug. 25 at the Spokane Public Schools offices in Spokane as they move the meeting to a virtual Zoom call after some attendees refused to wear facial coverings as required by Gov. Jay Inslee’s latest COVID-19 indoor mask mandate.

OFF-YEAR Continued from 1

reflect one of the biggest controversies in America today, COVID-19 and how to deal with the virus, along with other national issues in which conservatives and liberals clash.

This controversy is most visible in the Central Valley School District, but also prominent in Spokane and Mead.

Four years ago, a pair of Central Valley school board candidates ran unopposed. This year the school board is embroiled in a debate over a mask mandate for students, with a group that opposes the mandate filing a recall petition against three board members who supported it and a write-in candidate for each of the two board seats on the ballot.

Teresa Landa, a long-time teacher and administrator in the district, didn’t have a challenged until Bret Howell, a mechanical engineer with two sons in Central Valley schools, filed to be a write-in candidate.

Landa said the district should follow the advice of public health officials on fighting the virus and that means requiring masks as the most probable way to fight it. Howell takes a more personal view of a mask requirement, saying the district required his son with special needs to wear a mask despite a written directive from his doctor, resulting in serious migraine headaches for the boy.

Pam Orebaugh, a registered nurse who teaches obstetric nursing at Washington State University, topped a three-person field in the Aug. 3 primary for the other board seat. An opponent of mask and vaccine mandates, she seemed a likely shoo-in when second place finisher, Rob Linebarger, who agreed with her on those issues, suspended his campaign and threw his support to her. But Stan Chalich, a retired Central Valley teacher and coach with high name recognition in the

Tatyana Skripnik shows Spokane Schools Security staff her mask of choice before she donned it to attend a Spokane School Board meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021, at the Spokane Public Schools offices in Spokane, Wash. The meeting was moved to a Zoom conference call after anti-mask attendees refused to don facial coverings at the onset of the in-person meeting. district, announced a write-in campaign.

Orebaugh said she wears a mask for work but doubts their effectiveness for students who might be donning dirty masks and don’t know how to wear them. Chalich said wearing masks protects other people and would follow state and local mask mandates, which are recommended for schools by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Orebaugh said the board may have limited options in the face of a possible loss of state funding for defying a mandate but said it should “try harder” in fighting it.

The recall petition against the three remaining board members is before a Spokane County Superior Court judge who will have to determine whether the complaints are sufficient to put it before voters. Even if it pass-

es that test, it won’t be on the November ballot.

In Spokane Public Schools, two more first-time candidates seeking an open seat disagree on that district’s response to COVID. Kata Dean, who finished first in the primary, is critical of the district’s decision on distance learning during the first year of the pandemic, saying it should have adopted more of a hybrid approach like the Mead district. Riley Smith, who finished second in the primary, said students should be in the classroom, but safely, and supports the district’s mask and vaccine mandates.

In Spokane, like in other districts, candidates also are clashing over critical race theory, a school of thought that believes systemic racism underlies much of American society and law. Dean said it was taught to her daughter at Ferris High School. Spokane Public

Whitworth Water District

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Running as Independent 17401 N Newport Road, Mead WA 99021

Schools officials say the theory isn’t taught in Spokane schools and Smith says conservatives are trumpeting it as an election strategy even though it’s not being taught locally or most other K-12 schools.

The other open board seat also features a clash between a Melissa Bedford, candidate who supports what the district did on COVID-19, and Daryl Geffken, a candidate who is critical of the distance learning his children experienced and wonders why students didn’t come back to the classroom sooner. He thinks the district is exceeding its authority on COVID-19.

On masks, however, they’re not so far apart, with Bedford saying the district should listen to health professionals and Geffken saying if a mask will keep students in school full time, he’d support wearing masks.

The Spokane Public Schools

Mike

races also are far more expensive than those of four years ago, with all four candidates raising more than the $14,940 reported by the district’s top-spending candidate in 2017, Jennifer Thomas. According to Public Disclosure Commission filings, Bedford has raised $24,347 to Geffken’s $16,021, and Dean has raised $24,300 to Smith’s $22,592 as of Oct. 11.

In Mead, incumbent school board member Carmen Green notes that Mead was the largest district in the state to bring students back in-person in September 2020, while her opponent, BrieAnne Gray, argues that wasn’t enough, and says the Mead board should fight mask mandates imposed statewide.

Local elections like the ones on this year’s ballot are often the starting point for political career, featuring a wide array of first-time candidates going head-to-head or challenging incumbents. In that respect, 2021 is no different than other years.

Spokane has two open council seats, one of which drew five newcomers and the other three for the Aug. 3 primary.

Jonathan Bingle and Naghmana Sherazi qualified to run for the Northeast District in the general election while Zach Zappone and Mike Lish qualified to run for the Northwest District. Incumbent Betsy Wilkerson drew a challenge from Tyler LeMaster, but Spokane County Superior Court Judge Annette Plese agreed with voters who challenged his eligibility because he hadn’t lived in the city for a full year as required by the City Charter. Wilkerson will be alone on the ballot for the South District seat.

In the city of Spokane Valley, incumbents don’t have such an path. Valley Mayor Ben Wick faces a challenge from Brandon Fenton while Councilwoman Pamela Haley will face Wayne Fenton. Wayne and his son Brandon co-own See OFF-YEAR, 19

VOTE BY NOV. 2ND

LISH for Spokane City Council · Dist 3

A Clear Vision for the Future of Spokane

 ADDRESSING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS  SUPPORTING PUBLIC SAFETY  PROTECTING SMALL BUSINESSES ENDORSED BY:

MikeLishforSpokane.com

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Paid for by Leroy Legnon

PAID FOR BY MIKE LISH FOR CITY COUNCIL · PO BOX 9477 · SPOKANE, WA 99209

T8 • Sunday • October 17, 2021

Special Section

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

Homelessness a top issue in Spokane City Council race

The two candidates for City Council in northeast Spokane are bringing different focuses and perspectives to the race.

Jonathan Bingle, who touts his Spokane roots and experience as a small business owner, adamantly supports fully funding the police department and believes more should be expected of those receiving homeless services in Spokane.

Naghmana Sherazi is a tenant who empathizes with those impacted by the housing crisis and is calling for the city’s portion of the federal relief package approved by Congress in March to be released as quickly as possible to assist in the COVID-19 recovery.

The two are hoping to represent District 1, which represents northeast Spokane, in a seat held by Councilwoman Kate Burke, who announced earlier this year that she would not seek reelection after one term in office.

Bingle, the lone conservative candidate in a threeway primary, dominated the race and earned 46% of the vote compared to Sherazi’s 27%. The progressive vote was split between Luc Jasmin III and Sherazi, who eked out a second-place finish by just four votes.

They each bring different life experiences to the table.

Sherazi was raised and educated in Pakistan before immigrating to the United States. She works as an office and communications coordinator in Gonzaga University’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Her campaign has received strong backing from unions and progressive politicians.

Bingle is a Rogers High School graduate and former pastor who was forced to pivot to general contracting work during the COVID-19

N E VA D A FRANCIS

Spokane

Bingle

pandemic as demand for his live events and entertainment business dried up. Bingle has been backed by several Spokane-area developers and was given high ratings for his conservative positions, including his opposition to same-sex marriage,

by We Believe We Vote.

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About the candidates

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The issues

Homelessness and housing have been the predominant issues across city campaigns this year.

Bingle makes a distinction between people who are homeless due to unforeseen circumstances and those who are “criminally vagrant.” The latter category, he said, is made up of people who are “overwhelmingly mentally ill and addicted.”

For those who are “trying to make it,” Bingle said “there’s never going to be a shortage of resources in this city.” But for those he described as vagrants, Bingle said they must “give something back” and contribute to society.

One option, he said, is to require people to be working or that they volunteer for tasks like graffiti cleanup to receive services.

“Every single person has great value and dignity, and we want to see them restored to that dignity,” Bingle said. “Dignity comes with work.”

The current City Council has failed to make progress on homelessness, he said.

“I live on the northern edge of the city, and there are people panhandling on every corner. We continue to see trailers and cars and people living in those,” Bingle said.

A lack of money dedicated to homelessness hasn’t been the problem, Bingle argued.

“Funding isn’t the issue, I think philosophy is the issue,” Bingle said.

Sherazi said that not ev-

Source: City of Spokane

MOLLY QUINN/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

ery person on the street has a mental health issue or drug addiction.

“God didn’t make us that way, so we need to be a little bit more pragmatic,” she said.

Sherazi believes the city needs more low-barrier shelters and urged the city to prepare for an increase in demand as winter approaches.

“Everyone is doing the best that they can, but at the end of the day to not be prepared is criminal,” Sherazi said.

“The issue is that the housing crisis is exacerbating the situation,” Sherazi added.

Sherazi noted that her rent has increased but her pay has not, so she is living paycheck to paycheck and “so many people are in the exact same situation as I am.”

“We need to get the Realtors and the developers and builders to start building right now. City Hall and City Council need to come to a consensus,” Sherazi said.

“We have to do some outside-the-box thinking. It’s obvious what we are doing right now is not working.”

Potential solutions include “upzoning” so that multifamily buildings are allowed in more areas, Sherazi said.

To address the city’s housing woes, Bingle also said enhancing single zoning is a major factor, and “al-

lowing developers to develop is a really big deal.”

“We need housing of every kind. These are things we would have to discuss with the neighborhood to make sure the neighborhoods understood what’s happening,” Bingle said.

He referenced recent decisions by the Spokane City Council to reject new single-family housing developments that required zoning changes.

“I understand the pushbacks – that we need to think about roads and all that – but right now as I’m at the doors I hear every single day, ‘My rent is going up $500 a month,’ ” Bingle said.

“Quite honestly, I don’t care what the road situation will be in the future if we don’t have the housing right now to help people.”

Bingle believes the city has enough land, but that it needs to allow developers to use it.

“The real hope for me is that people find themselves in positions where they’re building equity and building wealth,” Bingle said.

Public safety is a major concern to the people Bingle has met on the campaign trail, he said. Many in his district are worried about crime and drugs, as well as rhetoric about defunding the police department.

If he is elected, “we’re going to have a fully funded and resourced police department,” Bingle pledged.

LISH, ZAPPONE SQUARE OFF IN COUNCIL RACE

Homelessness and housing

Zappone said he wants the city to base its homeless services on models that have worked elsewhere. He supports low-barrier shelters, those that don’t put requirements like sobriety on

Zappone

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Lish

their guests.

“Low-barrier shelter is necessary for our shelter system to be effective,” Zappone said. “If you create a lot of barriers to shelters, that doesn’t help people get the resources they need.”

The alternative, he argued, is worse, and “keeps them out in our streets,” leading to issues when “they go to our parks, they go to our alleyways, they go to our streets.”

Lish said the city’s current approach to homelessness clearly is not working.

“It’s time to pivot and re-evaluate and try to come up with different creative solutions to help solve this problem and give people the resources they need,” Lish said, although he declined to cite a specific policy or decision with which he disagrees.

To address its housing problems, the city needs to concentrate on changing some of its zoning laws, Lish said. That doesn’t mean an apartment complex on every block, but the city should find ways to allow for creative housing options like allowing for more smaller residences to be constructed on lots with existing residences and condominiums, Lish said.

“Not everybody needs a home with a front and a backyard,” Lish said.

Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zappone said the city needs to ensure that it has protections for renters as the state transitions out of the eviction moratorium, and to distribute the millions of dollars of rental assistance available locally.

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got into the events businesses while an employee at Applebee’s. Finding success, he branched out and started his own company a decade ago. With his wife, Bingle operates Bent Trivia and Bent Events in Spokane. He pivoted during the COVID-19 to work as a contractor.

Political experience: Ran for Spokane mayor in 2019; lost in the primary.

Family: Married to Christina Bingle. Has 1-year-old son.

Campaign finance: Raised $69,100 as of Oct. 11.

Contributors include Businessman Duane Alton ($2,075), Harley C. Douglass Inc. ($2,000), Developer Larry Stone ($1,000), the Washington Association of Realtors ($1,000), Developer Lanzce Douglass ($1,000) and Avista Corp. ($1,000).

Bingle felt that neither of his opponents in the primary election focused on public safety.

Sherazi agrees that public safety is important, noting that if someone were to break into her home she’d call the police, but said “I don’t believe we need heavy armament” like helicopters and armored vehicles.

A bigger concern for her, she said, is infrastructure.

She said residents in northeast Spokane are tired of the disproportionate number

of unpaved roads in the district, and a lack of stop signs at intersections. She said the area needs to prepare for an explosion of growth after the North Spokane Corridor is complete.

Sherazi also wants to increase access to broadband internet, early education and child care.

“These are humanitarian issues,” Sherazi said.

Adam Shanks can be reached at (509) 459-5136 or at adams@spokesman.com.

About the candidates SPOKANE CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 3

Colorado School of Trades.

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The race for Spokane City Council in Northwest features two newcomers to city politics.

Mike Lish is trumpeting his experience as a small businessman, while Zack Zappone is an educator and nonprofit worker who believes he’s the better choice to represent District 3.

The two men are vying to replace outgoing Councilwoman Candace Mumm, who hit the term limit after eight years on the council.

“People are concerned about their public health and safety, housing and homelessness, infrastructure ... people are really wanting to see real action taken now, not just statements and plans but actual implementation,” said Zappone, a substitute teacher and program manager for Better Health Together who ran unsuccessfully for the state House of Representatives last year.

Lish, president of D.Lish’s Hamburgers, said he’s spent the weeks since the primary election ringing doorbells, connecting with voters and small businesses.

“Things have been going really well. It’s been an amazing experience and it’s going to be a very competitive race,” Lish said. “It’s really connecting with the voters, I’m getting, ‘Yes, this is what we’re worried about – homelessness, public safety, small business.’ ” Here’s how the candidates compare on key issues.

Jonathan Bingle

Age: 34 Education: Graduated from Rogers High School in 2005.

Work experience: Bingle, who owns Bingle Enterprises,

Mike Lish

ASH

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THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

and political science and master’s degree in English from University of Karachi in Pakistan. Earned diploma in customer service from Manchester University in England.

Earned associate degree in biotechnology from San Jacinto (Texas) Community College. Earned bachelor’s degree in cytogenetic technology from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, School of Health Professions.

Currently working on Certificate in Leadership from Gonzaga University.

Work experience: Former cytogenetic technologist at Signature Genomics Labs in Spokane; formerly worked at the Spokane Regional Health District in treatment services; former lab manager at WSU Elson S. Floyd College Sleep & Performance Research Center. Currently works as the communications coordinator at Gonzaga University Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Political experience: Ran for Spokane City Council in 2019.

Family: Divorced. Has one son.

Campaign financing: Raised $81,700 as of Oct. 11.

Contributors include United Food and Commercial Workers International Union 21 ($2,000), Spokane Regional Labor Council ($1,500), Spokane School Board member Nikki Lockwood ($850), Spokane City Councilwoman Betsy Wilkerson ($500) and NARAL Pro-Choice America ($500).

Age: 41 Education: Graduated from Liberty High School and

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By Adam Shanks

SPOKANE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3

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Both candidates eager to keep Spokane competitive

Age: 60 Education: Earned bachelor’s degree in economics

Work experience: President of D.Lish’s Hamburgers Inc. Political experience: First run for office.

Family: Married to Erin Lish. Has two children.

Campaign finance: Raised about $73,200 as of Oct. 12. Contributors include the Associated Builders and Contractors ($2,000), businessman Duane Alton ($1,650), state Rep. Mike Volz ($1,000), developer Harley Douglass ($1,000) and the Spokane Police Guild ($1,000), and the Spokane Homebuilders Political Action Committee ($1,000).

Zack Zappone

Age: 31 Education: Graduated from North Central High School in

MOLLY QUINN/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

“We need to make sure we give people enough time to get rental assistance so they don’t get evicted,” Zappone said.

Zappone embraces the city’s growth, but wants it to be done thoughtfully.

“On the supply side, we’ve definitely seen a lack of inventory in Spokane and we need to be promoting smart growth and infill and making sure that our region stays competitive,” Zappone said.

Economy, infrastructure and growth

Zappone would like to see the city embrace the sectors in which it already excels, including health care and education, and build an economic development plan around them.

The city needs to invest in its existing infrastructure – “that’s investing in the regular problems in our streets and potholes,” Zappone said – but also in the future. For example, the city should ensure everyone within its borders has access to broadband internet.

“Remote jobs are here to stay, so how can we create the infrastructure we need to promote those kinds of jobs?” Zappone asked.

Having taken the helm of his family restaurant, Lish knows firsthand the challenges of operating a small

business.

Lish said he’s concerned with the amount of red tape, fees and inspections required of a small business.

“A lot of people assume that if you own a business you’re making these grand profits; that’s not always the case, and a lot of times those fees come out of their pocket,” Lish said.

Businesses are struggling to find employees, so much so that many are closed on Sundays, Lish added. He’d like to see the city prioritize business sectors impacted by COVID-19, such as entertainment and food, for American Rescue Plan funds.

The city received an unprecedented boon of about $81 million thanks to the federal pandemic relief approved by Congress in March.

Lish said he’d also like to see it spent on infrastructure projects.

“We need to make sure we have a robust public input period, we need to make sure that the voters have an opportunity, or the residents of the city have an opportunity to say how they want it spent,” Lish said.

Zappone agreed that hearing from residents will be important, and said the city should look to spend the money in ways that improve infrastructure and lead to economic growth.

“It is important to get

Spokane in 2009. Graduated from Georgetown University with a bachelor’s degree in American Studies with a minor in Spanish. Graduated with a master’s degree in public affairs in 2019 from Princeton University. Earned teaching certificate from University of Washington.

Work experience: Zappone was a middle school English and history teacher for three years at Park Middle School in Kennewick. Substitute teacher in Spokane Public Schools and Mead School District. Program manager for Better Health Together.

Political experience: Ran as Democrat for state representative in 2020.

Family: Unmarried.

Campaign finance: Raised about $79,800 as of Oct. 12.

Contributors include the Spokane Regional Labor Council ($1,500), Attorney Tom Keefe ($1,500), the Spokane Firefighters Union Political Action Committee ($1,000), Spokane Firefighters Union ($1,000), Avista ($1,000), former Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart ($500) and the Washington State Democratic Party Central Committee ($747).

community feedback and input about how that money should be spent. I think that is an important process, but I don’t think we should be sitting on it for months and months and years to come,” Zappone said.

Public safety

Many people are not bothering to report smaller crimes because they know they’re unlikely to get a response from police, Lish said.

“One of the most basic functions of local government is to keep us safe,” Lish said.

Lish would like to see an increase in neighborhood policing efforts and have officers build relationships with residents, which he

said “would go a long way in helping protect our city.”

“I think we’re going to have to increase our police budget to be able to attract good candidates,” Lish said.

Zappone is a supporter of the region’s new mental health crisis stabilization facility, which is aimed at diverting people from jail, and believes it will save taxpayers money in the long run.

While Zappone said he wants to continue to strengthen oversight of the police department, he also advocated for “supporting police to do what they do best, and that’s enforcing laws and deterring crime.”

Adam Shanks can be reached at (509) 459-5136 or at adams@spokesman.com.

Special Section

October 17, 2021 • Sunday • T9

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

QUESTIONS

CANDIDATES

Spokane City Council candidates on the issues

Mike Lish

Jonathan Bingle

Zack Zappone

Naghmana Sherazi

Do you support adding fluoride to Spokane’s water?

Lish believes it should be up to the Zappone did not commit, saying voters. the city first needs to look at the research. He will listen to science and the voters, he said.

Do you support eliminating single family zoning?

Lish supports “enhancing” single family zoning, but not eliminating it.

Not across the board. Zappone No, but there are ways to enhance does support expanding density single family zoning. along the city’s designated centers and corridors.

Sherazi does not support eliminating single family zoning. She would like to see multifamily housing constructed in places like atop the Northtown Mall, which she called a “win-win.”

Do you believe city employees should be required to be vaccinated?

Lish would encourage them to get vaccinated, but “it’s their choice.”

Zappone said the City Council should defer to Mayor Nadine Woodward.

No. Vaccines have been good at reducing deaths, but they shouldn’t be required.

Yes. As a scientist, that’s what “logic dictates.” Sherazi said “it’s not a difficult decision, you have to step out of your own comfort zone and somewhere along the line and be mindful of others.”

Do you believe the city should implement a plan to ban natural gas from new construction?

No. Lish is concerned about the cost of heating the home with electric power.

The city is not at the point where it can ban natural gas connections, but it needs to be looking at transitioning to sustainable energy sources, Zappone said.

Absolutely not. The future of energy is the sun, but that time is not now. There could be significantly more deaths during cold weather if natural gas is not an option.

Sherazi called the draft sustainability action plan, which included such a proposal, a “great first step,” and that the intention was never an outright ban on natural gas. “Banning it altogether? I don’t think that’s what the objective was, creating efficiency was.”

Would you have voted in favor of the most recent Spokane Police Guild contract?

Lish believes he would have voted for it, but he has not read the entire document.

Yes.

Bingle has not reviewed the contract, but supports officers getting the contract they deserve.

Sherazi said she needs to do more digging into the police contract. She said that the city needs more police officers, but she does not support the purchase of equipment like armored vehicles.

Is the police department adequately funded?

No, Spokane has a small force for a city its size and he would like to see all vacant positions filled. It may require more money to do so.

The City Council has done a good job of funding the police and offers competitive wages, but the city needs to to ensure the department’s leaders are recruiting for it, Zappone said.

Absolutely not. The city is more than 100 officers short of where it should be.

Sherazi said she does not want to provide police with a blank check and believes there needs to be more accountability. However, she said it’s also important that vacancies in the department are filled.

Should a City Council member view their role as a full-time job?

No.

The city is growing and has many challenges, so it requires representatives who can dedicate the time and energy to meet those challenges, Zappone said.

While the City Charter says it is a part-time job, it requires more than part-time consideration and hours.

If it is going to be a full-time job, Sherazi said it needs to pay a full-time salary.

Do you support changing downtown Spokane’s one-way streets to two-way?

Has not considered it.

Zappone wants to explore ways the city can promote vibrancy downtown and improve the experience for people, which could include things like changing two-way streets to one-ways and adding bike lanes.

Bingle said he needs to study the issue.

Sherazi said she would be open to looking at it.

Municipal Judge Antush faces former Spokane multicultural director Ochoa-Bruck in election

By Kip Hill

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

A judicial appointee by former Spokane Mayor David Condon is defending his seat on the bench against that administration’s director of multicultural affairs.

Matthew Antush, 55, has the backing of many of the judges at the Spokane County Courthouse campus in his bid to retain the seat to which he was appointed in 2018. Gloria Ochoa-Bruck, 48, has gathered support of past administration and City Hall officials in her bid for the job.

Both candidates have raised funds in excess of $35,000, surpassing the fundraising totals of any judge seeking a municipal position since 2009.

Antush and Ochoa-Bruck both pointed to their experience with the legal system as the reason they should be elected.

“I’m familiar with all those folks because I’ve been working with them for a career,” said Antush, a 1992 graduate of the Gonzaga Law School. Prior to his appointment by Condon, Antush spent 25 years working as a public defender, first for the city of Spokane and then Spokane County.

Antush said his major push as a municipal judge has been to get defendants that come before him to take part in a needs assessment, which can identify services in the community they may need beyond the courtroom. Municipal judges handle cases based on city laws, which include misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic infractions, among other duties.

“It will reduce pretrial incarceration, which we really need,” Antush said of the needs assessment, which was recently funded by a grant. “Not because we’re trying to be soft, but because we cannot load up

Ochoa-Bruck

Antush

our jails with pretrial people.”

In addition to the job at Spokane City Hall, OchoaBruck has served as a judge for the Kalispel and Spokane tribes. She’s also worked in private practice, and as a deputy prosecutor in Benton County.

That breadth of experience, and a desire to bring a balanced approach to the courtroom, is what’s driving her run for office, she said.

“I think community court is great, to get people to reintegrate back into the community. It makes our community successful,” said Ochoa-Bruck, referring to the initiative that pairs criminal defendants with social service providers. “There also needs to be more broadening of those strategies.”

She said those partnerships should take into account the victims of crime, specifically property and domestic violence. OchoaBruck pointed to the disproportionately high rates of domestic violence in Spokane and Spokane County compared to other parts of the region.

Ochoa-Bruck has earned the endorsements of former City Council President Ben Stuckart, former Spokane Chief Financial Officer Gavin Cooley and Spokane District Court Judge Aimee Maurer. Becoming a judge has been a goal of hers since she became the first in her family to graduate from college. She earned a law degree from the University of Idaho’s College of Law in 2000.

“I think there’s need for the court to be reflective of the community that it serves,” said Ochoa-Bruck, who was the Condon ad-

ministration’s point person on the Spokane Regional Law and Justice Council during her time at City Hall.

Antush said he’s driven by the prospect of helping defendants navigate the criminal justice system, which he notes is not a pleasant experience for most people he sees from the bench.

“You stay at it for 25 years because you can see that it can have a positive effect on a person’s life,” Antush said of the legal profession. “That feels really good.”

Ochoa-Bruck said she’d sought appointment to the municipal court, but hadn’t been selected. She said she’s running on her qualifications, not to object to Antush’s performance.

“I believe that I can bring a lot of value to the court and expand on the great work that’s already being done,” she said.

Antush also said he had nothing to criticize about his opponent, but pointed to his own experience as allowing him to continue his work in the courtroom.

“I’ve just got to think that time of experience, that depth of experience, makes me more suitable for the position,” he said.

Among Antush’s endorsements are Spokane City Council President Breean Beggs and Mayor Nadine Woodward, along with a slate of Superior, District and Municipal court judges in Spokane.

Municipal judges are elected to a four-year term.

Their salary is set as a percentage of district court judge salaries as determined by a state commission on salaries for elected officials, and for 2021 that salary is $180,614. It will increase to $183,775 next year.

Election Day is Nov. 2.

Kip Hill can be reached at (509) 459-5429 or at kiph@ spokesman.com.

No, not at least until there is a vote of the people.

About the candidates CANDIDATES FOR SPOKANE MUNICIPAL JUDGE NO. 3

Gloria Ochoa-Bruck

Age: 48 Education: Earned a Master of Business

Administration from Washington State University in 2021. Earned a master’s in criminal justice and criminology from Washington State University in 2019.

Earned her law degree from the University of Idaho’s College of Law in 2000.

Earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from WSU in 1997.

Work experience: Served as senior director of diversity and inclusion at the Kalispel Tribal Economic Authority until June 2021. Served as the city of Spokane’s director of local government and multicultural affairs from 2013 to 2019. Has taught at Gonzaga Law School since 2012 and Whitworth University since 2020.

Former private practice attorney.

Political experience: First run for public office.

Family: Married to Nick Bruck. Two sons and two daughters.

Campaign fundraising: Has raised $47,000 in support of her campaign as of Oct. 12. She is the largest contributor to her own campaign, kicking in $10,000 of her own cash. Other notable supporters include the Kalispel Tribe of Indians ($2,000), Spokane Public Schools board member Nikki Lockwood ($500), former

Sherazi supports adding fluoride to the city’s water supply, saying it “does not cause the kind of repercussions” people are afraid of. She noted the dental health disparities caused by a lack of fluoridation in Spokane.

Washington State Secretary of Health Mary Selecky ($250) former Spokane County Commissioner Shelly O’Quinn ($250) and Spokane Public Schools board member Jenny Slagle ($100).

Matthew Antush

Age: 55 Education: Graduated from Gonzaga

Law School in 1992. Graduated from Western Washington University in 1989 with a degree in political science.

Work experience: Worked as a public defender for the city of Spokane from 1993 to 2017, when he joined the Spokane County Public Defender’s Office until he was appointed municipal judge.

Political experience: Appointed municipal court judge in March 2018 by Spokane Mayor David Condon. His run for a full term is his first campaign for public office.

Family: Married to Kristi Antush. Two daughters.

Campaign fundraising: Has raised $38,400 in support of his campaign as of Oct. 12. He is the largest contributor to his own campaign, donating $20,000.

Other notable supporters include the Spokane County Regional Labor Council AFL-CIO ($750), Spokane County Superior Court Judge Tony Hazel ($500), Spokane Municipal Judge Kristin O’Sullivan ($500), and Washington Court of Appeals Judge Tracy Staab ($500), along with several other current and former judges and attorneys in Spokane.

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T10 • Sunday • October 17, 2021

Special Section

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

Higgins seeking third term on Spokane Valley City Council Parks, police and roads are hot-topic issues for candidates

By Colin Tiernan

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Spokane Valley City Councilman Rod Higgins is asking voters for a third term in a contest that will show if the city’s electorate prefers conservatives like Higgins or will continue a recent trend of preferring more moderate leaders.

Higgins faces James “JJ” Johnson, a former member of the city’s Planning Commission.

Spokane Valley voters are familiar with Higgins, who was appointed to City Council in 2013 and served as mayor from 2016-20.

City Council members are all officially nonpartisan, but the 79-year-old former mining executive describes himself as conservative and has consistently been one of City Council’s most conservative voices during his tenure.

At a City Council meeting late last month, Higgins denounced Gov. Jay Inslee’s decision to issue a statewide mask mandate, announcing that “perhaps it’s time for a little civil disobedience.”

He has said he’s opted not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 because he’s had negative reactions to other vaccines.

Johnson lacks Higgins’ name recognition, but he’s been involved with local boards and committees – he sat on Spokane Valley’s Planning Commission for five years and served as its chairman. Johnson also sits on the Spokane County Human Rights Task Force’s board of directors.

After spending years as a project manager overseeing steelwork for large con-

struction projects, Johnson now works for Spokane Public Schools buying textbooks and other materials students need. He describes himself as “floating left and right of dead center.”

Where do they stand on homelessness?

Spokane Valley officials say homelessness appears to have increased significantly in recent years. Many local experts say the housing shortage and rising housing costs are causing more people to become homeless.

Despite the growing problem, the city lacks a thorough plan for addressing homelessness.

There also aren’t any homeless shelters within the city limits. Instead of paying for a shelter in Spokane Valley, the city sends money to the county, which in turn sends the money to Spokane where it’s used to support homeless shelters and services that the Valley shares. Valley residents who are homeless have to travel to Spokane for beds – when beds are available – and services.

Johnson said he’s not sure if the Valley should have a shelter of its own, but he wants the city to be more involved in the regional homelessness discussion.

He said the city should focus on preventing people from becoming homeless in the first place and added that’s the easiest way to address the issue.

“It’s not about sheltering someone, it’s about getting them back on track so they can be a productive part of society,” he said.

Higgins said he’s not

opposed to having a shelter within city limits, but if there’s going to be a shelter, Higgins it need to have strings attached.

“Let me put it this way: I am not in favor of attracting homeless as they have in Johnson downtown S p o k a n e,” he said. “If we have a shelter it’s with the idea that we would be working with that person, or those people, to get them out of homelessness, not simply to provide them with a place to stay.”

Spokane “subsidizes” people who are homeless and incentivizes homelessness, Higgins said. He also said he believes that eight or nine homeless people out of 10 are homeless due to mental health issues or drug addiction.

Only one or two homeless individuals out of 10 became homeless due to other circumstances, Higgins said.

“Those are the people we want to help,” he said. “The other people, maybe their life choices, maybe they can’t help themselves, but they need a different kind of help than living on the street, but they also ought not to be occupying parks and stuff like that.”

Higgins said the money the city sends to Spokane – currently about $750,000 a year – should instead be distributed to Spokane Valley nonprofits, such as Valley Partners.

“I think we could funnel our money through those (nonprofits) and use it

much more efficiently for the benefit of homeless people,” Higgins said.

Should the city keep investing in parks and trails?

In the past few years, Spokane Valley has made several major land acquisitions with the goal of expanding the city’s parks and trail system.

In 2020, the City Council voted to buy 45 acres of undeveloped land along the Spokane River for $2.1 million. That former state Department of Transportation waterfront property is located south of Flora Road and Euclid Avenue.

This year, the City Council spent $1.6 million for 17.7 acres of undeveloped land in the Ponderosa neighborhood.

Some council members have argued that investing in parks and trails now, while some undeveloped land is still available, is critical. Others have said that, while they like parks and trails, the city’s focus should be elsewhere for the time being.

Johnson describes himself as a big parks and trails proponent and said that as the Valley builds more housing it will become increasingly important to set aside park space.

“The city of Spokane Valley is under-parked, and I am very much in favor of the land acquisitions that were done recently,” he said.

In 2020, Higgins wanted the city to hold off on buying the Flora Road property.

He said he wanted to wait because the COVID-19 pandemic had made the city’s future financial standing uncertain.

He said he “hasn’t developed a position” on whether See POSITION 1, 11

About the candidates SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL, POSITION 1

Rod Higgins

Age: 79 Education: Grew up in Wallace, Idaho. Graduated from the University of Idaho.

Work experience: Spent much of his career in the

mining industry. Was executive director of the Nevada Mining Association for four years.

Political experience: Was appointed to Spokane Valley City Council in 2013. Elected to the seat in 2013 and 2017. Served as mayor from 2016 to 2020.

Family: Married to Gloria Higgins for 50 years. Has two kids.

Campaign fundraising: Raised $17,900, as of Oct. 11, including more than $5,800 that he loaned to himself.

Contributors include Spokane Valley businessman Jack Pring ($1,000), former Spokane County Republican Party chairwoman Cynthia Zapatocky ($1,000), Associated Builders and Contractors ($500), Republican state Sen. Mike Padden ($125), candidate for Spokane Valley City Council Position 7 Laura Padden ($125), Spokane County Assessor Tom Konis and Kathy Konis, ($50 each), and Spokane Valley City Councilman Arne Woodard ($500).

James “JJ” Johnson

Age: 64 Education: Graduated from Central Valley High School

in 1975. Went to Eastern Washington University and holds a mechanical engineering degree from Spokane Community College.

Work experience: Spent years working as a project manager in the steel business, constructing buildings.

Now works for Spokane Public Schools buying textbooks and other items students need for their studies.

Political experience: Spent five years on the Spokane Valley Planning Commission and served as the commission’s chair.

Family: Has three kids. Engaged to Sheryl Stone.

Campaign fundraising: Raised $16,300 as of Oct. 11, including $1,900 that he loaned to himself.

Contributors include Rick Wilhite, husband of former Spokane Valley Mayor and Spokane County Republican Party leader Diana Wilhite ($500), former Spokane County Democratic Party chairman Ed Wood ($50), the Spokane Regional Labor Council ($1,500), United Association of Plumbing and Steamfitters Labor Union No. 44 ($1,000), Jerry Dicker-owned GVD Hospitality Management Services ($1,000), the Washington Teamsters Legislative League ($500), former Spokane Valley City Councilman Bill Gothmann ($200), Elizabeth Grafos, wife of former Spokane Valley Mayor Dean Grafos ($500), and Spokane Valley City Councilman Tim Hattenburg ($50).

SPOKANE VALLEY MAYOR HOPING TO FEND OFF POLITICAL NEWCOMER Wick faces Fenton, a bar owner who opposes COVID restrictions

By Colin Tiernan

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Ben Wick and Brandon Fenton grew up in the same town.

They graduated from the same high school, in the same year, and decided to stay in Spokane Valley as adults. They both describe themselves as conservative.

But the list of similarities between the former classmates – who never knew each other well when they attended East Valley High School – isn’t terribly long.

Wick, Spokane Valley’s mayor, has been involved in Spokane Valley politics for nearly 20 years, since before the city incorporated in 2003. He ran for the inaugural City Council when he was a college student and kept trying for to get on council until 2012, when he finally won a seat.

In 4-3 City Council decisions, Wick sometimes votes in the majority alongside council members Brandi Peetz, Tim Hattenburg and Linda Thompson.

Fenton doesn’t have any political experience and said running for office never once crossed his mind until the pandemic began. The self-described Trump Republican said state and federal COVID-19 restrictions spurred him to run for City Council. Fenton’s bar, The Black Diamond, was fined $500 for ignoring Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home order during the pandemic.

“It should be us at the local level, City Council and the county commissioners and the mayors – all of them – that should be pushing back and fighting against Gov. Inslee and filing lawsuits or just straight up becoming a sanctuary city if we have to,” Fenton said.

If elected, Fenton said he would like to see the city attorney look for legal technicalities that could allow the city to “fight back” against Inslee’s mask and vaccine mandates.

“I’m sure that there’s something that we can do to trip him up, to make him have to backtrack,” Fenton said.

In addition to fighting the state and federal government, Fenton said he would be focused on addressing homelessness, public safety and reducing spending if elected.

Wick said if he’s re-elected

he’ll be especially focused on public safety, transportation infrastructure, managing growth and fiscal responsibility.

Based on the results of the August primary election, the incumbent Wick is a heavy favorite to win. He managed 60% of the vote, compared to 30% for Fenton. That was easily the most dominant showing any City Council candidate had in the primary.

Two candidates, Christopher Ingraham and Mark McManus, each received 5% of the vote during the primary. Ingraham never actively campaigned. McManus dropped out, then endorsed Fenton.

Here’s a look at where Wick and Fenton stand on some major issues facing the city.

Roads

In recent years, Spokane Valley has been funding road maintenance with money collected through a telephone tax.

The telephone tax has been bringing in less revenue every year, forcing the city to come up with other ways to pay for preventative maintenance and other projects.

Fenton said the city should avoid creating any new taxes to pay for road maintenance and simply incorporate road maintenance costs into the general budget. His main focus, he said, is less on where the money should come from and more on reducing road spending overall.

He said many of the city’s recent road projects are unnecessary.

Wick isn’t advocating for a new tax either, but he disagreed with Fenton about the value of the city’s road projects. Preventing a road from falling into disrepair is far cheaper than completely rebuilding it, he said, so keeping roads in good shape is worth the investment.

At the same time, Wick noted the city should always be looking for ways to maintain roads more cheaply.

Right now, Wick said he doesn’t have a plan for how the city can pay for roads in the future. Instead, he said he’s eager to see what ideas the city’s recently formed Streets Sustainability Committee comes up with.

Law enforcement

Spokane Valley is a contract city. That means the city operates with a skeleton crew of

About the candidates SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL, POSITION 4

Ben Wick

Age: 39 Education: East Valley High School graduate. Graduated from Eastern

Washington University summa cum laude with a degree in computer science.

Work experience: Works in IT, purchasing, shipping, receiving and production scheduling at Spokane Industries. Also owns the Spokane Valley Current and Liberty Lake Splash.

Political experience: Serving his second term on City Council, currently serving as Spokane Valley mayor. (Spokane Valley City Council chooses a mayor from its council members.)

Family: Has four kids with wife Danica Wick.

Campaign fundraising: Raised $15,900 as of Oct. 11. Wick has given himself $5,300 in in-kind contributions. Contributors include Katie McKay ($1,000), the political action committee of the Inland Northwest chapter of Associated General Contractors of America ($1,000), contractor and Spokane County Commissioner Mary Kuney’s husband Max Kuney ($500) and Spokane Valley City Councilmembers Brandi Peetz ($114.50), Tim Hattenburg ($55) and Linda Thompson ($62.50).

Brandon Fenton

Age: 39 Education: East Valley High School graduate and has an associate’s degree from Spokane Falls Community College.

Work experience: Owner of The Black Diamond, a bar and pool hall in Spokane Valley. Formerly worked at the Fairchild Air Force Base with the Washington Air National Guard as a fuel systems journeyman with the rank of technical sergeant.

Political experience: None.

Family: Single with two kids.

Campaign fundraising: Raised $6,400 as of Oct. 11, including a $5,000 loan given to himself. Contributors include Republican 4th Legislative District Rep. Bob McCaslin ($50), Spokane Valley City Councilman Rod Higgins’ wife Gloria Higgins ($50), vocal John Birch Society member and former Spokane Valley City Councilman Caleb Collier ($100) and Republican 4th Legislative District Rep. Rob Chase ($100). Fenton’s largest donation comes from Brian Weitzel ($200).

full-time employees and pays other private or government entities to do a variety of jobs the city lacks the staff to perform.

For law enforcement, the Spokane Valley contracts with the Spokane County Sheriff ’s Office. At different times in the city’s history, city leaders have proposed splitting from the sheriff ’s office and creating a separate police department.

The question could come up once again as the sheriff ’s office, like law enforcement agencies throughout the country, struggles to fill open positions.

Wick and Fenton both are opposed to the Valley creating its own police department.

“We have a great relationship with the Spokane County Sheriff ’s Office,” Wick said.

Wick said the contract with the sheriff ’s office can always be tweaked and improved, but splitting away from the county and creating a separate police department won’t help solve staffing shortages.

Fenton said he wants a full

investigation into why the sheriff ’s office is struggling to hire and fill all of its open positions.

“We have to find out what’s going on,” Fenton said. “Something’s wrong, and the City Council should be looking into that.”

Parks and trails

In the past couple of years, Spokane Valley City Council has made a handful of purchases with the intent of adding to the city’s parks and trails.

Two acquisitions have stood out: the $2.1 million purchase of 45 acres along Spokane River south of Flora Road and Euclid Avenue and a $1.6 million purchase of 18 acres in the Ponderosa Neighborhood. Both chunks of land are slated to become new parks.

Wick is a strong supporter of the purchases. He said if the city hadn’t bought the Flora Road property, someone else would have.

“We’ll never get another opportunity to come up with 40

Wick

Fenton

acres along the river,” Wick said. “Especially not one that accesses the river at grade.”

Fenton said he wouldn’t have voted to buy either of the future park properties. Houses could have been built on those lands, which would have helped address the city’s housing shortage, he said.

Spokane Valley shouldn’t be spending millions on parks when it has greater needs, Fenton said.

“There needs to be a little bit of the tightening of the belt,” he said.

Homelessness

Many in Spokane Valley say homelessness seems to have risen in the past few years, and they point to a housing shortage as a major driver.

The city continues to lack a shelter. Anyone seeking a bed has to go to one of the Spokane shelters, which the Spokane Valley supports financially.

Wick and Fenton both say there shouldn’t be a shelter in Spokane Valley city limits.

Earlier this year, the City Council hired Arielle Anderson as a housing and homeless coordinator. Anderson helps the city develop plans for addressing housing and homelessness issues, and also interacts directly with homeless individuals. For instance, Anderson might help people in a homeless camp find housing or assist someone without any ID to get the necessary documents required to land a job.

Wick said Anderson’s hiring is a big step in the right direction for the city.

“I’m a strong advocate that we need to increase our outreach to try to connect people to services,” Wick said.

Fenton said he thinks the city shouldn’t have hired Anderson and called the decision “irresponsible.”

“I think that money can be better spent elsewhere,” he said, explaining that he would rather have all of the city’s money dedicated to addressing homelessness be sent to nonprofits, such as the Union Gospel Mission.

Colin Tiernan can be reached at (509) 459-5039 or at colint@ spokesman.com.

Special Section

October 17, 2021 • Sunday • T11

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

Valley council race pits incumbent Haley against bar owner Fenton

By Colin Tiernan

About the candidate

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

In the conservative versus conservative battle for Spokane Valley City Council Seat No. 5, will voters choose a familiar candidate in City Councilwoman Pam Haley, or will they opt for a political outsider bestknown for flouting Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-home order during the pandemic?

Haley has served on Spokane Valley City Council for six years. She’s generally viewed as one of the more conservative members, sometimes voting in the minority alongside councilmen Rod Higgins and Arne Woodard in 4-3 council decisions. Haley, who has spent much of her adult life running day care facilities in Spokane, said if she’s reelected to council her main priorities will be public safety, infrastructure and homelessness.

Her challenger, Wayne Fenton, has never held an elected position but he’s not entirely unknown. He made headlines during the pandemic when The Black Diamond, the bar he co-owns with his son and fellow City Council candidate Brandon Fenton, remained open in defiance of the governor’s mandate.

Fenton said Spokane Valley’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic inspired his run for local office. He called himself a one-issue candidate intent on pushing back against government overreach.

“The issue that I am focused on is the freedoms that are being taken away from us right now, on a federal and state level,” Fenton said.

City leaders don’t have the power to ignore state or federal laws, but Fenton said that shouldn’t stop the city from making a stand.

“I think the City Council here should be fighting Inslee and Washington, D.C., on the things that they’re doing that don’t play into our area,” Fenton said. “There’s not going to be anything left if we allow Olympia and

POSITION 1 Continued from 10

the city should be investing heavily in parks and trails right now, but he does want the city to follow through on any unfinished projects.

Should the Valley have its own police department?

Spokane Valley is a contract city.

In practice, that means the city operates with a skeleton crew of employees. Instead of hiring more people, Spokane Valley contracts with various private and governmental entities for services.

For law enforcement needs, the Valley contracts with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

It often looks like Spokane Valley has its own police department – Valley police cruisers have their own custom paint jobs, for instance – but Valley officers are part of the Sheriff’s Office.

Many Spokane Valley leaders tout the benefits of the arrangement, arguing it saves the city money. Still, people have debated for years the pros and cons of relying on the Sheriff’s Office for police needs.

Higgins noted that the Sheriff’s Office is shortstaffed and Spokane Valley is shorthanded by about 10 officers.

“We need to fix that however we can,” he said.

Spokane Valley is paying for “hellacious” amounts of overtime, because officers are working extra hours to cover for unfilled shifts, Higgins said. He said it’s time once again for the city to consider forming its own police department.

“It shouldn’t be off the table, let’s put it that way,” Higgins said. “We’re on the horns of a dilemma.”

Johnson said he wants the city to continue contracting with the Sheriff’s Office.

“It’s a very cost-effective deal,” he said. “It seems like we’ve got a pretty good law enforcement agency in the county, so contracting through them just makes perfect sense.”

Creating a new police de-

SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL, POSITION 5

Pam Haley

Haley

Fenton

Washington, D.C., to take away all our freedoms.”

Fenton added that in addition to pushing back against government overreach, he would also be focused on addressing homelessness and reducing crime if elected.

The primary election results suggest Fenton will have a hard time unseating Haley.

In the August primary, voters strongly preferred the incumbent Haley, giving her 47% of the vote compared to 26% for Fenton. Pat Stretch, who died before the primary but was on the ballot, received 13% of the vote and Mary Butler-Stonewall received 14%.

Butler-Stonewall said she’s not endorsing either Haley or Fenton because neither is calling for the Valley to have a homeless shelter within city limits or fighting to clean up the Spokane River. She’s still running as a write-in candidate.

Where they stand on roads

Spokane Valley officials say city roads are in good shape now, but to prevent them from falling apart in the coming decades the city has to increase its annual road maintenance spending from $8 million to $16 million a year. Preventive maintenance is far cheaper than completely rebuilding a road, city leaders say.

City Council hasn’t decided how to come up with another $8 million a year or if it even wants to increase road maintenance spending by that amount.

Haley said she’s not sure if city staff’s road maintenance cost estimates are accurate.

“Staff originally said $8 million, not $16 million, so I’m curious if the numbers are correct,” she said.

Recently, Spokane Valley partment simply isn’t necessary, Johnson said.

“Why the redundant services?” he said. “It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

What they say about Shea

Matt Shea is one of Spokane Valley’s most famous residents.

He served as a Republican 4th Legislative District representative for over a decade but didn’t run for reelection in 2020.

Shea generated controversy repeatedly during his time in Olympia and was ousted in 2019 by the Washington House’s Republican Caucus after an independent investigation found he committed “an act of domestic terrorism against the United States” for his role in the 2016 standoff at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in Southern Oregon.

Despite the controversies, Shea remains popular among many Spokane Valley residents. Higgins has often defended Shea and argued the former legislator is unfairly portrayed by the media.

Higgins isn’t defending Shea as emphatically now.

“In his time, Matt Shea was a very effective legislator,” Higgins said. “Where he’s gone and what he’s doing now I don’t really know.”

In the run up to this summer’s primary election, The Spokesman-Review asked Spokane Valley City Council candidates how they felt about Shea. No candidate denounced or defended him, and some refused to discuss him at all.

Johnson is the only City Council candidate who has criticized Shea.

“Domestic terrorism is wrong. It doesn’t matter whether it’s done by a guy with a tie or a group with military armor on. Domestic terrorists should go to jail,” Johnson said, emphasizing that Shea’s own caucus expelled him.

Spokane Valley City Councilmembers shouldn’t defend Shea, Johnson said.

“There are individuals who apologize for him,” he said. “It’s pretty hard for me to understand how those individuals can lead an entire city.”

In May 2019, Johnson

Age: 64 Education: Graduated from Central Valley High School,

Spokane Falls Community College and Eastern Washington University. Master’s degree in education from Capella University, business degree from Ashford University.

Work experience: Former manager of Valley Empire Collection. Has run day cares, including Rainbow Connection Daycare, for 32 years.

Political experience: Six years on Spokane Valley City Council.

Family: Married to Jim Haley for 32 years, no kids.

Campaign fundraising: Raised $13,600, including $2,350 as a loan to herself, as of Oct. 11. Contributors include Spokane Home Builders Association ($1,000), Spokane Valley businessman Jack Pring ($1,000), Spokane County Commissioner Al French ($500), Spokane Valley City Councilman Arne Woodard ($500) and former Spokane County Republican Party Chairwoman Cynthia Zapatocky ($125). Largest donation comes from Troy Peterson ($2,000).

Wayne Fenton

Age: 67 Education: Graduated from Burley (Idaho) High School and Brigham Young University.

Work experience: Co-owns The Black Diamond, a bar

and pool hall in Spokane Valley, with his son Brandon.

Spent 40-plus years in the aluminum industry at Wagstaff and Novelis and has worked in electricity, plumbing and hydraulics.

Political experience: None Family: Married to Margie Fenton. Has six kids and 16 grandkids.

Campaign fundraising: Raised $6,200 as of Oct. 11, including $5,000 of his own money. Besides his own funding, Fenton’s largest donation is $250 from Spokane Valley dentist Scott Shumway. Bob McClaslin, a Republican 4th Legislative District representative, donated $50 to Fenton’s campaign.

has had annual budget surpluses. Some of that surplus money has gone toward road projects.

For now, the city should keep using those surplus funds for roads, Haley said.

“We have extra money right now in our budget, and I think we need to use that money before we go to our citizens for more,” she said.

If the budget surpluses stop, the city may have to use general funds to pay for road maintenance, Haley said, but for the moment she wants keep using surplus money to pay for roads.

“I can’t see down the line too far, but for right now we attended a Spokane Valley City Council meeting and spoke about Shea.

“The current representative of the 4th Legislative District does not accurately represent our hometown,” he said during the meeting.

“I hope he doesn’t represent anyone on this body. I hope he doesn’t represent anyone in this room or anyone in my hometown. But I’m not that naive.”

have the money to fix the roads,” she said.

Fenton said he thinks the city has been spending too much money on roads, doing unnecessary construction. He said that instead of coming up with a new method for funding road maintenance the city should just do fewer projects.

“Where it (the money) comes from is less important than the amount that they spend,” Fenton said.

Projects that use state or federal grants aren’t always a good idea either, Fenton said, even if those grants significantly defray the cost and Spokane Valley only has to pay for a fraction of the

work.

“No matter where it (the money) comes from, it comes from the people, and it doesn’t just come out of thin air like they think it does,” Fenton said.

Fenton said he’s not opposed to the city using general funds to pay for road maintenance because all road projects are funded by taxpayers anyway.

Homelessness

There aren’t many reliable, long-term statistics available, but anecdotally the number of homeless individuals in Spokane Valley has increased significantly in the last few years.

Despite the growing problem, there’s no homeless shelter in Spokane Valley city limits. Instead of supporting a city shelter, Spokane Valley sends $1.5 million to Spokane County every 2 years. That money goes toward homeless services in Spokane which Spokane Valley shares.

Fenton said he doesn’t know if Spokane Valley should have a shelter and he’s not sure if the city should be spending any money addressing homelessness.

But if the city is going to spend money, it should go directly to Spokane Valley nonprofits that work with the homeless, Fenton said.

“Let the charities take care of them,” he said.

Haley has said sending money to Spokane, via the county, may be a mistake.

She said she’s not opposed to a homeless shelter in Spokane Valley city limits, but there shouldn’t be a no-barrier shelter.

People experiencing homelessness in Spokane Valley are afraid to use the no-barrier shelters in Spokane, Haley said. She said if Spokane Valley were to have a shelter, people should only be able to get in if they aren’t using drugs or alcohol.

“I think we need to make something that’s safe for everybody, not someplace they’re afraid to go,” she said.

Parks and trails

In the past few years, Spokane Valley has made a number of purchases that will expand or enhance the city’s parks and trails system.

In 2020, the city spent $2.1 million on a 45-acre, undeveloped parcel along the north bank of the Spokane River, south of the Euclid Road-Flora Avenue intersection. This year, the city spent $1.6 million on 18 acres of undeveloped land in the Ponderosa neighborhood.

City Council unanimously approved the Ponderosa purchase, but several councilmembers initially opposed buying the riverfront property. Haley was one of the opponents.

“I think that our timing was pretty bad,” she said.

The Washington State Department of Transportation owned the land and the city had a right-of-firstrefusal on the property, Haley explained. She said the city could have waited until after the pandemic to make the purchase.

“There was no rush,” she said. “I feel like we should be handling some of those practical, not-quite-so-fun things first like roads, infrastructure and public safety. Those are what the city does.”

Haley also noted she’d like to see the city focus less on adding parks and more on adding benches, bathrooms and other amenities to the trails and parks it already has.

Fenton said he’s generally opposed to the city buying more park land.

“The City Council needs to just stop spending money on parks and other unnecessary things and just take care of the citizens,” he said.

He added that the city has plenty of park space already and that “the parks are not overrun by users, they’re more overrun by the homeless and the criminals.”

Instead of buying new land, the city should teamup with schools and turn See POSITION 5, 12

COMPETENT TRUSTED LEADERSHIP

On the roads

Spokane Valley officials say city roads are in good shape, but in order to keep them from falling into disrepair the city needs to spend $16 million a year on maintenance.

Today, the city is spending $8 million a year on average on roads. Revenues from one of the city’s main road funding sources, a tax on noncellular telephone service, keep falling by roughly 7% every year.

The city needs a new, consistent way to pay for road maintenance if it’s going to spend $16 million a year on streets. A Streets Sustainability Committee, formed by the council this year, could provide potential solutions, but for now there’s no consensus on where road maintenance money should come from.

Johnson said the city has been talking for years about how to pay for road maintenance. It’s time to decide on a solution, he said.

“I think they should just determine that they’re going to be pulling it out of the general fund and realize that’s what it is and move forward,” Johnson said.

Higgins said ideally the city will find a stable, recession-proof money source, but he doesn’t yet know how to solve the road funding shortage.

“I’m not sure there is such thing as a stable, dependable source of revenue,” he said.

Relying on surplus funds – which is one of the ways the city’s paying for road work now – is risky, Higgins said, because the economy could collapse unexpectedly.

Colin Tiernan can be reached at (509) 459-5039 or at colint@spokesman.com.

RE-ELECT SHIRLEY MAIKE

Mayor, City of Medical Lake Let’s keep our City moving in the right direction by: • Maintaining a solvent, stable city through sound legal financial decisions • Acting on economic development opportunities • Increasing access to broadband for all who need it • Maintaining our infrastructure like safe drinking water • Protecting the quality of our parks and lake • Partnering with community organizations to achieve common goals • Increasing volunteerism throughout our community • Being a good neighbor to the smaller West Plains communities

509.299.5451

www.shirleymaikeformayor.com Paid for by Citizens to Re-Elect Shirley Maike, Mayor, City of Medical Lake P. O. Box 1390, Medical Lake, WA 99022

T12 • Sunday • October 17, 2021

Special Section

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

Questions

Candidates

Where Spokane Valley City Council candidates stand on the issues Ben Wick

Brandon Fenton

James “JJ” Johnson

Rod Higgins

Pam Haley

Wayne Fenton

Laura Padden

Linda Thompson

Should Spokane Valley have its own police department instead of contracting with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office?

No

No

No

Not right now, but it could be necessary in the future

No

Unsure

No

No

Should Spokane Valley incorporate annual road maintenance into its general budget?

Yes

Yes, but spend less on road maintenance

Yes

No, but necessary right now because no alternative

Yes, if it becomes necessary

Yes, but reduce number of road projects

Possibly, but other funding sources should be considered

Yes

Should Spokane Valley have a homeless shelter within city limits?

No

No

It should be considered

Preferably no, but it’s probably unavoidable

Maybe, but only if drugs and alcohol are kept out

Unsure

Maybe, but not a no-barrier shelter

Open to the possibility

Are you in favor of City Council’s recent decisions to buy land for parks and trails expansion?

Yes

No

Yes

Not entirely opposed, but shouldn’t have bought Flora Road property during pandemic

Partially.

Council’s priorities should be elsewhere.

No

Mostly no

Yes

Do you agree with the Yes Spokane Public Health board’s decision last fall to fire Dr. Bob Lutz?

Yes, but firing may have been illegal

Unsure, because too little information about decision made public

Yes

Unsure, but firing was handled poorly

Yes, but not the way they did it

Unsure, not enough information made public

Yes. Was on Board of Health at the time, can’t explain decision due to pending litigation

What does Spokane Valley Both need more: Single-family housing or multi-family housing?

Single-family

Either, the city needs owneroccupied housing

Single-family

Both

Both, let the free market decide

Single-family

City needs a mix of rentals and owner-occupied housing

Are you in favor of Gov. Jay Inslee’s mask and vaccine mandates?

No

Yes, unfortunately they’ve been necessary to save lives

No

No

No

No

Masks yes.

Vaccines yes too, but exemptions must be allowed

No

Yes, for employees who can’t work remotely and don’t have religious or medical exemptions

No

No

No

No

Yes, but exemptions must be allowed

Masks yes, vaccines no

Would you support a city No mandate requiring all Spokane Valley employees to get vaccinated?

THOMPSON, PADDEN RACE FOR VALLEY COUNCIL MAY BE NAILBITER About the candidates

By Colin Tiernan

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL, POSITION 7

Two of the three August primaries for Spokane Valley City Council races were blowouts.

Mayor Ben Wick breezed through the primary, earning 60% of the vote and topping lead challenger Brandon Fenton by 30 points.

Incumbent Pam Haley has reason to feel good heading into the general election too, after taking 47% of the vote compared to runner-up Wayne Fenton’s 26%.

In the third race, incumbent Linda Thompson, who ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for the Washington House of Representatives in 2008 against Republican Larry Crouse, won 36% of the vote.

Laura Padden, wife of Republican 4th Legislative District Sen. Mike Padden, took 42%.

Those numbers on their own suggest the general election race between Thompson and Padden could be close. Primary election results are, at best, imprecise predictors of who will win in the general. A six-point gap isn’t insurmountable for Thompson, even though Padden’s name recognition and campaign funding make her a tougher opponent than most firsttime City Council candidates.

But 37% and 42% adds up to 79%, not 100%. While they didn’t advance to the general election, two other candidates won a significant chunk of votes during the primary. How their voters shift support could make the Thompson-Padden race a nailbiter.

Adam “Smash” Smith, owner of Spokane Valley Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, took 15% of the primary vote. He endorsed Thompson, and his voters may support her during the general.

Renault Evans mustered a bit less than 7% of the vote during the primary.

He didn’t respond to The Spokesman-Review’s requests for comment, but it’s

In recent years, Spokane Valley has been using money collected through a telephone tax to pay for road maintenance.

That tax has brought in less money over time. Facing declining revenues, City

POSITION 5

nings, when children aren’t in school, Fenton said.

Continued from 11

playgrounds into public parks, Fenton said.

“Those schools are everywhere,” Fenton said. “If you continue to buy parks that just means that down the road you’re going to have to maintain them, you’ve got to try to keep the homeless out and you have to patrol them for crime.”

Turning school playgrounds into public parks wouldn’t be dangerous for school children because the playground-parks would be mostly used during the summer and in the eve-

Linda Thompson

Thompson

Padden

possible his voters might prefer Padden based on his stated beliefs.

Depending on how other Spokane Valley City Council races go, there could be a lot at stake in the Thompson-Padden race.

Thompson often votes with the majority when the City Council has 4-3 decisions, alongside council members Wick, Tim Hattenburg and Brandi Peetz.

Padden, who counts council members Rod Higgins and Arne Woodard among her campaign donors, might be more likely to vote alongside Higgins, Woodard and Pam Haley, meaning her victory could tip the balance of power from the center to the right.

The race between Higgins and James “JJ” Johnson may have the same potential to change council votes. Because Higgins and Johnson are the only candidates in their race, both advanced to the general without a primary election, which means there aren’t many clues as to which way voters are leaning. It’s possible that in order to maintain a centrist City Council, at least Thompson or Johnson has to win.

Both Thompson and Padden list public safety among their top priorities. Thompson said she’s focused on road preservation, infrastructure, parks and trails.

Padden said, in addition to improving public safety, she would try to address the housing shortage if elected.

How to take care of roads

Law enforcement

Spokane Valley doesn’t have its own police department, even if those skyblue, custom-painted police cruisers suggest otherwise.

Instead, the Valley pays the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office to fill the city’s law enforcement needs. All Spokane Valley police officers are part of the Sheriff’s Office.

Spokane Valley leaders have long debated whether the city should create its own police department rather than continue contracting with the Spokane

Age: 68 Education: Central Valley High School graduate. Has a

bachelor’s in general studies with a certificate in public relations from Eastern Washington University. Has a master’s in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University.

Work experience: Worked in banking until the early 1990s. Since 1993 has worked as executive director of the nonprofit Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council.

Political experience: Has served on Spokane Valley City Council since 2017.

Family: Married to Richard Thompson. Has two children.

Campaign fundraising: Raised $9,600 as of Oct. 11. Contributors include the Spokane Regional Labor Council ($1,000), former Spokane Valley Mayor Dean Grafos ($500), former Spokane Valley City Councilman Bill Gothmann ($100), and Spokane Valley City councilmembers Tim Hattenburg ($55) and Brandi Peetz ($115).

Laura Padden

Age: 67 Education: Graduated from Holy Names Academy in

Spokane. Went to Washington State University for a degree in police science and administration. Has a bachelor’s in computer science from Eastern Washington University.

Work experience: Worked at Jacklin Seed Co. as a data processing manager. For the last 15 years, Padden has been working at Spokane Community College in IT and web development.

Political experience: First run for office.

Family: Married to 4th District Sen. Mike Padden. Has five kids.

Campaign fundraising: Padden has raised $23,400 as of Oct. 11 (the most of any Spokane Valley City Council candidate), including $6,000 she loaned herself. Contributors include the Spokane Homebuilders Association ($1,000), the Inland Pacific Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors ($500), former Republican 4th Legislative District Rep. Larry Crouse ($500), former Spokane County Republican Party Chairwoman Cynthia Zapatocky ($500), Spokane Valley City Councilmembers Rod Higgins ($250) and Arne Woodard ($250), Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell ($100) and Republican 4th Legislative District Rep. Rob Chase ($100).

Council has been forced to consider alternative ways to pay for road work. Much of the debate has centered around whether the city should create a new tax or revenue source, or simply fit road maintenance costs into the general budget.

Thompson and Padden said the city should avoid new taxes, and both said it’s fine to use general funds for road maintenance.

“Right now we should

live within our budget as best we can but utilize our existing funds to cover our roads,” Thompson said. “We are going to have to look at a sustainable funding source for roads, and that may be a line item in our budget.”

The Streets Sustainability Committee the city established this year could provide some useful ideas on how to fund road maintenance, Thompson said, adding she’s eager to see what

County Sheriff’s Office. As Spokane Valley grows, and as the Sheriff’s Office struggles with staffing shortages, City Council may take up the conversation once again.

Fenton said he doesn’t know if Spokane Valley should have its own police department.

Regardless of the city’s law enforcement approach, citizens need to take crime fighting into their own hands, Fenton said.

“Instead of having to wait for a police officer to come out, we should be able to have the citizens ready and willing to step up,” Fenton said. “I’m not telling people

to chase them (criminals) down the street in their car, but there’s too much petty theft going on and it needs to be stopped and the citizens need to get involved.”

Neighborhood watch programs should be improved, Fenton said. He emphasized that people shouldn’t be relying on the cops to handle every type of crime.

“We can’t depend on the police for everything,” he said. “If it (crime) happens to me I’m going to detain a person, I’m not just going to call the cops.”

Fenton has previously said he’d like the city to consider creating an incentive

proposals the committee might have.

Padden said paying for road maintenance should always be a leading priority for city governments. She said she’s fine with either figuring out a new funding mechanism that would help the city pay for roads or carving out a space in the general budget.

“The bottom line is, the city appears to have plenty of money to deal with all the roads,” she said.

Should the Valley have a homeless shelter?

Spokane Valley leaders say homelessness has been a growing problem.

Although the number of people experiencing homelessness in Spokane Valley appears to have grown, the city lacks a homeless shelter.

The city financially supports shelters in Spokane, sending about $750,000 annually to help service providers there.

Neither Thompson nor Padden opposes the creation of a homeless shelter in Spokane Valley, though both say they’re opposed to a no-barrier shelter.

“I’m very open to having a shelter that would have good criteria on who can be there,” Thompson said.

Both candidates said Spokane Valley has done a good job addressing homelessness.

“I think we have a really good system in place,” Thompson said, pointing to the hiring of a housing and homeless coordinator this year as a major step in the right direction.

“The Valley doesn’t really get credit for what they have done,” Padden said.

Are parks a priority?

In the last two years, the City Council has made a handful of significant land purchases that will allow the city to expand trails and add new park land.

Two acquisitions stand out: the purchase of a $2.1-million, 45-acre property north of the Spokane River south of Flora Road

program that would encourage more residents to buy guns because increasing gun ownership will discourage crime.

Haley said the city should keep contracting with the county for law enforcement needs. There’s no reason for the city to have its own police department, she said.

“Our sheriff’s department does a great job and I think it’s cheaper than if we had our own,” Haley said.

“They’re doing the best they can with the staff they have. I’m really proud of the sheriff’s department.”

If the Valley created its own police department, Sheriff’s Office deputies

and of a $1.6-million, 18-acre property in the Ponderosa Neighborhood.

Padden said buying park land should have been lower on the council’s priority list during the pandemic.

“You’ve got to spend on the essentials first, like public safety, the roads, economic development, that kind of thing,” Padden said.

“Then you look to the parks and the more fun stuff.”

The city should have spent more money maintaining parks it already has, Padden said.

Thompson said she supports the Flora Road and Ponderosa Neighborhood land acquisitions.

“It’s extremely important we preserve and maintain, expand, our park system to ensure that we have plenty of open space for our citizens to enjoy the outdoors,” she said. “We’ve got to make sure we’ve got open spaces to get fresh air; I just think it’s a critical part of having a successful city.”

To contract or not to contract?

Spokane Valley doesn’t have a police department.

Instead, the city pays the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office to fulfill its law enforcement needs. At times in Spokane Valley’s history, city leaders have proposed splitting from the Sheriff’s Office and creating a separate department. Neither Padden nor Thompson thinks breaking away from the Sheriff’s Office is a good idea.

“I am very supportive of staying as a contract city for our police department,” Thompson said. “I think that we have the best of both worlds.”

Padden said it would not be financially wise to create a new department.

“The county’s been good to us,” she said. “We have good officers. They’re well trained. They know the Valley.”

Colin Tiernan can be reached at (509) 459-5039 or at colint@spokesman.com.

who work in the Valley might abandon the county and join the city, Haley said.

Poaching county deputies in order to form a city police department should be avoided, she said.

At the same time, Haley said that as Spokane Valley grows, the city might be forced to create its own police department.

“If we get bigger, we may have to, that may just be a reality,” she said. “But for now I am very positive about our relationship with the sheriff’s department.”

Colin Tiernan can be reached at (509) 459-5039 or at colint@spokesman.com.

Special Section

October 17, 2021 • Sunday • T13

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

Kevin Freeman

Age: 54 Education: Graduated from Simon Benson

Polytechnic High School in Portland, Oregon. Holds a bachelor’s degree in geology and a master’s degree in hydrogeology, both from the University of Idaho.

Work experience: Earth science consultant for 30 years and co-owner of Inland Earth Sciences since 2014.

Political experience: Served on the Millwood Planning Commission for four years, followed by eight years on the Millwood City Council and eight years as mayor of Millwood.

Family: Married. Has two children.

Matthew Dean

Age: 43 Education: Graduated from Half Moon Bay High School

in Half Moon Bay, California.

Work experience: Served in the U.S. Navy for four years before working as a bartender and restaurant manager. Worked as a furnace operator at Spokane Industries for three years and has worked as a furnace operator for Collins Aerospace in Airway Heights for the past seven years.

Political experience: First run for office.

Family: Married. Has two children.

pal geologist and co-owner of Inland Earth Sciences since 2014.

Freeman and his wife moved to Millwood in 1998. In 1999, he joined the city’s planning commission. After four years there, he was recruited to run for a city council seat.

“Council was kind of a natural offshoot of the planning commission,” he said. “Millwood was small back then and it was tough to find people interested in running.”

After eight years on the council, Freeman was elected mayor eight years ago. Freeman said he thought about not running again, but he’s been working on the planning for a proposed Argonne Road congestion relief project for some time and wants to see the project through.

In addition to left-turn lanes, the project includes a multiuse path on the east side of Argonne that will connect to the Millwood Trail.

“It’s not just left turn lanes,” he said. “It’s a pedestrian crossing that won’t make people afraid to cross Argonne.”

He said the city needs to establish itself as a whole community, with the amenities and identity that make people want to live there, including sidewalks, street lights and quality law enforcement.

A town surrounded on three sides by a much larger city has to work particularly hard to have an individual identity while being financially solvent and preserving the smalltown feel, Freeman said.

“That’s been kind of the

balance that we’ve tried to strike,” he said.

Freeman said he’s proud of how Millwood has weathered the pandemic.

“We are in a sound financial position,” he said.

“We are not in debt.”

Dean, who volunteers with Blessings Under the Bridge, said he’d like to see Millwood use the services offered by Spokane and Spokane Valley, including homeless services.

“There’s no invisible boundary that keeps people out,” he said. “There’s a good amount of homeless population here. To me, I don’t think the city has done enough to address that.”

He’d also like to see better communication with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, which provides law enforcement coverage for Millwood.

“I think there could be better communication between the residents, the city of Millwood and the deputies,” he said. “I just want to make sure Millwood is kept safe.”

Dean said he’s ready to serve.

“The best way to lead is by serving,” he said.

“I’m asking people to vote for me because I’ll be a blue-collar kind of mayor.

I’m just a guy, and I want to work with everybody here.”

Freeman said he hopes his years in city government speak for themselves.

“I would like people to think I’ve always put the city first in everything that I’ve done,” he said. “If I’m re-elected, this is my last term. I’m not doing this again.”

MILLWOOD INCUMBENT POINTS TO RECENT TOWN IMPROVEMENTS Opponent says more needs to be done to boost public safety

By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Two-term Millwood City Council incumbent Dan Sander is facing a challenge from political newcomer Becky Dean, who owns a hair salon.

Politics is a family affair for Dean; her husband, Matthew Dean, is running for Millwood mayor.

“We both just felt it was something we needed to do,” Dean said of her and her husband’s decisions to run for office.

Dean grew up in Millwood and graduated from the Glen Dow Academy.

She lived in Seattle for a few years before coming back to Millwood in 2005.

She has owned her own salon, SunnyFay’s, since 2010. She works alone and doesn’t have any employees.

Dean said Millwood has changed since she was a child. There is a larger homeless issue and a rising drug problem, she said.

“I don’t feel safe sending my kids out to do what I was able to do as a kid,” she said.

Her interest in politics was sparked last year when she had some unexpected free time on her hands.

“I kind of started being aware of what’s going on in the world when I had to shut down,” she said.

Dean said Millwood needs to connect with the resources that Spokane and Spokane Valley have.

“Maybe we could connect with Catholic Charities or Union Gospel Mission to come out here and guide the homeless,” she said.

Dean said she believes that a lot of the current drug activity is tied to the homeless population.

“Maybe more of a police presence would be a deterrent,” she said.

An increased police presence could also help the problem of people speeding down her street, she said.

“That really bothers me, especially having

About the candidates MILLWOOD CITY COUNCIL, POSITION 2

Dan Sander

Age: 74 Education: Graduated from Gonzaga Prep. Holds a

bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in civil engineering, both from Marquette University.

Work experience: Worked for a small consulting firm before working for the Washington State Department of Health’s drinking water program for 30 years. Now retired, he’s a part-time consultant.

Political experience: Has served eight years on the Millwood City Council.

Family: Married. Has two children and one grandchild.

Becky Dean

Age: 42 Education: Graduated from West Valley High School and the Glen Dow Academy.

Work experience: Has worked as a hairdresser for 23

years and has owned her own salon, SunnyFay’s, since 2010.

Political experience: First run for office.

Family: Married to Matt Dean, who is running for Millwood mayor. Has two children.

Sander

Dean

kids,” she said.

Sander, who has been on the council for eight years, likes to point to all the improvements that have happened in Millwood in recent years. Improvements were made to Millwood Park, including parking, and the Millwood Trail opened.

City Hall has a new roof.

The city also has been updating the city’s water and sewer systems, and it has been completing crack-sealing work to better preserve city streets.

“I think those are good improvements,” he said.

Sander has lived in his Millwood home since 1978. He grew up nearby on Orchard Avenue.

“Sixty-nine years I’ve lived in the neighborhood,” he said.

He graduated from Gonzaga Prep and earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in civil engineering, both from Marquette University.

Then he came back to Millwood.

“It was a good place to be, but there’s no place like home,” he said.

Sander, who is mostly retired, worked for a small consulting firm before working in the Washington State Department

of Health’s drinking water program for 30 years.

Since he retired, he’s been doing part-time consulting work and does water and wastewater training for operators.

The first time Sander ran for City Council, he was unopposed. There was a vacancy and several people suggested he run, Sander said. He attended some City Council meetings and decided to take the plunge.

Sander intends for this to be his last term on the council if he wins reelection.

“Another four years will be plenty for me,” he said.

“I’ve enjoyed my time on the council.”

He said he is pleased that he has an opponent this time.

“Lately, there’s been more activism, more people interested in running,” he said. “I welcome that.

That’s what elections are for.”

Still, he hopes to be able to complete one more term.

“I’ve got my council experience and all my experience with other communities,” Sander said. “I think I have a good feel, a good understanding of what cities can and can’t do.”

Dean said that if she’s elected, she’ll listen to the concerns of residents.

“I’ve lived in Millwood most of my life,” she said.

“I think I would be a good representative for the residents of Millwood.”

”

MILLWOOD MAYOR

“t

he

be

rty

R as etu r Fr ien our n S ds Ma tev of e Li yor

Millwood Mayor Kevin Freeman says he’s running for a third term to help see through an important traffic and planning project for the town.

He faces Matt Dean, who acknowledges some missteps many years ago but says he would look out for the best interests of the town Freeman as a “blue collar mayor.” Dean’s wife, Becky Dean, also is on the ballot, runDean ning for Millwood City Council against incumbent Dan Sander.

“I wanted to be able to help my community,” Matt Dean said. “I figured, what better way?”

He grew up in California and served in the Navy for four years before working as a bartender and restaurant manager in California for several years.

“I’ve lived from Sacramento to L.A.,” he said.

He met his wife while he was in the Navy after a friend introduced them, and he reconnected with her over Facebook. He moved to Millwood in 2010 to be closer to her, and the couple soon married. He has worked as a furnace operator at Collins Aerospace in Airway Heights for the last seven years.

Dean is forthcoming about his missteps along the way. While he was still living in California, Dean served 10 months in prison after being arrested for driving under the influence multiple times.

“I had an alcohol problem,” he said.

He said it was realizing that there was a bigger power that persuaded him to get sober, and he’s been sober for more than 12 years.

“I gave my life to Christ,” he said. “He found me where I was.”

Now he tries to help others struggling with addiction, leading weekly Reformers Unanimous meetings at his church, Valley Landmark Missionary Baptist.

Freeman grew up in Portland, though his mother and aunt grew up in Millwood. He holds a bachelor’s degree in geology and a master’s degree in hydrogeology. He’s been a consultant for 30 years and has been princi-

About the candidates

Dan Sander

Millwood City Councilman

ke

By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

“

Lately, there’s been more activism, more people interested in running. I welcome that.

That’s what elections are for.”

La

Millwood mayor seeking third term defends seat against Navy veteran

MY PRIORITIES for LIBERTY LAKE

MikeBehary4Liberty.com • 20 Years Professional City Planner • Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from EWU • American Institute of Certified Planners - AICP • Service Oriented • Fiscally Responsible

· Policing and Public Safety · Trails, Parks and Recreational Opportunities · Streets, Pedestrian Crossings and Signals · Strong Neighborhoods and Pride of Home Ownership · Schools in Our City · Retail Economic Development · Addressing the Homeless Problem · Consolidating Government Operations and Services · Mixed-Use Condominiums NOT Multi-Family Apartments · Reduce Utility Tax by adding a Community Solar Park · Keeping Liberty Lake Debt Free and Financially Secure

Elect

Questions? MayorStevePeterson@yahoo.com

HONESTY • INTEGRITY •TRANSPARENCY • LEADERSHIP • EXPERIENCE Paid for by Mike Behary 4 Liberty • 2310 N County Vista Blvd. Liberty Lake, 99019

PAID FOR BY STEVE PETERSON FOR LIBERTY LAKE MAYOR P.O. BOX 174 LIBERTY LAKE, WA 99019

T14 • Sunday • October 17, 2021

Special Section

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

Police, tourism among issues in Medical Lake mayoral race Court commissioner Cooper challenging incumbent Maike

By Sydney Brown

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Bringing a local police department to Medical Lake could become this year’s key issue for the city’s mayoral election.

Voters in Medical Lake can stay the course or go with a new outlook when selecting their next leader, and that starts with public safety issues.

Incumbent mayor Shirley Maike said the city’s contract for law enforcement services with the Spokane County Sheriff ’s Office provides good service for a price the town can afford. Her opponent, Cheney Municipal Court Commissioner Terri Cooper, disagrees.

“They work hard every day, and they care about what they do, but they’re spread thin,” Cooper said.

“There’s just not enough of them. I would like to try to bring back the local police department within budget.”

The local police department debate has been a key voter issues since its disbandment in 2009.

Several candidates have promised to support the formation of a nearby po-

lice force, but it has never come to fruition.

Maike said she did studies in 2009 while serving as a city council member to determine the cost and benefits of a local police force. For the town of 5,000 with low levels of crime, Maike said, “We realized regionalization would get us the best service we could get.”

Maike said she would rather maintain Medical Lake’s debt-free status, expand broadband internet service and address housing issues.

“The pandemic has really brought to light, as it has in many communities, that need for improved broadband ... I know it’s a struggle with all communities to try and find enough providers to provide adequate coverage,” Maike said.

Cooper, who grew up in Medical Lake, said she also saw housing as a priority to match the area’s population growth. As mayor, she said she would try to add a new community center and host more events in town.

Downtown, where many buildings sit vacant, Cooper said she would spon-

About the candidates MEDICAL LAKE MAYOR

Shirley Maike

Maike

Cooper

sor revitalization projects.

ReImagine Medical Lake, a nonprofit Cooper started with her sister, has hosted festivals and works with small businesses to promote tourism to the city.

“We like our small town feel, and our small town look, and I think we can keep all of that and become a vibrant little gem of Spokane County,” Cooper said. “I think that we are best when we’re a resort community, and we look like it.”

If re-elected, Maike said she would make sure the city continued to provide essential services while keeping taxes and utility rates low. The city would seek more grants and other small business support, she said. The city also stepped up by providing water and sewage financial assistance to residents during the unprecedented effects of the pandemic, Maike said.

“The City Council and city administration worked hard to identify where that funding would best benefit our residents, and I’m proud of the

Age: 67 Education: Graduated from Medical Lake High School.

Legal certificate from the Spokane Community College.

Work experience: Advanced from clerical work to chief

operations manager at Eastern State Hospital, where she worked for 40 years. Compliance officer at Passages Family Support in Spokane.

Political experience: Incumbent Medical Lake City mayor. Served five terms as city council member. Served as Medical Lake representative on the Spokane County Community Housing and Development Committee. Former member of the Medical Lake Civil Service Commission, Planning Commission and Spokane County Boundary Review Board.

Family: Married. No children.

Campaign finance: Raised $11,300 as of Oct. 11, most of which is from Maike herself.

Terri Cooper

Age: 63 Education: Graduated Medical Lake High School. Master’s

degree in public administration from Eastern Washington University.

Work experience: Cheney Municipal Court Commissioner since 2004. Formerly court administrator in Medical Lake.

Political experience: Co-founder of Restore Hope, humanitarian aid group. Co-founder of ReImagine Medical Lake, organization focused on increasing Medical Lake tourism.

Family: Married. Has three children.

Campaign finance: Raised $10,900 as of Oct. 11.

Contributors include the Spokane Regional Labor Council ($750), U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers ($250), AHANA-MEBA founder Ben Cabildo ($100), Cheney City Councilwoman Teresa Overhauser ($50) and Spokane County Assessor Tom Konis ($50).

distributions that were made,” Maike said. “We

Roads, internet at forefront of issue for Medical Lake City Council spot Incumbent Kennedy faces challenger Griffith for Position 1

By Sydney Brown

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Candidates for Medical Lake City Council say they want to keep the city debtfree and focus on improving public services.

While one candidate advocated for road and park improvements, the other said the city should focus on extending internet access.

Despite their different backgrounds, incumbent member Donald Kennedy and his opponent, Howard Griffith, agreed wise spending was important for the city of 5,000.

Kennedy, who ran for council in both 2015 and 2017, became a council member in 2019 when he was appointed the last two years to fill a fellow member’s unexpired term. He said he wanted to continue being a voice for fiscal conservatism.

Griffith, who works as an endpoint systems engineer at Eastern Washington University, said his campaign centered on bringing a

Kennedy

Griffith

nonincumbent voice to the council.

“To be perfectly honest, I am a complete newbie to the political arena,” Griffith said. “It seemed that the City Council had been there for quite some time, at least in Medical Lake, with the exception of one position. I wanted to contribute to my community in several different ways.”

Griffith moved to Medical Lake two years ago, in contrast to Kennedy, who is a 20-year resident .

“My main focus is that everything is run responsibly, and no crazy spending on things,” Kennedy said.

With his computer engineering background, Griffith said he could help the council look at its decisions through an analytical lens.

One of these issues, he said,

includes the issue of wider internet access in Medical Lake.

“That’s one area that is causing a lot of turmoil right now with people having very different levels of service or overall capability,” Griffith said.

Kennedy said he also recognized the need for improved public works, specifically beautifying local roads and parks.

“The roads need to be spruced up. We have some roads that are not in good shape,” Kennedy said. “We have a regular schedule for road maintenance and things like that, but I don’t think that covers all the streets that really need to be upgraded.”

The issues Medical Lake faces are coupled with its challenging location, Kennedy said. The city finds itself surrounded by state and federally owned lands that complicate building new residences or even attracting new storefronts in Medical Lake, he said.

“We don’t get traffic flow.

Airway Heights has a highway pass through it, Cheney has the college and tons of people go in that way,” Kennedy said. “Other businesses I think could work here – architects, surveyors, the businesses that don’t depend on foot traffic – somebody has to go out and get them, and they have to see some incentive for coming here.”

That incentive should not come from the City Council, Kennedy said, whose role stops at ensuring a smooth permit process for businesses.

Griffith said he wanted to see Medical Lake maintain its small-town charm and lean into the potential tourism of the town’s surrounding waters – namely the nearby Medical, West Medical and Silver lakes .

“We’ve got, like, four lakes and other bodies of water in our immediate area, so I think they should go for the folks that want to come out and commune with nature because it’s all around us,” Griffith said.

continued to provide even during the pandemic.”

While some residents may want a police department or to shift funds toward tourism, Maike said there is only so much taxpayers can financially bear.

“Medical Lake is funded with public money, taxpayers’ money, so there are some things you can spend those funds on, and some things you can’t,” Maike said. “We always try to educate the citizens when we can’t spend taxpayer money on something.”

Cooper said she respected the council for consistently staying within the city’s budget, but she said there was a “lack of vision” in some of the projects. More money could go toward sidewalk and street repairs, and the city could also afford a separate police department, Cooper said.

She said one of her main focuses is “making Medical Lake a destination place where people will come, where they will spend their money and then we can use their money to make our town more beautiful, which would then attract more people to come,” Cooper said.

Sydney Brown can be reached at sydneyb@ spokesman.com.

About the candidates MEDICAL LAKE CITY COUNCIL, POSITION 1

Donald Kennedy

Age: 71 Education: Graduated from Auburn High School in

Auburn, Washington, in 1968. Earned bachelor’s degree from Eastern Washington University in geology in 1973, master’s at EWU in geology in 1979 and law degree from Gonzaga University in 1991.

Work experience: Worked for Farm Credit System either as an employee or as a independent contractor.

Ended work career as vice president for mineral operations.

Political experience: Lost race for Medical Lake City Council in 2015 and 2017. Appointed to an open seat on the Medical Lake City Council in 2019.

Family: Married. Has two children.

Howard Griffith

Age: 50 Education: Vocational certificate from EWU for computer engineering.

Work experience: Endpoint systems engineer for

information technology services at Eastern Washington University.

Political experience: First run for office.

Family: Married. Has 10 children.

Whether Medical Lake adopts its own local police department also remains a key issue for the community. The mayoral race is characterized by the candidates’ different views on the issue.

Mayoral candidate Terri Cooper wants to bring back a Medical Lake law enforcement agency; incumbent Mayor Shirley Maike said it’s not financially feasible.

Griffith and Kennedy agreed in principle with Maike. Griffith said the Spo-

kane County Sheriff’s Office has provided good law enforcement services to the city. Kennedy said he knew from the time on the council the city could not pay for a local police force.

“I don’t know that it’s fiscally responsible to do that.

That’s one of the things I think we’ll need to see,” Griffith said.

Sydney Brown can be reached at sydneyb@ spokesman.com.

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Special Section

October 17, 2021 • Sunday • T15

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

In Medical Lake’s City Council race, multiple-term incumbent faces real estate agent

By Sydney Brown

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

An Air Force veteran is seeking a fifth term on the Medical Lake City Council on the November ballot.

After running unopposed in the past two election, Arthur Burton will face real estate agent Bob Maxwell in his bid for re-election.

Burton, 57, won a seat on the Medical Lakes City Council in 2005 and has been re-elected every four years since.

He moved to the city in about 2000 and served 14 years in the Air Force, according to a previous Spokesman-Review report.

Maxwell, 53, purchased a building in downtown Medical Lake in 2019 with plans to open a business in the area.

Neither candidate responded to multiple interview requests from The Spokes-

man-Review. Burton did not provide candidate information to the Spokane County voters guide.

Maxwell reported in the Spokane County voters guide that he has been a real estate agent for 30 Maxwell years.

“Our daughter Emma is a senior this year at Medical Lake High. I would like to become more active in the community,” Maxwell said in a statement in the county voters guide. “I believe Medical Lake is going to grow and if we plan accordingly we can keep the small community feeling and continue to make this a great place to live.”

Sydney Brown can be reached at sydneyb@spokesman.com.

About the candidates CHENEY CITY COUNCIL, POSITION 3

Jacquelyn Belock

Age: 34 Education: Graduated from North Thurston High

School in Lacey, Washington. She attended Spokane Falls Community College and earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from Eastern Washington University. Earned masters degree in paleontology from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Work experience: She worked at the Museum of Geology in Rapid City, South Dakota, and was a field technician for a private paleontology company in Colorado.

She’s currently the dinosaur paleontology instructor at SFCC. Political experience: Has served as a Democratic Party precinct committee officer.

Family: Married. Has two children.

Mark Posthuma

Age: 48 Education: Graduated from Boulder City High School in

Nevada and earned a bachelor’s degree in Biblical studies from Life Pacific College.

Work experience: He worked as a pastor in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Klamath Falls, Oregon, before arriving in Cheney to become lead pastor of Cheney Faith Center 16 years ago.

Political experience: First run for office.

Family: Married. Has two children.

Cheney City Council race features community college instructor, pastor

By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

A pastor and a dinosaur paleontology instructor are facing off for a chance at a vacant Cheney City Council seat.

A field of five candidates for Position 3 was winnowed to two in the August primary election. The winner will replace Jon Taves, who opted not to run for re-election.

Jacquelyn Belock, a resident of Cheney off and on since 2010, is a dinosaur paleontology instructor at Spokane Falls Community College. Mark Posthuma, who has lived in Cheney for 16 years, is lead pastor at Cheney Faith Center.

In the primary election, Belock collected 36% of the vote, the most of any candidate. Posthuma earned 30%.

“I was quite surprised,” Belock said. “I had hoped to do well. I hadn’t anticipated doing that well. It was really nice and really motivating.”

Belock earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from Eastern Washington University and holds a master’s degree in paleontology from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Posthuma earned a bachelor’s degree in Biblical studies from Life Pacific College. He previously worked as a pastor in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Klamath Falls, Oregon. He has not previously held any elected office.

Voters in Cheney are being asked on the November ballot if they want to approve a tax increase for public safety.

Posthuma, who describes himself as a fiscal conservative, said it’s not something he prefers to do, but understands that it might be necessary in some cases.

It’s irresponsible to just tax people more and more, but Posthuma said he hasn’t seen the numbers on what effect not raising property taxes would have on the city budget.

“Of course, I’d always like property taxes to be low,” he said.

Belock, however, is firmly

Belock

Posthuma

against it. She said she’s in favor of sustainable property tax increases when necessary, but said residents can’t afford an increase of 15% over the next two years.

She supports stepping up code enforcement efforts and other measures as a way to make money.

“We’re facing quite a steep property tax increase,” she said. “I think a lot of it has to do with revenue shortfall. There are other ways we can bring money into the city. I will be an outspoken opponent to huge property tax increases.”

Posthuma has said that he’s in favor of a purple pipe project to use reclaimed water in parks and other public spaces. Belock said the city needs to improve its infrastructure in general, since some pipes are crumbling and some homes have dirty water.

“I think it’s a good idea,” she said of the purple pipes.

“We need to have the infrastructure improvement.”

Posthuma said he’s not focusing his campaign on any one issue and just wants to serve his community. He’s a frequent volunteer at local events and at the food and clothing bank. He’s also a baseball and basketball coach.

Posthuma said he hasn’t campaigned much, but has begun handing out yard signs. He said he hopes voters will look at his body of work, realize how much he’s done in the community and see him as an asset to have on the city council.

“I’ve been here for 16 years and I’ve been all in since I got here,” he said.

“I hope people will look at that.”

Belock said she wants to be the voice of the people.

“I’m here to put the people of Cheney first,” she said.

“This is about representing them, not me, not my interests. Voting for me gives you a vote on that city council.”

About the candidates MEDICAL LAKE CITY COUNCIL, POSITION 3

Arthur (AJ) Burton

Attempts made to interview Burton were unsuccessful.

Age: 57 Work experience: Served 14 years in the Air Force, some of that time at Fairchild Air Force Base. As of 2005 worked as computer contractor on the base.

Political experience: Won seat on Medical Lake City Council in 2005. Reelected in 2009, 2013 and 2017.

Bob Maxwell

Age: 56 Education: Graduated from University High School. Earned bachelor’s degree in business administration from Whitworth University.

Work experience: Real estate agent for 30 years Political experience: First run for office.

Family: Married to Jennifer Maxwell. Has one daughter.

Incumbent, business owner vie for Medical Lake’s second city council seat

By Sydney Brown

About the candidates

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Medical Lake has no debt, and the candidates for one of the seats on the City Council agree it should stay that way. But how the city should spend its money on depends on which candidate you ask.

Incumbent Elizabeth Rosenbeck said she wants park beautification and expanded internet access, while her challenger Dawn Olmstead said the city should bolster support for small businesses, schools and a local police department.

Rosenbeck, who ran unopposed and won the seat in 2019, said fiscal responsibility was her bottom line.

“My biggest goal is to make sure that we do not go into debt, honestly, that we are good stewards of the budget, that we have a balanced budget and that we are in the black at all times. And that’s exactly where we are,” Rosenbeck said.

While Olmstead has no experience in politics, she grew up in Medical Lake, raised her kids there and owns a small business – Olmstead Quilts. As Medical Lake continues to grow in population, Olmstead said the city could provide incentives for new storefronts downtown without losing Medical Lake’s small-town charm, including targeted business support.

“I don’t necessarily want our town to grow into a big city,” Olmstead said. “We have a little, small-town feel,

MEDICAL LAKE CITY COUNCIL, POSITION 2

Elizabeth Rosenbeck

Rosenbeck

Olmstead

and that’s really special ... I just want to take a proactive approach to making sure we can stay a distinct place and be a place where people want to come and just have fun and enjoy their time.”

New businesses would be welcomed, Rosenbeck said, but she said it was not up to the city to incentivize people buying property downtown.

Instead, Rosenbeck said she wants to see a designated parks manager for the area, especially around Medical Lake.

Having a person whose job centers on maintenance, cleanup and enforcement of park rules would make the lakes more enjoyable for residents, Rosenbeck said.

Then there is the question of expanding internet access, which Rosenbeck said she wanted to focus on upon re-election.

Olmstead has a similar perspective, but said she also wants to encourage more city-sponsored events and support for the local school board.

“We could get some programs for high schoolers to do some kind of civics internships or lessons or something from the city government just to be more involved in the kids’ lives,” Olmstead said.

A disconnect between the residents and the

Age: 58 Education: Graduated from Coronado High School

in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1981, and received a bachelor’s in business management from Whitworth University in 2007.

Work experience: Has worked as a project coordinator for 15 years and has worked for many firms, including OAC Services, CH2M Hill and FLSmidth.

Served in the Air Force as a Morse systems operator from 1981 to 1987.

Political experience: Appointed to open seat on Medical Lake City Council in 2016. Served on the Parks and Recreation, Finance and Public Safety committees of Medical Lake. Elected after running unopposed for city council seat in 2019.

Family: Has two children.

Dawn Olmstead

Age: 48 Work experience: Owns Olmstead Quilts in Medical

Lake.

Political experience: None Education: Bachelor’s of science degree in

ornamental horticulture from Washington State University.

Family: Married. Has two children.

council has grown, Olmstead said, and she wants to help bridge that.

Fixing roads and parks is something on which Olmstead and Rosenbeck agreed, but Olmstead said she also wanted the city to consider funding a local police force, which Rosenbeck said the city can’t afford.

“I personally am fine with the way things are.

I like being contracted to the county (sheriff ), we’ve got a lot more resources out there and it’s less expensive for us to contract with the county,” Rosenbeck said.

“That’s always been a

debate and that’ll always be a debate.”

The town of Medical Lake is run well, both candidates said, but the city sits at a pivotal point because of its recent growth.

In the 2020 census the population surpassed 5,000. Olmstead said the city should embrace change without losing its small-town charm, while Rosenbeck said the city should stick to wise spending and basic public works.

Sydney Brown can be reached at sydneyb@ spokesman.com.

Willmschen, longtime Rockford resident, who served in late 1950s, hopes to lead on town council again

By Laurel Demkovich

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

After spending years attending town council meetings, a longtime Rockford resident wants to take a new turn making the decisions.

Ivan Willmschen, former council member and insurance agent, and Mark Lonam Jr. will be on the general election ballot on Nov. 2. The two beat incumbent Rachelle Arriaga in the primary after Willmschen beat her in a milk bottle tiebreaker. Lonam did not respond to multiple requests from The Spokesman-Review for comment.

Willmschen grew up in Rockford and lived there his entire life, aside from the few years he served in the military. He served on the town council in the late 1950s, and although he is not currently on the council, he never misses a meeting to this day.

“I’d like to see if I can’t influence the council,” he said. “Take a more aggressive action on things.”

Rockford is farming

town in southeastern Spokane County with a population just under 500, according to the 2020 Census.

Willmschen said there are a number of things he sees going on in town every day that he would like fixed. For example, the streets need to be chipsealed, some sidewalks need to be replaced, and new streetlights need to be installed. He also wants to see the creek that runs through town cleaned out regularly to prevent flooding, something that has been done in the past.

“I think the council is a little lax in pressing forward on these things,” he said. “They just hope they happen, and if they do, they do.”

Lonam beat Willmschen and Arriaga in the primary by only four votes. He had received 38 while Willmschen and Arriaga received 34. Arriaga had been appointed to serve on the council, but Willmschen said she had missed a few of the last meetings because of her work.

Willmschen said his experience living in town

About the candidates CANDIDATES FOR ROCKFORD TOWN COUNCIL, POSITION 5

Ivan Willmschen

Age: 91 Education: Graduated from Rockford High School in 1949.

Work experience: Drafted into the military. Worked

in a bank. Owned private insurance agency for 37 years.

Worked as the secretary of the Spokane County Fire District 11 for 48 years and a volunteer firefighter for 45 years.

Political experience: Sat on the Rockford Town Council in the late 1950s.

Family: Married.

Age: 39

Mark Lonam Jr.

Lonam did not respond to interview requests from The Spokesman-Review and did not provide information for the Spokane County voter’s guide.

his entire life will help him as a council member. People in town already often ask him for advice or for his knowledge having served on the council in the past, he said. For example, he was on the council when the town’s current sewer line was put in, so he said he knows where the line runs.

He said he hopes to get more people involved in

the town and the council. Right now, he said he’s the only member of the public who regularly attends the council meetings. One idea he has is to advertise the council meetings on the town’s new marquee sign, so more people are aware.

Laurel Demkovich can be reached at (509) 416-6260 or at laureld@ spokesman.com.

T16 • Sunday • October 17, 2021

Special Section

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

KATHY PLONKA/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Brothers Daniel, left and Mike Burke hit the driving range at Trailhead Golf Course in Liberty Lake in 2019. The Liberty Lake’s two mayoral candidates have opposing views on whether the city should invest $8.2 million in a new clubhouse and other improvements at the golf course.

RACE FOR LIBERTY LAKE MAYOR FEATURES CANDIDATES WITH EXPERIENCE AT TOP POST

By Adam Shanks

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Steve Peterson was Liberty Lake’s first mayor, and he wants to be its next. But current mayor Cris Kaminskas, who was appointed to the post earlier this year, is seeking a first full term in office.

The race has centered on issues that are familiar to longtime residents of the rapidly growing city, including infrastructure, transportation and taxes.

Peterson points to his long resume in Liberty Lake leadership. He was the first mayor elected following the city’s incorporation, taking office in

2001 and serving through 2007.

Peterson then served a second stint as mayor from 2012 until he lost a bid for reelection in 2019 to Shane Brickner.

Brickner resigned last December after a year in office. Kaminskas, who had served on the City Council for more than a decade, won the approval of her colleagues on the City Council and was appointed to temporarily fill the vacancy left by Brickner.

Now, she’s looking to secure the position in the November election, touting the progress she’s made in less than a year at the top post.

“It does not feel like a job at all,”

Kaminskas said. “If I could do it full time, I would.”

As mayor, Peterson led the effort for the city to buy the Trailhead Golf Course and protect its greenspace.

Now, he’s critical of the city’s plans to invest about $8.2 million in a new clubhouse and improvements at the nine-hole golf course.

Peterson is concerned the project will saddle the city with more than $6 million in debt that would have to be paid out of the city’s general fund.

“There’s not enough money coming in to cover that debt service,” Peterson said.

Kaminskas argues the current building is decades old, failing and

unsafe, and that the expanded driving range will be a “cash cow” for the city.

Peterson pledged to keep a close eye on city spending. The city’s operations are currently based out of several buildings, Peterson said, and it needs to “try to figure out how to operate out of one.”

But Kaminskas argued her predecessor’s inclination for consolidation resulted in problems like the former finance director taking on human resources duties. Twenty years after the city was incorporated, it has its first human resourc-

About the candidates LIBERTY LAKE CITY COUNCIL, POSITION 4

Mike Behary

Age: 56 Education: Earned bachelor’s degree

Baird, Behary each have experience in city planning

By Adam Shanks

Liberty Lake’s lone contested race for City Council features two candidates who are focused on preparing the city for continued growth.

Jamie Freeze Baird has served on the City Planning Commission since 2017. In that role, she’s part of a board that makes recommendations to the City Council, but now, she wants to serve on the council and help make final decisions about the city’s future.

Mike Behary, a city planner for the city of Coeur d’Alene, has lived in Liberty Lake since 2015 and said he is at a point in his life when he can run for elected office and serve the community.

Neither candidate has held elected office before.

They are vying to replace Odin Langford, the long time council member who was first elected in 2007 and decided not to seek re-election this year.

Baird believes her experience on the Planning Commission makes her well-suited to make the leap to City Council.

Overall, she said the city’s done a great job of planning out the community and trying to anticipate its growing pains, allowing it to handle the influx of new residents in recent years.

“We’ve laid a lot of great groundwork,” Baird said.

Projects just recently completed, like the widening of the Harvard Road Bridge, took years to piece together, she noted, demonstrating how important it is

to be looking ahead.

“Our city is growing by leaps and bounds. Everybody wants to be in Liberty Lake, but we just need to make sure our infrastructure can handle Baird and welcome those new residents without causing additional points of concerns,” Baird said.

Behary has built a career on planning, including code rewriting and economic development.

“I have over 18 years of Behary city planning experience and I’ve done everything there is to do with city planning,” Behary said.

Behary said he’s heard from voters who believe the city’s growth needs to be better managed. Every city is different, Behary said, and a city like Spokane is likely better served by dense development than a city like Liberty Lake, whose residents tend to prefer a community oriented toward single-family home development.

The city’s growth is “going to be hard to manage, but if you plan for it, you’ve got a better opportunity to make good decisions,” Behary said.

Baird said voters want to ensure Liberty Lake remains a safe community, and that with growth comes a natural strain on its police department.

The city needs to continue to prioritize funding for the police department, she said, but it also needs to rekindle its community watch efforts and Spokane’s

Peterson

See LIBERTY LAKE, 22

Growth, public safety key in Liberty Lake City Council race THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Kaminska

Sheriff Community Oriented Policing Effort, or SCOPE, programs.

“I’m really interested to see how we can re-energize our SCOPE programs and get that additional police coverage to make sure we’re able to keep an eye on our neighborhoods,” Baird said.

Baird said she wants to make Liberty Lake the best place to live in Spokane County.

“The biggest thing I tell people when I’m out doorbelling is that I consider myself a good listener. Even if I disagree with you, I will take the time to listen to all sides and make an informed decision,” Baird said.

For many residents, traffic is a concern, Behary noted, and they are perturbed by motorists speeding through residential neighborhoods.

Public safety “definitely needs to be a top priority,” Behary said.

“We need to make sure we have adequate police to patrol the streets,” Behary said.

Baird also wants to find ways to make Liberty Lake government more accessible. Not everyone has time to sit through a long council meeting on a weeknight, she said, so she’d like to make it easy for people to watch a recap or see a synopsis.

“We can work smarter and not harder, and reach a wider audience,” Baird said.

Behary described himself as collaborative and focused on gathering information before making a decision. He said he would be fiscally responsible and make sure the city’s not overspending or creating new taxes.

Behary said he would dive into the

in geography and master’s degree in urban and regional planning at Eastern Washington University.

Work experience: Served in the U.S. Army. Currently a city planner for Coeur d’Alene.

Political experience: Has never held elected office.

Family: Living with girlfriend, soon to be married.

Jamie Freeze Baird

Age: 33 Education: Earned bachelor’s degree

in political science and history from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

Earned master’s degree in American government, law and public policy from Regent University.

Work experience: Corporate trainer for Alliance Data since 2016. From 2012 to 2015, Baird worked as a public school teacher and public charter school teacher for seventh grade English and social studies in North Carolina.

Political experience: Has served on the Liberty Lake Planning Commission since 2017.

Family: Married to Jason Baird since 2012, no kids.

city budget to determine what needs to be cut and what needs an increase in funding.

“I wouldn’t want to be in favor of raising taxes or anything like that,” Behary said.

The two will face off at the polls in November.

Adam Shanks can be reached at (509) 4595136 or at adams@spokesman.com.

“Everybody wants to be in Liberty Lake, but we just need to make sure our infrastructure can handle and welcome those new residents without causing additional points of concerns.”

The city’s growth is “going to be hard to manage, but if you plan for it, you’ve got a better opportunity to make good decisions.”

Jamie Freeze Baird

Mike Behary

Special Section

October 17, 2021 • Sunday • T17

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

Liberty Lake candidate on ballot endorses write-in bid against her Former Councilwoman Woodruff moved out of state, asks voters to elect Garcia for City Council Position 7

By Colin Tiernan

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Liberty Lake’s general election ballot will feature a deceptively fascinating City Council race.

At first glance, the battle for Liberty Lake City Council Position No. 7 looks as boring as they come. It’s not really a battle at all. When voters get their ballots they’ll see incumbent Holly Woodruff running unopposed for an unexpired, twoyear term.

The interesting part is that Woodruff wants to win 0% of the vote. She resigned from City Council in June, moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, in July to be close to her grandchildren and won’t be able to serve if she’s elected.

Woodruff said by the time she learned she was moving it was too late to remove her name from the ballot.

So instead of campaigning and asking Liberty Lake residents for their votes, Woodruff is asking voters to write in Dannetta “D.G.” Garcia instead.

“Hopefully nobody will vote for me,” Woodruff said. “It’s going to be a wasted vote.”

The City Council appointed Garcia to Woodruff ’s empty seat July 13. It wasn’t the first Liberty Lake City Council appointment this year.

Woodruff was appointed in February to fill Cris Kaminskas’ vacated seat. Kaminskas had left City Council in January when she was appointed to replace former Mayor Shane Brickner, who resigned due to health reasons.

Woodruff said Garcia is the right choice for Liberty Lake.

“She’s already got the experience; she’s got the heart for it; she’s got the toughness for it,” Woodruff said. “She follows through on things, she thinks about things, she studies, she listens.”

It might seem like smooth

COURTESY OF D.G. GARCIA

Dannetta “D.G.” Garcia is a write-in but also sole candidate in the Liberty Lake City Council’s Position 7 race. sailing for Garcia at this point, since Woodruff has endorsed her.

And yet, even though Garcia has some unusual advantages, her victory isn’t a foregone conclusion. Winning a write-in campaign is usually difficult.

Some voters might cast their ballots without ever learning Garcia is the only real candidate. A significant number of Liberty Lake voters might fill in the bubble for Woodruff simply because they’re unaware Garcia’s an option.

Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton said the Garcia-Woodruff situation is highly unusual, but she noted 2021 has been a strange year for county elections.

In August, a Superior Court judge removed Spokane City Council candidate Tyler LeMasters from the ballot because he didn’t meet the city’s residency requirements. LeMasters’ removal means his opponent, incumbent City Councilwoman Betsy Wilkerson, is running unopposed.

In Deer Park, City Council

candidate Billy Costello doesn’t meet residency requirements, but will be on the ballot.

Dalton said she has seen a few successful write-in campaigns during her time as auditor, but they’re not good analogs for Garcia’s situation.

For instance, write-in campaigns in small towns aren’t unheard of. Small towns aren’t great comparison though, because the Liberty Lake general election will have thousands of voters.

Spokane County political junkies may remember Rob Chase’s successful write-in campaign for county treasurer in 2010.

Chase’s situation isn’t all that comparable to Garcia’s either.

At the time, Chase only needed to receive 1% of the vote in the primary election in order to get on the general election ballot.

Once he managed that, he was a standard candidate on the ballot in November. Chase, a Republican, went on to win the treasurer’s race during the general election and now serves the 4th Legislative District in the Washington House of Representatives.

Dalton noted that because her office is aware Garcia is running as a write-in candidate, write-in votes do not have to spell her name perfectly. As long as a vote is clearly intended for DG Garcia, it will count.

Even if Garcia doesn’t beat Woodruff, it’s likely City Council will appoint her to Woodruff ’s seat once again.

Garcia said she can’t assume council will do that and wants to win the election as a writein.

She said that even if she doesn’t remain on City Council, she’ll continue to work hard to make Liberty Lake a better place.

“Win, lose or draw, I don’t stop doing what I’m doing,” she said. “I just keep fighting for the people.”

About the candidates LIBERTY LAKE CITY COUNCIL POSITION 7

Holly Woodruff

After filing to run for a new term, Woodruff decided to move to North Carolina and resigned her seat on the City Council. She was replaced on the council by DG Garcia, and Woodruff is asking voters to write Garcia’s name on the ballot.

DG Garcia

Write-in candidate

Age: 66 Education: Attended Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio,

Texas. Attended the University of St. Thomas, Community College of the Air Force and California State University Sacramento. Holds degrees in social science and multicultural psychology.

Work experience: Medically retired from the Air Force in 1988 after working in administrative management. Worked in the California Secretary of State Office’s elections division. Also worked for California’s Commission on Teaching Credentials.

Political experience: Served as an appointee on multiple boards, including as a commissioner on the Sacramento Human Rights and Fair Housing Commission and a member of the Sacramento Supreme Court Unity and Justice Board. Appointed to fill vacancy on Liberty Lake City Council in July 2021.

Family: Single. Two adult children and four grandchildren.

Campaign contributions: Garcia has selected the “mini campaign reporting option.” That means she will not accept individual donations, other than her own over $500, and she will not raise more than $5,000 in total.

Who is Garcia?

Garcia grew up in a military family and lived “all across the nation.” She went to high school in San Antonio and has a degree in multicultural psychology.

Before she retired, Garcia served in the Air Force and worked in the California Secretary of State’s Office. She also worked for the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Garcia said that she will have two main areas of focus if voters elect her to City Council: infrastructure and public safety.

Liberty Lake has to continue working on major infrastructure projects, such as the Kramer Parkway undercrossing, she said.

In terms of public safety, Garcia said the city worries changes at the state level could impede the Liberty Lake Police Department.

“My focus is on the safety and security of everyone, the well-being of everyone, all the time,” Garcia said.

A new state law requiring police officers to have probable cause before using force is a concern, Garcia said.

That law makes it “almost impossible for the person who

is committing a crime to be apprehended,” Garcia said.

In addition to infrastructure and public safety, Garcia said the city needs to take great care in how it responds to House Bill 1220, which prohibits cities from banning homeless shelters. HB 1220 allows cities to place stipulations on where shelters can be.

Garcia did not say whether she thinks Liberty Lake should have a homeless shelter. She said the city needs to protect the well-being of all Liberty Lake residents and prepare for the future.

“I want Liberty Lake to have what it needs when it needs it, and I want to be forward thinking so that we’re prepared,” she said.

Garcia said she believes Liberty Lake residents know her and know she’ll work to defend their interests if they elect her.

“They know I’m going to fight for them; they know I’m going to work hard for them,” Garcia said.

“At the end of the day they have to vote their conscience.”

Colin Tiernan can be reached at (509) 459-5039 or colint@ spokesman.com.

LATAH MAYOR CANDIDATES PLAN FOR COMMUNITY Offer different perspectives on priorities for town

By Jayce Carral

About the candidates

Latah’s two mayoral candidates share similar concerns but different perspectives of their small town.

After living in Latah for 20 years and sitting on the town council for five years, Carole Meissner said she knows how the town operates and what it needs.

But Brianne Howe, 35-year-old mobile notary and process server, said she thinks Latah’s political leadership needs a fresh perspective.

Howe “There is a general sense of community in this town,” Howe said.

“It’s a quiet town, and people look out for each other.”

Latah is a small farming community in southeastern Spokane County Meissner with a population of 187, according to the 2020 Census.

Meissner, a 78-year-old antique business owner, wants to continue projects the town council has already begun, like creating an emergency shelter and installing a second well system. The council is using money from Latah’s COVID-19 relief package to purchase a generator and turn the town hall into an emergency shelter.

Winters in Latah can be harsh, Meissner said, so she also wants to possibly purchase a snowmobile for emergencies.

A few winters ago, the town was completely snowed in and cut off from all resources, including medical services, and one elderly man died.

“We need some kind of warning system, and that we’re working on.” she said.

“Especially because it gets quite snowy in these areas … and fires … they can come through your town quite fast.”

Howe said she wants to look into getting better plowing equipment for Latah’s maintenance man. She also wants to see if it is possible to get a town marshal because it takes upward of 40 minutes for deputies from Spokane County Sheriff’s Office to arrive.

Howe said she knows the council has ongoing projects but thinks communication and transparency are lacking. She wants local leadership to engage more with the town by including the council’s previous meeting minutes and an agenda for the next meeting with the town’s

LATAH MAYOR

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Brianne Howe

Age: 35 Education: Graduated from Shadle

Park High School in 2004. Graduated from Eastern Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in social work.

Work experience: Currently mobile notary and process server. Was a mental health and addictions counselor for 10 years in Spokane. Has done administrative work with nonprofits.

Political experience: Lost bid for town council in 2019.

Family: Living with partner Adam Papini in Latah since 2017. Has a 12-year-old hound dog named Huck.

Carole Meissner

Age: 78 Education: Graduated from Severna Park

High School in Maryland in 1960. Completed some college at a community college in Tacoma.

Work experience: Owns The Red Barn, an antique shop in Latah. History in retail business.

Political experience: Served five years on the Latah town council; has a little over two years left in her current term.

Family: Married to Richard “Rick” Meissner. Has two children and 15 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

monthly newsletter, which is sent to residents with their water bill.

“The town has not really been informed unless you go to the council meetings,” she said. “In the past, they used to attach the meeting minutes and tentative agenda, which would give you an opportunity as a resident to either write in or call … and voice your opinion on something.”

Meissner said she also wants to attach more information to the newsletter to help encourage residents to attend council meetings.

Latah needs everything any other town needs, just on a smaller scale, but everything in government takes time, Meissner said. It took her three years to reinstall lights in the park.

“It’s really hard to get things done very quickly. I come from a business world …

See LATAH, 20

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T18 • Sunday • October 17, 2021

Special Section

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

INCUMBENT DEER PARK CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SAYS HE HAS MORE WORK TO DO

By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The race for Deer Park City Council Position 3 has narrowed to incumbent Richard Schut and challenger Heather Newsom.

A third candidate, Mike Achurra, was eliminated in the primary. Schut earned 47% of the vote and Newsom received 38%.

Schut has served on the council for the last four years.

Newsom, who ran unsuccessfully for a Deer Park City Council position in 2019, does not appear to have any political experience.

Schut grew up in several towns in Eastern Washington, including Pateros, Deer Park, Loon Lake, Chewelah and Spokane. He was homeschooled and earned his GED in 1997 before attending Spokane Falls Community College to study graphic design.

He founded his own business,

which provides on hold during marketing and the pandemic, IT services to including modsmall business ernizing the city owners, in 2002. by doing things Ne w s o m , like getting offia graduate of cial city email adRiverside High Newsom dresses for counSchut School, did not cil members. respond to several interview “There was a lot of things requests.

I’d hoped to accomplish on the Information she submitted City Council during my first for the Spokane County voters term, but there was this little guide lists her as a bartender thing called a pandemic,” he for the Fraternal Order of Ea- said. “We’ve been basically on gles for the last 11 years. hold for the last year and half “I believe in attempting to on many things. There’s still a maintain the small town feel lot of things that are important of Deer Park,” Newsom said, that I want to get done.” “listening to citizens and makSchut indicated he was on ing the best decisions possible the fence in regards to the city for our town.” getting its own police departSchut, who did not respond ment, which has been a topic to recent requests for an inter- of discussion in the city. view, did participate in an in“We need to take a really terview ahead of the primary close look at that and see what election. In that interview, he we can do,” he said. “That may said he was running for reelec- be one of the possibilities. tion because there was more There needs to be a lot of work work to do that had been put into investigating that.”

“

If the candidate wins, the candidate wins. If he chooses to take the oath of office, he would serve until someone challenges him.

Vicky Dalton

Spokane County Auditor

DEER PARK CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE DOESN’T MEET RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

If Costello wins, result stands until appealed, challenged in court

By Nina Culver

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

A candidate for a seat on the Deer Park City Council will appear on the ballot even though he doesn’t meet a residency requirement to run.

Voters in Deer Park apparently are ready for a change on the City Council, voting out 12-year incumbent Mary Babb and advancing two political novices, Billy Costello and Upchurch Jason Upchurch, in the August primary.

But records from the Spokane County Assessor’s Office show that Costello purchased his house in Deer Park in April and previously lived in Colbert Costello since 2012. Deer Park is a code city, and Washington law requires city council candidates in code cities to have been a resident for one year before being elected.

Costello said he had no idea there was a one-year residency requirement and didn’t intend to do anything improper.

He said it’s no secret that he recently moved to Deer Park.

“I had no intention of this happening,” he said. “I’ve been straightforward with everyone.”

Upchurch, the pastor of Redeemer Bible Church, said he’s known for months about Costello’s recent move to Deer Park, but said he didn’t realize that one year of residency was a requirement to run.

“I didn’t know there were requirements,” he said.

Upchurch, who has served on Deer Park’s planning commission, said he believes he’s a better candidate for the position because he’s lived in Deer Park for a decade and doesn’t think Costello knows enough about the community to represent it effectively.

“I’ve been here 11 years,” he said. “I know my city.”

Although Costello has been a resident for only a few months since the spring, he opened his State Farm Insurance office in Deer Park in 2018.

The apparent lack of residency likely would disqualify Costello from holding office, but what happens next is uncertain. A council candidate in Spokane, Tyler LeMasters, was ordered removed from the ballot in August by a judge after a complaint was filed against him in Spokane County Superior Court alleging he did not meet the one-year residency requirement.

It’s too late to remove Costello from

About the candidates CANDIDATES FOR DEER PARK CITY COUNCIL, POSITION 1

Billy Costello

Age: 34 Education: Graduated from Righetti High

School in Santa Maria, California, and holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Cal State Fullerton.

Work experience: He previously worked as an analyst for Verizon Wireless for four years before becoming a State Farm Insurance Agent 10 years ago. He opened his own insurance office three years ago.

Political experience: None.

Family: Married. Has three children.

Jason Upchurch

Age: 39 Education: Graduated from Hanford High

School in Richland and earned an associate degree in general studies from Columbia Basin College through Running Start. He holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from The Master’s University in Santa Clarita, California, and attended graduate school at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky.

Work experience: He previously worked as an operations manager for a granite countertop manufacturing facility and did sales and design work for a remodeling company before becoming a pastor at Grace Church for six years. He has been pastor of Redeemer Bible Church for the last four years.

Political experience: He was appointed to the Deer Park Planning Commission nine months ago.

Family: Married. Has five children.

the November ballot, said Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton. Doing so would have taken an order from a judge before the ballots were printed.

Dalton said her office does not check candidate residency when people file to run for office.

“That is not something the Auditor’s Office verifies,” she said.

In the August primary, Upchurch received 44% of the vote, and Costello got 27%. Babb, the incumbent, came in third with 22% of the vote.

If Upchurch wins, the results stand.

But if Costello wins, his votes will count unless someone files a complaint and a judge orders that Costello is ineligible to hold office, and the votes cast for him will not be counted, Dalton said.

“A qualified elector would have to challenge his candidacy in court,” she said.

If Costello wins and no complaint is filed, he would be considered the winning candidate.

“If the candidate wins, the candidate wins,” Dalton said. “If he chooses to take the oath of office, he would serve until someone challenges him.”

About the candidates DEER PARK CITY COUNCIL, POSITION 3

Heather Newsom

Newsom did not respond to requests for an interview.

Age: 33 Education: Riverside High School Work experience: Bartender for the Fraternal Order of Eagles for past 11 years. Currently has management position at Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Political experience: Lost bid for Deer Park City Council in 2019.

Richard Schut

Age: 42 Education: Earned GED. Took graphics design classes at Spokane Falls Community College

Work experience: Owns a small business called TrekPro that

provides marketing and IT services to small business owners.

Political experience: Has served four years on the Deer Park City Council.

Family: Married. Has three children.

The city recently created a committee to help select a consultant who will prepare a

report on the feasibility of the city paying to create its own police department.

Mayoral candidates favor Deer Park sticking with Spokane County Sheriff’s Office About the candidates

By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMANREVIEW

If the primary ballot returns are any indication, incumbent Deer Park Mayor Tim Verzal is heavily favored to win re-election in his race against political newc o m e r Hazel McG i l l i v r a y.

On the August ballot, Verzal won 70% of the vote compared McGillivray to McGillivray ’s 27%.

T h e third candidate on the primary ballot, Verzal Hargis “Jeff ” Adams, was eliminated in the primary.

McGillivray said she and Adams are friends and he is endorsing her.

Neither knew the other was filing to run ahead of time, she said. “We did not realize we were both signing up for mayor,” she said.

McGillivray said she wasn’t discouraged by the results of the primary election. At the time she’d only had a month to campaign and she said as a political newcomer running against an incumbent she has an uphill battle on her hands.

“To get 27% of the vote I thought was quite encouraging,” she said.

Verzal served on the Deer Park City Council for four years before becoming mayor four years ago. He’s worked for 7 C’s Construction for 20 years and currently works for the company part-time. The work he’s done there has given him valuable experience in sewer and water systems and road building, Verzal said. The city is working on wastewater improvements and adding new wells, he said.

“We’re staying on top of the game,” he said.

“Hopefully that will build a new tax base for spending.”

He’s also been working to improve city parks, including adding new play equipment where it’s needed.

The city currently contracts with the Spokane County Sheriff ’s Office for two deputies, and Verzal said he’s been trying to get that number increased.

“They’ve had a lot of early retirements and that’s affected us,” he said. “They’ve got a lot in training right now and hopefully we’ll get one or two.”

DEER PARK MAYOR

Tim Verzal

Age: 68 Education: Graduated from Salem Central High School

in Wisconsin and took some business classes at the University of Kentucky.

Work experience: Currently works part time for 7 C’s Construction, where he has worked for 20 years. He previously owned a KFC restaurant in Wisconsin for 17 years and owned the Buckaroo Tavern in Deer Park for four years.

Political experience: Has served as Mayor of Deer Park for four years and previously served on the Deer Park City Council for four years.

Family: Single. Has four children.

Hazel McGillivray

Age: 57 Education: Graduated from Antioch (California) High School.

Work experience: She currently manages six rental

properties that she and her husband own. She previously served in the Air Force for two years, owned a business specializing in British motorcycle parts for seven years and worked as a telecommunications manager for Murray Franklin for more than 10 years.

Political experience: First run for office.

Family: Married. Has two children.

One of the biggest debates going on in Deer Park is whether the city should have, or can afford to have, its own police department. Verzal said he put together a committee to help find a consultant to explore the feasibility of the idea.

Once the City Council selects a consultant the committee will be in charge of getting public input on what level of service citizens want from a police department.

“For the 2022 budget, I put up to $100,000 in there for a consultant,” he said.

Though it’s an idea favored by some residents and council members, Verzal said he doesn’t believe a police department is necessary.

“At this point, I don’t,” he said. “Our crime rate is down. This is the council’s decision, not mine.”

McGillivray said she’s not sold on the idea of creating a police department.

“I’m not 100 percent against it, either,” she said. “I want to see all the reports.”

She wants to talk to leaders in other small towns in the area.

“We can learn an awful lot about communities who have already been here,” she said.

She said she would also explore having the Washington State Patrol assist with traffic control in Deer Park, McGillivray said.

“I did some research,” she said. “It is possible.

That might be a piece of the puzzle.”

McGillivray manages several rental houses that she and her husband purchased and re-

modeled themselves.

She previously worked as a telecommunications manager for Murray Franklin for more than 10 years.

One issue that McGillivray is focused on is economic renovation in Deer Park.

“One of the things that is a big issue in Deer Park right now is the lack of a second grocery store,” she said.

Although the population of Deer Park is under 5,000, there are 15,000 residents in the surrounding area, she said. She believes it’s enough to easily support a second store.

“We have the economic base,” she said.

Deer Park used to have a lot of things, McGillivray said, including a movie theater, a bowling alley and a hotel.

“The worst losses, I believe, are the recreational opportunities,” she said.

McGillivray said the city needs to work to be more welcoming to businesses and can do that in part by upgrading the city’s website. She said many things aren’t online and that it isn’t possible to do things like apply for a building permit online.

“That’s the way business gets done these days,” she said. “I think we have so much potential.”

McGillivray said she has a lot of practical life experience to bring to the job.

Verzal, however, said he believes government experience is a key requirement for the position.

“There’s a lot you need to know in this job,” he said. “This isn’t a position you just walk into.”

Special Section

October 17, 2021 • Sunday • T19

2021 VOTERS GUIDE OFF-YEAR Continued from 7

The Black Diamond bar, which stayed open in defiance of Gov. Jay Inslee’s COVID-19 restrictions, and say they are unhappy with government overreach and the Valley’s response to the pandemic.

Another Valley City Council incumbent Linda Thompson, faces a firsttime candidate with a well-known political lastname, Laura Padden, the wife of long-time Valley Republican legislator and former Spokane County District Judge Mike Padden.

With local races dipping into national issues, it’s unclear whether one

other national issue – questions over the way elections are run and results are tallied – will affect the traditionally low voter turnout for an offyear election.

Ballots have been mailed to all registered voters and must be returned either by mail or through drop-boxes located at public libraries and other key locations throughout Spokane County. Ballots placed in drop boxes must be deposited before 8 p.m. on Nov. 2, those sent by mail must be postmarked no later than Nov. 2.

Lauren, 9, right, whose mother asked that her last name not be used, holds a sign denouncing mask mandates as she joins other children and their parents in protesting COVID-19 regulations on Aug. 18 at the Central Valley School District’s offices in Spokane Valley.

Jim Camden can be reached at jim-camden@ outlook.com or (509) 8797461.

TYLER TJOMSLAND/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

COLIN MULVANY/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

At the Spokane Candidates Climate Change Forum, Spokane City Council candidates and Spokane School Board candidates answer climate change questions from student moderators Gonzaga junior Laurel Burlingame, and Lewis and Clark High School senior Will Merritt on Wednesday at Gonzaga University.

SPENDING Continued from 1

the board after raising $10,500.

Green said once she learned she would have an opponent, she realized she’d have to raise money. But she’s been surprised how much her opponent decided to pursue.

“It doesn’t matter how she runs her campaign,” Green said.

“I just have to be true to myself and be competitive at the same time.”

Green said she is concerned that the growing campaign chests in school board races could discourage good candidates from running, particularly if they don’t have a lot resources or connections to those

who typically give money to campaigns.

“It felt more partisan,” Green said of the influx of money into the race. “It’s a nonpartisan position and having it get really partisan felt strange.”

In Gray’s case, support has come from conservatives who back Gray’s concerns about critical race theory, mask mandates and the state’s comprehensive sex education curriculum.

“Reaching every voter takes a lot of money, and I’m humbled and thankful to everyone who is generously helping me do that,” Gray said.

About three-quarters of Gray’s donations have come from private citizens, with the rest donated by businesses.

Another conservative, Kata Dean, is the top fundraiser among the four Spokane School Board candidates candidates, with $27,805 raised so far. Like Gray, most of Dean’s support has been drawn from individuals and local businesses.

However, her opponent in the Position 4 race, Riley Smith, isn’t far behind; as of Wednesday, he had raised $22,982.

The all-time fundraising leader in Spokane is board member Nikki Lockwood, who raised $29,200 during a successful bid in 2019.

The fundraising picture is flipped in the Position 3 race, where liberal candidate Melissa Bedford has raised $25,051. Her conservative opponent, Daryl Geffken, has raised $16.897.

DARYL

N E K F GEF VOTE

BY NOV. 2ND

GEFFKENFORSPOKANESCHOOLBOARD.COM • ADVOCATING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR VOICE • TRANSPARENCY IN SCHOOL BOARD DECISIONS

Daryl will stand up for the best interest of students, families, educators, and our community who have lost their voices.

• PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS

Paid for by Daryl Geffken for Spokane School Board, P.O. Box 8321, Spokane, WA 99203

Bedford, a professor at Eastern Washington University and former public school teacher in Nevada, has campaigned partly on the fact that the current board has no teachers.

Bedford has drawn $2,000 in support from the state teachers’ union, the Washington Education Association.

She and Smith also received contributions from the Democratic Party and other labor unions.

Bedford also has support from families of two current board members.

Jenny Slagle was the first person to donate to Bedford’s campaign, giving $100 on April 30. Bedford got $250 from Lockwood’s husband, William Lockwood.

Money doesn’t always bring victory, but it may help. In 2019, Lockwood, Slagle and Kevin Morrison all won after outspending their opponents.

But for all the money being raised in Spokane and Mead, activity has been low-key in the two races for seats on the Central Valley School District board.

All four candidates have opted for what the Washington state Public Disclosure Commission terms a mini reporting, with a cap of $5,000.

Jonathan Brunt contributed to this report Jim Allen can be reached at (509) 459-5437 or by email at jima@spokesman.com

T20 • Sunday • October 17, 2021

Special Section

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

Chiropractor challenges longtime incumbent for Spokane County Fire District 9 commissioner About the candidates

By Garrett Cabeza

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The Spokane County Fire District 9 commissioner race features an incumbent with 14 years on the commission and a chiropractor who says “it’s time for a change in leadership.”

Michael Atwood joined the Fire District 9 commission in 2007, but his service to the district as a volunteer firefighter and EMT stretches back to 1972. He said the district, which borders the city of Spokane to the north, has undergone several improvements over the years, especially during his tenure as commissioner.

He said he takes pride in the district’s stable financial status and its hiring of several full-time firefighters and paramedics in recent years. Atwood said the district is looking to hire more firefighters in the next two years.

He said its facilities and response times are in good shape, and its equipment is “fairly new.”

“Everything I think that I’ve been involved in has been a positive effort, and with my fellow commissioners, I think we’ve all done a good job of making sure the taxpayer gets the biggest bang for their buck,” Atwood said.

Brian Mather said he is running for the position because a large number of District 9 firefighters, including some who are his chiropractic patients, have asked him over the past decade to run.

“I think that there’s

SPOKANE COUNTY

Deer Park

Fire District 9

Mather

Atwood

some challenges in the current administration with the fire district in having successful communication and they would really like to see a fire commissioner that could become that sort of conduit of communication,” Mather said. “There’s not a lot of collaboration between the administration and the labor side in our fire district currently, and I think that when you sit down and you visit with many of the firefighters that are on the job, there’s some job dissatisfaction. There’s definitely a level where they question the leadership style.”

He said the dissatisfaction is a result of some firefighters believing commissioners are not listening to them.

“I think there’s a sense that they feel like some of the things that they try to do or try to create are not necessarily taken very seriously and they’re pretty much frustrated with their lack of being able to collaborate and to incorporate some of the things that they think would make the citizens that they protect have a better experience,” Mather said.

While Mather said it is a “strong contingent” of firefighters who are unhappy with leadership, Atwood said it’s more around eight to 10 firefighters.

SPOKANE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT 9 COMMISSION, POSITION 2

Mount Spokane

Michael Atwood

Age: 69 Education: Graduated from East Valley High School in

395

Spokane Valley in 1970.

2

Work experience: Retired. Former volunteer firefighter

N

and EMT with Fire District 9 for 35 years. Former truck driver.

Political experience: Fire District 9 commissioner since 2007.

Family: Married. Has two grown sons.

Campaign contributions: Atwood selected the minireporting option, indicating he will not raise any more than $5,000.

290

Spokane

5 M I L ES

Spokane Valley

90

MOLLY QUINN/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

“They’re wanting to get in and get more say in how the district’s operating and run,” Atwood said. “And a lot of that, they just can’t have. That’s just the way it is.”

Atwood said one example is how some firefighters say a rescue task force should be implemented sooner.

Working alongside police, firefighters in the task force would be trained, for example, to rescue people in an active shooter event at a school, Atwood said.

He said he wants to make sure other agencies, like the Spokane and Spokane Valley fire departments and Spokane Police Department, are on the same page before the rescue task force is launched.

“That’s part of their heartburn, I guess you could say,” Atwood said.

Meanwhile, some area firefighters and paramedics may lose their jobs this month if they fail to follow the provisions of Gov. Jay

Brian Mather

Inslee’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Firefighters are included in the mandate if they are licensed by the state as an EMT or paramedic or whenever they perform medical functions.

They must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 as a condition of employment. Certain religious and medical exemptions are allowed, but accommodations must be made for those exemptions. Some fire departments are claiming accommodations cannot be made.

“My position on it is I don’t want to get rid of any of our guys,” Atwood said.

“They’re all very dedicated, knowledgeable, highly trained and we’re doing everything we can to circumvent that if we can. It’s a bad deal. Let’s face it.”

Atwood said the mandate needs to be adjusted, noting firefighters know how to protect themselves from the virus. He said each fire agency should be able to decide how to confront COVID-19.

Age: 48 Education: Graduated from Mead High School in

Spokane in 1991. Received Doctor of Chiropractic from Western States Chiropractic College in 1996.

Work experience: Owner of Spokane Chiropractic and Sports Injury Clinic. Team chiropractor for Spokane Chiefs.

Political experience: First run for office.

Family: Married. Has three children.

Campaign contributions: Raised about $8,300 as of Oct. 11.

Mather said Inslee’s mandate is government overreach.

“I don’t know that you achieve your final goal by losing a percentage of your workforce,” Mather said.

If elected, Atwood said he anticipates the six-year term will be his last.

“I just want things to go status quo, and the problem with my opponent is he has zero experience in the fire service,” he said. “I think he’s a nice guy. I’ve met him but I just have questions as to whether or not he would make the right decisions.”

Fire District 13 commissioner touts her ties to community, experience in bid for second term Incumbent challenged by former FAA worker

Fire District 13 2

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Continued from 17 businesses are quicker,” she said. “With government, it takes us this approval and that approval.”

Meissner has been trying to get a crosswalk sign installed on the street next to Latah’s post office where state Highway 27 passes through. She said drivers tend to ignore the 25 mph speed limit.

The county restriped the crosswalk, but declined to install a sign unless an accident had occurred their in the last 25 years, Meissner said.

“I’d like to know that kids are safe in crossing the street,” she said.

The post office has become the default place for residents to take extra food and supplies, Howe said. She wants to create a gathering place like a community garden or farmer’s market to foster community relationships.

Because of her history of working with nonprofits, Howe said she knows there are small town

About the candidates SPOKANE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT 13 COMMISSION, POSITION 2

Teresa Phelps

Age: 62 Education: Graduated from Shadle Park High

By Emma Epperly

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The manager of a hardware store is facing a former Federal Aviation Administration worker in the race for a seat on the fire commission serving Newman Lake.

Teresa Phelps said she has lived and worked in the Spokane area all her life.

“I have an interest in my community and supporting my community,” said Phelps, who is running for re-election as a fire commissioner for Spokane County Fire District 13.

Phelps ran unopposed for the position in 2017.

This election, Phelps is opposed by Dennis Gleckler, who moved to Newman Lake in 2015 after a career in the FAA, according to the statement he submitted for the Spokane County voters guide.

Gleckler did not respond to interview requests from The Spokesman-Review.

For the past 26 years, Phelps has managed Otis Hardware in Otis Orchards where, she said, she has learned every side of the business. Before that, Phelps worked as an accountant.

Those skills, along with a desire to serve her community, have made her a well-rounded fire commissioner, Phelps said.

Gleckler wrote that he brings skills he learned through his career as an air traffic controller, which give him broad understanding to deal with many scenarios.

“Successful management or oversight is not always about being an expert, but being able to bring the experts together to achieve success,” he wrote for the county voters guide.

He did not list an experience in firefighting or working at a fire district.

Phelps shepherded the fire district through building and opening a new fire

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station.

“It has been an amazing transition,” Phelps said.

The district, located in eastern Spokane County, sold its old fire station, which helped fund projects like a burn building that will serve as a fire training apparatus for not only district firefighters, but crews from across the region.

The largely volunteer force took the pandemic in stride, Phelps said.

“They’ve just done what they were asked to do and never questioned it,” she said.

When asked about the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for medical professionals, Phelps said she’s disappointed in the requirement and knows it’s causing “hardship.”

“I’m fully vaccinated and I believe in the vaccine,” Phelps said. “I have to leave that as a personal decision that’s up to them.”

The current fire commission is made up of one firefighter, the wife of a volunteer and Phelps.

That group, Phelps said, does a good job representing a variety of viewpoints.

If elected to another term, Phelps would like the department to continue its focus on training and retention. She said she is thrilled with the work of Fire Chief Stan Cooke.

She said he is frugal with the budget, personable and brings a new energy and legacy to the department.

Emma Epperly can be reached at (509) 459-5122 or at emmae@spokesman. com.

School in 1977. Graduated from Yakima Valley Community College in 1981 with a degree in accounting.

Work experience: Manager of Otis Hardware for the last 26 years; owned her own accounting business.

Political experience: Moab Water District board member for the last 12 years. Fire Commissioner for Spokane County Fire District 13 since 2017.

Family: Three dogs, two cats.

Dennis Gleckler

Education: Graduated from Greenford High School

in 1968. Attended Lakeshore Technical Institute for dairy herdsmanship.

Work experience: U.S. Air Force Traffic Control, Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Control Specialist, among other positions, including assistant manager for traffic management and operations, also owner of a Wisconsin dairy farm.

Political experience: First run for office.

Family: Married.

Mather said it’s not necessary to have firefighting experience because the commissioner position involves managing a budget, communicating and decision making.

Mather is endorsed by the unions of Spokane County Fire District 9, Spokane Firefighters and Spokane Valley Firefighters.

Atwood is endorsed by the Spokane County Republican Party.

Garrett Cabeza can be reached at (509) 459-5135 or by email at garrettc@ spokesman.com.

grants that can help expand Latah’s budget to fund things like street maintenance and elderly assistance.

As part of her campaigning, Howe has been going door to door to find out what the residents want from their local government.

“I really want to engage the community, have fiscal responsibility and have community input,” she said.

Because the town has fewer than 200 residents, campaigning is not based on financial capabilities but connections within the community and encouraging a higher voter turnout.

“I hope that I’m given the chance to make the town better,” Meissner said. “I guess that’s always everybody’s hope when they’re running for mayor.”

Latah’s current mayor, Teresa Galvin, is not running again.

Howe and Meissner previously ran against each other in 2019 for a seat on Latah’s town council when Meissner won 43-21.

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Special Section

October 17, 2021 • Sunday • T21

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

Spangle and Rockford voters will consider tax proposals on November ballot would raise $21,995.

By Laurel Demkovich

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Voters in Spangle and Rockford will get to weigh in on tax levies this general election.

They need a simple majority to pass.

Here’s what’s on the ballot:

Town of Rockford Proposition No. 1

This proposal would allow the town of Rockford to levy a property tax in 2022 and authorize the town to keep its property tax levy rate of 51 cents per $1,000 to provide fire protection services in 2022. It

Town of Spangle Proposition No. 1

This proposition would levy a property tax of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value to fund fire services in 2022. It would raise approximately $23,000. The town’s fire service is provided by Spokane County Fire District 3, which has a station at 235 W. Second Ave. in Spangle.

It would provide fire and medical services to residents, and no other funds, grants or loans are available to offset the cost of those services, according to the voter guide statement. Spangle has funded

CHENEY POLICE, FIRE LEVY PLAN ON BALLOT

By Garrett Cabeza

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Garrett Cabeza can be reached at (509) 459-5135 or by email at garrettc@spokesman.com.

Town of Spangle Proposition No. 2

The proposition would allow the town to levy approximately $1.19 per $1,000 of assessed value to fund police protection services. It would raise about $17,000 to fund police services in 2022. Spangle contracts with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office to provide law enforcement.

The measure is needed to allow the town to maintain its level of police protection for its residents, according to the voter guide statement.

Spangle Cemetery District Proposition No. 1

The Spangle Cemetery District is asking voters to approve a levy for 20 cents per $1,000 of taxable property. It would raise about $20,000 to fund 2022 maintenance and operation expenses for the cemetery district.

The district is 68 square miles. The 7-acre cemetery is at the northeast corner of Spangle and Keevy roads just south of town.

Laurel Demkovich can be reached at (509) 416-6260 or at laureld@spokesman.com.

“

We’re a small department. Over 80% of our calls are medical- or EMS-related.”

Gary Hill, Rockford Fire Chief

Fire District 11 hopes to renew medical services levy

County rate request same as for previous years

By Emma Epperly

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Voters will decide in November whether to renew the medical services levy requested by Spokane County Fire District 11.

The district in southeastern Spokane County requested a replacement levy of 35 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value annually for the next six years. The levy is not an increase from the previous rate and won’t in-

crease taxes, said Fire Chief Gary Hill. That’s $35 a year for a property valued at $100,000.

“We’re a small department,” Hill said. “Over 80% of our calls are medical- or EMS-related.”

The department that services the Rockford area is largely run by volunteers, save for a few staff members like Hill who are paid part time.

The money from the levy will pay for supplies that are often used on calls, including car accidents and

medical emergencies.

Hill said if the levy passes it would signal not only the community’s support of the department but how important emergency services are in a small community.

“It shows that the community is supporting the fire department in what it’s doing and that’s important to us because we want to make sure the community is happy with our services,” Hill said.

The levy needs a simple majority to pass.

Emma Epperly can be reached at (509) 459-5122 or at emmae@spokesman. com

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Cheney residents will decide if they want to pay more for public safety operations, including the implementation of a body camera program for police officers.

City Administrator Mark Schuller said there are several needs police and fire operations have, and the public safety levy would allow the city to address some of them.

Schuller said the levy would be a significant source of funding for police body cameras, which would increase transparency in police operations.

The Cheney Police Department is one of the last agencies in the region without body-worn cameras, he said.

Schuller said the levy also would help pay for the replacement of aging police patrol vehicles and potentially fund the hiring of additional full-time police officers and fire personnel.

The proposition would restore the maximum regular levy for collection in 2022 to $3.10 per $1,000 of assessed value, or $930 on a $300,000 assessed home value. Residents would pay $2.58 per $1,000 of assessed value, or $774 on a $300,000 assessed home value, if the proposition fails to pass, according to information Schuller provided.

Each of the remaining five years of the six-year levy would be restricted to no more than a 1% increase of the total previous year’s levy.

The election is Nov. 2.

its emergency services through voter-approved levies for many years.

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Fairfield

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

ARIELLE DREHER

LAUREL DEMKOVICH

ORION DONOVAN-SMITH

LOCAL JOURNALISM MATTERS. Report for America is a national effort of the GroundTruth Project that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on critical issues and underserved communities.

Since 2019, The Spokesman-Review has hosted RFA corps member Arielle Dreher, who covers rural health and has been a lead writer in the paper's coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. This summer, The Spokesman-Review has expanded its coverage of government with the addition of RFA corps members Laurel Demkovich in our Olympia bureau and Orion Donovan-Smith based in Washington, D.C. Help us keep these talented journalists working for you. Your tax-deductible contribution to the Innovia Foundation's Civic Journalism and Community Engagement Fund support the work - and salaries - of these journalists.

To make a contribution, visit spokesman.com/thanks, call The Spokesman-Review newsroom office manager Mary Beth Donelan at (509) 459-5485 or look for donation buttons embedded in news stories at www.spokesman.com. To subscribe, visit www.spokesman.com/customer-service or call (509) 747-4422.

T22 • Sunday • October 17, 2021

Special Section

2021 VOTERS GUIDE

By Laurel Demkovich

Deer Park

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

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within the district that involve water use requirements, such as water main extensions.

“If re-elected I won’t have to spend months

About the candidates SPOKANE COUNTY WATER DISTRICT 3 COMMISSION, POSITION 2

Nathan Jeffries

Age: 43 Education: Graduated

Mead Senior High School in 1996 and Eastern Washington University in 2001 with a bachelor’s in business administration.

Work experience:

Jeffries began working for B&B Sprinklers – his family’s landscape and irrigation company – at age 14. He has also worked at Spokane County Fire District 9 for the past 20 years as an EMT before becoming a division chief.

Political experience:

Elected to Spokane County Water District 3 commission in 2017.

Family: Long-term partner.

Campaign Contributions: He has

raised $4,500 as of Oct. 13.

Contributors include the Spokane Regional Labor Council ($1,000), Spokane County Water District 3 Commissioner Mary Wissink ($375), Spokane Valley Firefighters Union ($250), and Washington Education Association Political Action Committee ($250).

Kevin McMulkin

Age: 60 Education: Graduated

University High School in 1980 and then Washington State University in 1985 with a bachelor’s in civil engineering.

Work experience: He has served as a consulting engineer for several water systems in the Spokane area for over 30 years, and he is a licensed civil engineer in the state of Washington.

Political experience:

Appointed to Spokane Water District 3 commission in August 2016. Lost bid to retain seat in November 2017.

Family: Married. Has four children.

Campaign fundraising:

McMulkin has opted not to raise more than $5,000 or accept any donations more than $500.

ey sometimes,” Jeffries said. “And that’s one of the jobs of the commissioner is to weigh those jobs that the commissioner brings to us to approve.”

Virginia. Received his associate degree of science in electronic systems technology in 1988 from the Community College of the Air Force. Received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland University College.

Political experience: Currently serves as a commissioner.

Work experience: Worked as a cybersecurity expert and program manager for 20 years.

Family: Married. Has two children.

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A race to serve on the board for Spokane County Water District 3 is a rematch from four years ago.

Incumbent commissioner, Nathan P. Jeffries, won the position with 51.7% of the vote in 2017.

He faces civil engineering consultant Kevin McMulkin, who had been apJeffries pointed to the board in 2016 and lost the seat to Jeffries in that race.

As the McMulkin current commissioner, Jeffries has had a long history with water.

Growing up, he worked for his family’s sprinkler company; his day job as a firefighter for Spokane Fire District No. 9, where he serves as a division chief, has also closely tied him to water.

“Water was second nature to me,” Jeffries said.

“And so this was kind of a logical step if I wanted to stick my foot into the political arena.” McMulkin graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and is a licensed civil engineer for the state of Washington. He served as a consulting engineer for multiple water systems in the region for over 30 years.

“I work as a consulting engineer for various water systems in the Spokane area, and I interact with the board members at their meetings,” McMulkin said.

Both candidates want to make sure that water infrastructure in the district is constantly being updated and fixed. Furthermore, they both say keeping rates affordable is a priority.

“It is important to be fiscally responsible with the district monies,” McMulkin said. “And continue to maintain a good quality water system with affordable rates for the district customers.”

Jeffries said it’s essential for the district to move forward on plans to replace aging infrastructure.

“You do have to spend some money to save mon-

Mead

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By Alexander Prevost

Colbert

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Water district candidates face each other, again FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

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Leroy (Lee) Legnon

Age: 59 Education: Graduated high school in 1980 in Roanoke,

Veselinovic did not respond to requests for an interview.

Age: 31 Education: No formal education, according to his voters guide statement.

Work experience: Worked in technical and systems analysis.

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Little Spokane River Natural Area Little Spokane River

WHITWORTH WATER DISTRICT 2, COMMISSIONER POSITION NO. 3

Stevan Veselinovic

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Whitworth Water District Commissioner Leroy (Lee) Legnon looks to another term this election, facing Stevan Veselinovic, who has a background in information technology.

Legnon and Veselinovic are on the ballot for the water district’s position No. 3. The board of commissioners leads the water district, which supplies water to parts of northern Spokane County. The board often looks at rates, conservation and sustainability of water.

Veselinovic did not respond to The Spokesman-Review’s multiple requests for comment.

Legnon was appointed to the commission in February. When he was told he would need to be elected to keep the seat, “it wasn’t even a thought, and I jumped at the opportunity,” Legnon wrote in an email.

He said over the past few months, he’s learned the importance of the position.

Legnon said he’s learned so much more about conservation and sustainability being part of the commission, specifically how customers use their water and what the aquifer looks like now and in the future. He said he also already knows about the developing projects

E L K - C H AT TA R O Y R D .

Commissioner hopes to keep seat in Whitworth Water District race

About the candidates

MOLLY QUINN/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

getting up to speed on policies and procedures, learning about facilities, meeting people and understanding their roles within the district,” he

wrote in an email. “There wouldn’t be any ramp time.”

Legnon said he wants to continue ensuring customers have safe and ad-

Legnon

equate water supplies. He also wants the district to keep thinking about dealing with future growth as more people move to the greater Spokane area and making sure the district’s infrastructure can keep up with the demands.

Legnon said his background in cybersecurity is a bonus to the district because critical infrastructure has been targeted by hackers recently. He pointed to a time in his current term when he was asked to do a review of the district’s yearly security audit. He did so and found the original company that did the audit possibly

left the district exposed.

He asked the company to come back and do a thorough audit.

“As a result the district has much better cyberhygiene and our customers should not experience outages as a result,” he said.

In his voter’s guide statement, Veselinovic recounts his first memory of drinking unclean water “out of the hands of my grandmother as we fled war torn Croatia.”

“I know first hand the importance of clean, affordable water,” he wrote.

He added he is grateful to live and work in Whitworth and pledges to “work together to keep it thriving.”

Laurel Demkovich can be reached at (509) 416-6260 or at laureld@spokesman. com.

“What’s happened over the years is we’ve had people needing to become jacks of all trades, spreading themselves thin, and doing things that are not their expertise ... It’s either you pay more now in salaries, or you pay more later to correct mistakes that were made because people were overloaded.”

“If you are not at the table, you’re probably on the menu. You have to be over in Olympia, you have to be advocating for this stuff. You have to do it in a way that you’re getting buy-in from all these other groups.”

Cristella Kaminskas

Steve Peterson

LIBERTY LAKE

Continued from 16

About the candidates LIBERTY LAKE MAYOR

Steve Peterson

Age: 71 es manager, who has Education: Graduated from Mount Rainier High School in Des Moines, Washington, helped bring the city’s in 1968. Graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in business policies up to date. administration in 1973.

“What’s happened over the years is we’ve Work experience: Retired. Worked for 35 years in pharmaceutical, commercial and had people needing retail sales. to become jacks of all Political experience: First elected mayor of Liberty Lake in 2001, and served until trades, spreading them- 2007. Was defeated in the 2007 election by Wendy Van Orman. Re-elected as mayor in selves thin, and doing 2011, and ran unopposed in 2015. Lost to Shane Brickner in 2019. things that are not their Family: Married to Charmaine Peterson since 1996. Has three adult children. expertise ... It’s either Campaign financing: Raised $17,700 as of Oct. 12. Contributors include himself you pay more now in (about $7,400), Brownstone Homes LLC ($1,000), Baker Construction & Development salaries, or you pay more Inc. ($1,000). later to correct mistakes that were made because Cristella Kaminskas people were overload- Age: 53 ed,” Kaminskas said.

New positions have Education: Earned bachelor’s degree in psychology from Miami University, Ohio, in been funded with exist- 1989. ing revenue streams and Work experience: After 20 years in program management, she is now Manager of not by raising taxes, Ka- Pre-Sales at TierPoint, a tech company. minskas said.

Political experience: Served nearly 11 years on the Liberty Lake City Council.

Peterson points to a Republican precinct committee officer for two years. long record of identify- Family: Married to Scott Kaminskas. They have one son. ing outside sources of Campaign financing: Kaminskas has opted not to raise more than $5,000 for her revenue. campaign in total or any contribution higher than $500.

With other elected leaders, Peterson said he helped advocate for Still, Kaminskas the tax financing sys- the Barker Road inter- lation issue. The exchange. pansion of the Harvard said the City Council, tems that led to devel“If you are not at the Road Bridge was a good on which she served opment of the River District north of the table, you’re probably first step, and she said for nearly 11 years beSpokane River and var- on the menu. You have a planned project on fore her appointment ious public infrastruc- to be over in Olympia, Kramer Parkway across as mayor, has a strong you have to be advocat- Interstate 90, connect- track record of rejecting ture improvements.

“Now, one of my goals ing for this stuff,” Peter- ing Mission Avenue on proposed development over there is to create son said. “You have to the north to Country that requires a zoning a connection between do it in a way that you’re Vista Drive to the south, change.

To Peterson, the bigthe River District and getting buy-in from all also will help alleviate these other groups.” traffic. gest challenge the growRidgeline High School,” Such work also takes And while Liber- ing city faces is that it Peterson said.

Peterson said his ad- planning, Peterson said. ty Lake residents may needs “true leadership.”

“I’ve been a big pro- be concerned about “It isn’t just sitting vocacy at the state levponent of making sure growth, Kaminskas notin your chair at council el was key to moving state funding forward our infrastructure is ed that some property meetings and signing for a variety of improve- in the vision not just in the city is zoned for some stuff on Wednesdevelop- day morning after the ments near Harvard today, but five and 10 multifamily years from now,” Peterment. council passed it,” PeRoad and Interstate “It’s hard to think terson said.

90. The work, funded son said.

Kaminskas argued about to downzone a through Connecting Washington, included a that the city doesn’t property and not open Adam Shanks can be widened Harvard Road necessarily have a vol- the city and citizens up reached at (509) 459bridge, and ramps and ume issue on its roads, to very expensive law- 5136 or at adams@ spokesman.com. new roundabouts at but does have a circu- suits,” Kaminskas said.

Special Section

October 17, 2021 • Sunday • T23

2021 VOTERS GUIDE CVSD

Continued from 4 superintendent’s office to withhold funding to districts that defy it.

“I can see where the school board is on this,” Orebaugh said. She urged the board to “try harder” in what she described as vague state laws on how far any school board could go in defying the mandate.

The race is dominated by the issue of masks in schools.

Orebaugh, a member of the nursing faculty at the Washington State University College of Nursing, said she believes parents should have the final say in whether their children wear masks in school. She also opposed Inslee’s vaccine mandate for public employees. Orebaugh said she is “not representing WSU or speaking for WSU in my stances.”

Regarding masking, “I’ve actually done the research,” Orebaugh said.

“I wear a mask at the hospital, but I know how to properly wear it, and it has a high efficacy,” Orebaugh said. “But when we’re talking about a kid wearing cloth masks that are filthy … plus, they don’t know how to

wear the mask, and that may be more harm than benefit.”

Chalich bristles at that argument.

“What does it hurt me to put on a mask if I’m protecting you,” said Chalich, who retired in 2017 after almost five decades as a teacher and coach at Central Valley High School.

“My interest has to be your interest, and for all of the students in our community,” Chalich said. “I will follow whatever the local and state guidelines are.”

Among groups that agree that masks should be required in schools is the American Academy of Pediatrics.

One of the largest studies on masking in schools during the pandemic, completed by a coalition led in part by the Duke University School of Medicine, concluded that “proper masking is the most effective mitigation strategy to prevent secondary transmission in schools when COVID-19 is circulating and when vaccination is unavailable.”

Chalich’s roots in the community go deep; he grew up in a fruit orchard just one block from the high school he would teach at for 49 years.

“Personally, it was never a job,” Chalich said. “I always

loved my students.”

Chalich said he valued the give-and-take of civics classes.

“You always have your say, buy not necessarily your way,” he said.

The candidates are also split on other issues. Orebaugh said she’s skeptical about the district’s commitment to “high-quality education that doesn’t have indoctrination.”

“I have a strong relationship with Jesus and I’m a strong Christian,” Orebaugh said. “But when the schools start teaching against our belief system … that’s not your job.”

On transgender issues, Orebaugh said “I feel sorry for those people who are confused that way. I’m not putting judgment on them at all, I’m just saying don’t tell my child what they should be when God made them a girl or God made them a boy.”

She’s also unconvinced that critical race theory isn’t being taught with Central Valley, however furtively, in district schools.

Chalich was blunt on the subject. “It’s not being taught,” he said.

Jim Allen can be reached at (509) 459-5437 or by email at jima@spokesman.com.

JUSTIN VOELKER

FOR EAST VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT DIRECTOR, DISTRICT #3 Experience, Leadership, Accountability Putting Families and Students First!

Endorsed by the East Valley Education Association Paid for by Justin Voelker for East Valley School District #3, 14306 E. Crown Ave., Spokane, WA 99216

“Central Valley has a very good reputation as a lighthouse district – smaller districts would look at CV at what’s going on there, because it’s a place that’s worth emulating.”

Teresa Land

“Faced with what appears to be no end to this madness, I decided to run for CVSD Position 2 as a write-in candidate.”

Bret Howell

DISTRICT 2 Continued from 4

On his website, Howell says he is “against both critical race theory and the State’s Sex Ed curriculum and I pledge to fight every day for our children and parents.”

On critical race theory, Howell said he worries about “little elements that creep in … because someone is white, that doesn’t mean they are racist.”

Howell said he opposes comprehensive sex education because “much of the content

of this new proposed curriculum can be graphic and offensive and is not age appropriate for the children that may be subjected to it. “ Landa said the district needs to do a better job of communicating and being transparent on sex education and other curriculum.

She said the district “has a lot of latitude” in how sex ed is taught … but we do want kids to have accurate information.”

Jim Allen can be reached at (509) 459-5437 or by email at jima@spokesman.com.

A teacher and public health worker running because everyone deserves a fair shot.

Spokane City Council

By Nov. 2nd Paid for by Friends of Zack Zappone • PO Box 48697 Spokane, WA 99205

We’re not a traditional book club

NORTHWEST PASSAGES

UPCOMING EVENTS

‘Mighty Inside’ OCTOBER 19 | 7 P.M.

By Sundee Frazier

“Mighty Inside” is inspired by Frazier’s grandparents, who bought a home in a white Spokane neighborhood in the 1940s. She also used recollections from her own childhood in Spokane’s tight-knit African-American community.

Frazier will be in conversation with president of the Spokane NAACP, Kiantha Duncan.

Wishing Tree Books will be on hand at the Montvale Event Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. event starts at 7 p.m.

MONTVALE EVENT CENTER

1017 W. FIRST AVE. SPOKANE

MUST SHOW PROOF OF COVID-19 VACCINATION TO ENTER COVID-19 policies are subject to change without prior notice, safety precautions/social distancing rules will be in place.

TICKETS ONLINE

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AND ON THE NIGHT OF THE EVENT

SPOKANE7TICKETS.COM P R E S E N T E D

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ONLY $6

T24 • Sunday • October 17, 2021

Special Section

2021 VOTERS GUIDE POSITION 3 Continued from 2

Geffken said his position on masks has evolved.

“I’ve had the opportunity to listen to people about their concerns and look at data,” he said. “I understand mandates are hard in that we feel our freedom is limited and I would like to see more local control of these types of topics,” he said.

“But there needs to be a priority for a larger benefit, and I will tell you that if wearing a mask helps ensure our students remain in school with full time learning, I’m wearing a mask,” he said.

Bedford stressed the need to “listen to health professionals.”

Regarding vaccine mandates, she said “it’s tough. … There also comes a time when we have to look at the greater good.”

“We have to look at possibly doing a federal mandate,” Bedford said.

Geffken has cited concerns about critical race theory.

Critical race theory is an academic concept that looks at the nation’s history, society and laws, and how it all intersects with race and minority groups. The state Legislature passed a bill last session that requires schools to provide “equity training” to staff.

Many conservatives took issue with the bill, saying it would force schools to embrace “critical race theory,” but the term does not appear anywhere in the bill, and Spokane Public Schools officials say it’s not being taught.

Earlier this summer, Geffken voiced concerns that moving forward, Spokane and other districts “are going to spend more time now on that lost voice and we’re going to elevate that lost voice, and now that lost voice is automatically a martyr or a victim.”

“It could be that they are not teaching the actual course,” Geffken said.

But he said he wasn’t satisfied with a blanket denial, “of just saying that it isn’t there.”

“Fighting racism with racism is wrong,” Geffken said.

Bedford echoed statements by Spokane and other districts that critical race theory isn’t being taught at K-12 schools. She said, however, that school districts need to be aware that “kids notice things ... that kids are taught differently because of the color of their skins.”

The candidates also are split on comprehensive sex education, with Geffken opposing it and Bedford supporting it.

Jim Allen can be reached at (509) 4595437 or by email at jima@spokesman. com.

November advisory votes on new taxes coming Nonbinding outcomes won’t change laws

By Laurel Demkovich

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

OLYMPIA – Just as they have for nearly a decade, a few advisory votes will appear on this year’s November election ballot. But that doesn’t mean they are any less confusing to voters.

Advisory votes allow voters to weigh in on taxes that passed in the Legislature, but they are nonbinding, meaning they won’t change any law.

In the Nov. 2 election, voters will have three advisory votes on their ballot. Each will ask voters if they think the tax increase should be “repealed” or “maintained.”

The online voters guide gives descriptions written by the attorney general’s office, the 10-year cost projection and final passage vote counts in the Legislature. Unlike any ini-

POSITION 4 Continued from 2

after a friend told her, “You’ve got a love for children and you can stand up for kids.”

Dean has been critical of the district on critical race theory, contending that it was being taught to her daughter at Ferris High School. In an online debate hosted by The Spokesman-Review, Dean said students should learn about the history of racism and bigotry, but she’s concerned about a more activist vision being taught.

Critical race theory emphasizes the role of white privilege and institutional racism in the shaping of American society and the law. Spokane Public Schools officials say critical race theory isn’t taught in Spokane schools.

Smith said it’s not an issue.

“This is a national issue that the far right has been pushing on local politics that doesn’t

tiatives and referendums, the votes do not have statements by supporters and opponents.

Anytime the Legislature passes a tax increase, it’s placed on the ballot as an advisory vote. The votes don’t change the law, but they allow the public to voice their opinion on taxes passed in the Legislature.

Advisory votes were part of an initiative from Tim Eyman that voters approved in 2007.

Even if the majority votes to repeal the tax, the Legislature is not required to reconsider it.

And if previous advisory vote results prove true, it won’t.

Here’s a look at the three state advisory votes on the November ballot, which will be mailed in about two weeks.

the national suicide hotline designation act, which Congress passed last year. It designates 988 as the universal number for accessing the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Hotline system.

The state tax is phased in.

From Oct. 1, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2022, the tax is 24 cents per line per month. It’s increased to 40 cents beginning Jan. 1, 2023.

The money will be used to route calls from the 988 crisis hotline to the appropriate hotline center and supplying behavioral health, crisis outreach and stabilization services.

Advisory Vote No. 37

The Legislature passed a tax on telephone lines to fund the statewide 988 behavioral health response and suicide prevention line.

The law sets up systems in Washington to respond to 988 calls and improve crisis response systems in response to

The Legislature passed a 7% tax on capital gains last session, a long-awaited win for Democrats who said the tax will help pay for child care priorities and make the tax system less regressive.

The sale of stocks, bonds, some property, businesses and other investments will be taxed if the profits exceed $250,000 annually. Revenue will not come to the state until

exist,” Smith said in an online debate hosted by The Spokesman-Review.

In a survey taken in June from We Believe, We Vote, Dean said that she strongly agreed with a statement that “schools should not promote curricula that normalize alternative lifestyles and gender-bending ideologies.”

Dean also concurred with a statement that “Public schools have added too many social services such as health care, meals, day care, etc.”

“I am 100% for meal programs for those in need,” she said. “I had concerns about food waste when we were feeding the entire district of students breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

Smith, who attended Balboa Elementary and Salk Middle School before going on to NC, is proud of his roots in northwest Spokane, which he sees as underrepresented on the board.

“I went to the same high

school as my grandpa, and I want people to know that I’m from here,” Smith said.

Smith works as a fulfillment coordinator for Feed the Northwest, a nonprofit that connects farmers to its member food banks.

“I really enjoy the work, making an impact on the community,” Smith said.

Smith has been active in the Democratic Party, working on several campaigns. Seeing a dearth of like-minded candidates for the school board, he decided to run.

“I have reasons for running, and one of them is that the student voice isn’t well represented on the school board,” Smith said.

If elected, he promises to amplify the voice of students who’ve been told that the only pathway to success is a college degree.

Referencing the district’s “T-2-4” slogan (technical, two-year and four-year college), Smith contends that the

Advisory Vote No. 36

2023.

Opponents of the bill say it is a tax on income, which would be considered unconstitutional in Washington.

Because the bill passed with a clause making it “necessary for the support of the state government and its existing public institutions,” voters could not bring a referendum to the ballot to appeal it. Instead, opponents are taking it to court.

A judge denied the state’s request earlier this month to dismiss the lawsuit, meaning it will move forward.

Advisory Vote No. 38

The Legislature passed a bill last session that imposed a premium tax on captive insurers, insurance companies that are owned by a corporation or company and insure the risk of their owner.

The bill requires eligible captive insurers to pay a 2% tax for insurance provided to its parent or affiliate.

Laurel Demkovich can be reached at (509) 416-6260 or at laureld@spokesman.com.

“T” isn’t robust enough.

“I want to see more technical programs in the high schools and middle schools,” said Smith, who also wants the district to work with labor unions to widen the range of apprenticeships.

Smith said he’s a strong believer in equity. Regarding the recently approved boundary changes in the district, he said that “many voices in northeast Spokane aren’t being heard.”

Smith said he supports the district’s safety measures against COVID-19, including the mask and vaccine mandates.

“I think kids need to be in school, in the classroom, I think it needs to be done safely more than anything else, and actually the health district has laid out a road map on how we can do that safely,” Smith said.

Jim Allen can be reached at (509) 459-5437 or by email at jima@spokesman.com

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