2022 October Splash

DOCKSIDE

Adroit Administrator –McAvoy brings experience to crucial role

By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor

Growing up in the city of Galveston, Texas – 50 miles southeast of Houston – Mark McAvoy gravitated toward the beach and bowling.

McAvoy’s dad managed a pest control company and his mom worked as an administrative assistant for the University of Texas medical branch. McAvoy describes himself as “an average student” searching for a career track. After graduating from high school in 1989, he enrolled in community college and leaned toward accounting.

In 1992, McAvoy enlisted in the Air Force. His first stop in the military was in California at a base that went on the closure list within a week of his arrival. His next stop was at McChord Air Force Base outside of Tacoma, Washington, where his introduction to the Pacific Northwest went over well.

“You had the Olympic Peninsula, the Cascades, the ocean,” he said.

It was during this time, that McAvoy took an interest in municipal government. His Air Force duties brought up opportunities to interact with the city of Tacoma in areas like traffic control and taxes.

“I read a lot and started thinking about becoming a city manager,” he said.

McAvoy enrolled at the University of Washington and eventually earned a degree in business management. He and his wife Kim remained in the Tacoma area after his honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1997.

Upon returning to Texas, McAvoy pursued grad school at the University of Houston – he would eventually earn his Master’s in Public Administration – and latched on with the city of Houston as an intern with the mayor’s office. By 2000, he was working full-time for the city as a management analyst. In 2004,

he transitioned to administration manager and chief of staff in the city’s traffic division. The branch was part of a massive Public Works department that included some 4,000 employees.

The experience as chief of staff gave McAvoy a taste of what it would take to be a city manager as each department operated autonomously, overseeing its own budget, procurement and staffing. After serving as executive director of the city’s permitting center from 2010 to 2017, McAvoy and Houston parted ways after a change in the mayor’s office.

“I realized I would probably need to leave the area to be a city manager,” he said.

That door opened in the city of Rowlett, a suburb of Dallas with a population of just over 70,000. Although McAvoy was brought on as an assistant city manager, the experience proved valuable.

“I was content to be an assistant and thankful for the opportunity,” McAvoy said. “I’ve learned that regardless of where you are in an organization, you have the opportunity to make a difference and it’s up to you to do that.”

McAvoy oversaw community development, HR, finance, neighborhood services and IT in Rowlett for three years before being recruited by the city of Fort Worth in

July of 2020.

McAvoy worked as Fort Worth’s director of Planning and Data Analytics for nearly two years before spotting a posting for the city administrator job in Liberty Lake this May. While the community was not a sprawling urban center like Houston or Fort Worth, McAvoy said he “wasn’t concerned about the scale.”

“I make it a rule to apply for a job only if I can see myself accepting the job if it is offered,” McAvoy said.

“So, if an opportunity that looks interesting comes along, I do as much research as I can before deciding whether to apply. In this case, everything pointed toward a great fit.”

McAvoy and his wife did their homework on Liberty Lake and were impressed with what they found. Their first visit in June confirmed the impression.

“It’s just such a beautiful setting,” McAvoy said. “There’s a great balance of commercial and residential land uses. When we visited, everyone we talked to was friendly.”

City Council unanimously confirmed the hiring of McAvoy on July 5. He began working remotely later that month and settled into his office at City Hall in August.

Mark and Kim are proud parents of a son, Cameron, and a daughter, Zuri. McAvoy enjoys reading and spending time in the outdoors, including fishing, camping and hiking.

“The city’s values align very closely with my personal and professional values,” McAvoy said.

Q: Are there certain responsibilities that carry over from your work in heavily populated cities to your current job in Liberty Lake?

A: When it comes to the responsibilities of the job, there are very few differences between working in a large city and working in a small city. Both require someone who can build and sustain an organizational culture that can delivery top quality services. Both require someone

Photo by Craig Howard Mark McAvoy took over as Liberty Lake’s city administrator in July. The Texas native and Air Force veteran brings over 23 years of experience in municipal government, including tenures in his home state at Houston and Fort Worth.

MCAVOY

who can partner with elected officials, neighboring jurisdictions, other governmental entities and community organizations to advance the city’s vision. Both require someone who can listen to the city’s residents, businesses and guests to understand what is most important to them. Both require someone who can effectively manage the city’s resources.

Q: In Houston, you worked in a department that tackled a myriad of concerns related to traffic. In your first month on the job in Liberty Lake, do you have any thoughts on congestion that motorists face during busy times on arterials like Appleway and Country Vista?

A: Arterials are designed to carry lots of cars from one place to another. So, from that perspective, Appleway and Country Vista are accomplishing their purpose. Lots of cars on the road sometimes result in congestion, usually in peak periods. In the short time I’ve been here, I haven’t seen anything too concerning. But, as Liberty Lake continues growing and more cars use these roads, we are obviously going to see more congestion during peak periods. As that growth occurs, the city’s prime objective will be to maintain the facilities is such a way as to minimize delay and maximize safety. From an economic perspective, the only thing worse than having congestion is not having congestion.

Q: In what ways did your experience in the military prepare you for a career in municipal government?

A: I don’t know that there is a direct, job-related connection between my military experience and my municipal experience. But my years on active duty certainly provided insights on leadership, teamwork, orientation toward a common mission, discipline and other skills that I have carried forward. Those things have translated well and have helped me thrive in all my roles since entering local government.

Q: How would you describe the working environment and the team at City Hall in your first month on the job?

A: The entire team is great. We have a fantastic group of department heads who are accomplished in their respective fields. Their leadership results in high performing teams

who take tremendous pride in making Liberty Lake the thriving and welcoming community it is. On top of that, we have an active, engaged group of elected officials who have cast an aspirational vision for the city. All those ingredients mix well together and result in a productive, optimistic and action-oriented environment.

Q: The strong-mayor form of government in Liberty Lake includes a mayor who drafts the budget and exercises administrative authority including oversight of personnel. Meanwhile, the City Council that has the final vote on everything from the budget to community development to capital projects and more. Mix in commissions that address planning, community engagement and parks and arts and one may wonder where a city administrator fits in. How would you describe your general responsibilities?

A: Liberty Lake is a municipal corporation. It is like other types of corporations in that it has a chief executive and a legislative board. In our case, the mayor is the chief executive and the City Council is the legislative board. The city administrator works directly for the mayor and is responsible for overseeing the administration of the city’s business. In that role, the city administrator helps develop and oversee the city’s budget, oversees the execution of the strategic plan, provides leadership to staff, represents the city on regional committees and associations, interfaces with the media and advises boards and commissions.

Q: Finally, what are you looking forward to most about not only being the city administrator in Liberty Lake but also being part of the greater Inland Northwest community with your wife and kids?

A: The City Council has cast a vision for the city through the strategic plan, which needs to be updated in the next couple of years. As the city administrator, I most look forward to guiding the city to achieve the vision set by council, both in the current plan and in any future updates. Being part of the extended Inland Northwest community is super exciting. My family enjoys attending different kinds of fairs and festivals, so we scour all the area media looking for new things. We also love spending time outdoors, so we feel recharged being surrounded so many options.

LLPD

–August 2022

Splash news sources

Total incidents generated by Officers and emergency calls for service last month 580

Traffic Collisions/Hit & Runs / Injury Collisions 9

Citations (Traffic/Criminal/NonCriminal) 11

DUI (Driving Under Influence) 4 Thefts / Vehicle Prowls / Vehicle Theft / Burglaries 18

Malicious Mischief 2

Argument / Assault DV / Simple Assault / Assault w/a Weapon 7 Parking Violations 1

Suspicious Vehicles 30

*The above numbers are as of 9/1/22

Stolen Vehicles, 8/10; The Liberty Lake Police Department recovered 2 different stolen vehicles for the month of August. These vehicles were recovered through both proactive contacts by officers as well as the use of the FLOCK camera system. One of these vehicles was recovered with a suspect where the other was found abandoned. The FLOCK camera system has been used in various other property crimes to determine suspects in cases.

DV’s, 8/5,6,11,22/22; Officers responded to several reports of Domestic Disputes at different locations throughout the month of August. Officers arrived at each location and determined the primary aggressor. The suspect in two of the four had previous convictions for domestic violence. Officers took one adult female into custody for a violation of Assault 4th DV with previous convictions and forwarded charges for the other suspects as they were no longer on scene. The adult female that was arrested, was transported to the Spokane County Jail for the charges.

Residential Burglary, 8/15/22; Officers responded to a Burglary report near the 700 block of North Holiday Hills Lane. Officers contacted an adult male at that location who stated a female had entered the residence through a dog door and left some clothing inside. While at that location, they received another call for a possible missing female around the same area. Officers determined the missing female could be the suspect who had entered the residence and may be missing clothing. Officers utilized several resources to locate the missing female to include a drone search, cell phone reverse (within one mile), as well as locating the last signal from the female’s cellular phone. After several hours of searching, the female was located, and the owner did not want to pursue charges.

Officers have reported seeing several open garage doors at night recently in the River District area and around the Meadowood Area. We would like to remind everyone to secure your homes and cars at night. Please call 911 immediately for emergency assistance when needed and call crime check if they see something they feel may need our attention. If you don’t hear back from crime check in a timely manner, please call, and request officer assistance.

The Lookout

The Community Corner

By Jandy Humble Library Director

Fall is upon us and our kids are back in school. Are you looking for something educational to do with young ones who are still at home? I would like to invite members of the community with young children or grandchildren under the age of 5 to participate in the free, 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program at the library. This program encourages parents and caregivers to read 1,000 books with your child before

Have fun at the library’s Halloween party

Have fun at the library’s Halloween party

Kids and families can expect to see a lot of pirates on deck at the 2022 edition of the annual Halloween party at the Liberty Lake Municipal Library.

The flag rises for this year’s fun and festivities on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. inside the library, anchored that night (and every night) at 23123 E. Mission Ave. Staff is expecting to see even more visitors than the 270 who were part of last year’s party.

“It’s one of our biggest events of the year,” points out Children’s Library Associate Erin Smith. “I’ve been amazed at how many people come for this.”

Children and their family members are encouraged to show up for the party in Halloween costumes. The last 30 minutes of the event will include a costume contest, with prizes given to the top three outfits among two age groups.

Attendees will also be able to enjoy an assortment of games inside the library that night, including mini-golf, a ring toss and a version of Connect Four. Plus –as required for any pirate-themed Halloween party – visitors will receive a treasure map so they

he or she starts Kindergarten.

Does it sound difficult? If you read just one book a night, you will have read 365 books in a single year, 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years. If you consider that most children start Kindergarten at around age 5, you have more time than you think, so get started!

Read a book, any book, to your newborn, infant, toddler or preschooler. Keep track of the books that the two of you read together. You can do this in numerous ways:

Pick up a reading sheet from the library, write down each title in a spiral notebook as a keepsake, draw tally marks on a post-it note, or use the 1,000 Books app. It is okay to read the same book twice or even 300 times! Kids love to read books over and over. The important part is just to read together. For every 100 books you finish reading, come into the library for a sticker sheet prize and to sign our 1,000 Book Wall! Special prizes will be earned at the 300, 600 and 1,000 books milestones.

The concept is simple but the

City, Rotary, Avista salute

“Hometown Heroes”

The Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary Club, in partnership with the city of Liberty Lake and the Avista Corporation, launched g a series of “Liberty Lake Hometown Heroes” banners last month honoring the community’s past and present members of the military. Avista began installing the 25 new streetlight banners Sept. 13.

Each veteran and current military member being honored has a 60” x 30” banner with his or her picture and military information. Every banner is displayed along with an American flag on light poles throughout the north and south sides of Liberty Lake’s East Country Vista Drive between North Kramer Road and North Liberty Lake Road.

rewards are priceless. Numerous studies have shown that not only does reading aloud strengthen the emotional bonds between children and parents but it also helps them develop early language and literacy skills. Children who were read to as newborns have a larger vocabulary and more advanced mathematical skills than other kids their age. The more words your children hear, the more words they learn. Please drop by the library and sign up for the program with your child today!

The local project was initiated by Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary Club member Don Walker while he was visiting his grandson in Omaha, Nebraska, during June 2021. While there, he saw a street in the suburb of Gretna, Nebraska, with light poles containing similar banners honoring military members from that city.

Walker immediately got the idea of doing something similar for Liberty Lake and eventually contacted the Gretna Hometown Heroes organization to learn how its project had been created. The Liberty Lake Rotary group presented the plan to the city of Liberty Lake (which approved the project this past spring) and to Avista (which owns the light poles and is donating the labor needed to install and remove the banners).

can engage in a scavenger hunt.

Several of the library’s staff as well as volunteers from the Friends of the Library will be appropriately decked out as they greet the night’s visitors with Halloween treats.

Teen and Adult Services Librarian Mikayla Kittilstved notes, “You don’t have to worry about trick or treating in the dark.”

It’s an event for the entire family, a great way for families to check out our library, too, if they haven’t yet done so,” Smith adds.

Perhaps you’ll want to check out a book that’s shelved in the “Arrr” section.

Those being honored on the banners must be a past or current resident of Liberty Lake or be related to a current or past resident of Liberty Lake or have some other reasonable connection to the area. Most banners are sponsored through $150 donations by family members, friends or organizations to cover materials and labor costs. The donation cost is waived for banners honoring Gold Star veterans.

Banners will be featured in Liberty Lake prior to each Memorial Day and remain up through Veterans Day. Each banner will be hung for at least two years and will be presented to the family or sponsor upon its final takedown. Starting in 2023, there will be 50 total banners hung along the display area on East Country Vista Drive.

Rotary has been taking applications for the project at its LibertyLakeHometownHeroes.com website. Rotary plans to eventually have a Facebook page that will have photos of the display’s honorees as well as special postings during each person’s birthday and, as applicable, anniversary of death. Here are some stats on the banners:

• Five World War veterans

• 10 Vietnam War veterans

• Two people currently serving

• Three veterans who were killed in action

• Three Silver Star Award recipients

• Seven Bronze Star recipients

• Six Purple Heart recipients

News and Notes –Oct. 2022

By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor

• Resident Mark Saba gave a report to City Council on the Moving Wall, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. on display at Pavillion Park, Sept. 15-19. “The distinct honor of having this wall come to Liberty Lake was awesome and I was proud to be a part of it,” Saba said. Volunteers read 42,850 names on the wall over a public address system. A total of 58,318 names are included on the memorial, representing American lives lost during the war. The display also included banners in the park honoring soldiers from the region who died while serving their country.

• Banners displaying “Hometown Heroes” made their debut on Country Vista Drive last month. The patriotic emblems salute veterans and current military members with ties to Liberty Lake. The city of Liberty Lake, Avista and the Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary Club collaborated on the project. Banners will be displayed prior to each Memorial Day through Veterans Day.

• A workshop on Sept. 6 brought the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) on the Trailhead clubhouse renovation into focus. Representatives of the Trailhead Design Build Project team chimed in on the schedule and updated progress as well as market conditions. Finance Director Kyle Dixon gave an overview on financing.

• The Sept. 6 council meeting featured a vote on an action item to approve a GMP of $7,295,000 on the Trailhead upgrade. Council approved the price tag by a vote of 5-2 with Council Members Chris Cargill and Wendy Van Orman dissenting. A second read ordinance later in the meeting to issue $7 million in general obligation bonds passed 6-1 with

Cargill opposed. Council addressed the balance on the GMP by voting 6-1 to utilize $300,000 from the Golf Operations Fund. Cargill was in the minority.

• A proclamation was made recognizing September as National Service Dog Month in Liberty Lake. Representatives from Canine Companions, a local nonprofit group, were part of the presentation.

• Council Member Wendy Van Orman challenged residents to join staff in keeping the community clean by carrying a trash bag in their respective vehicles. Van Orman and fellow members of the Liberty Lake Lions Club participated in a trash clean-up day as part of a state-wide beautifying campaign. Van Orman applauded city maintenance crews for their work in keeping the city clean.

• Council heard a presentation from Building OHANA on Sept. 6. The program provides resources and supportive living opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental challenges. Founder and CEO Deb Finck said Liberty Lake has been identified as an area that

would be well-suited for a Building OHANA community. Planning and Engineering Manager Lisa Key said the housing type is permitted in all residential zones. Key added that the group is currently looking to acquire property for the project.

• City Engineer David Williams gave a summary of road projects on Sept. 20 . The signal project at Country Vista and Legacy Ridge was expected to be fully operational on Sept. 22. Williams said the Kramer overpass project should be completed by next summer. Most of the work on the bridge is taking place at nighttime, though Williams said some traffic control is still required at other times. In referring to the active construction zone on Mission Avenue near Selkirk Middle School, Williams urged motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to re-direct to the detour at Indiana and Harvest. Liberty Lake Police have been patrolling the area. “Please obey the signs,” Williams said. “We want to keep citizens safe.”

• City Manager Mark McAvoy participated in a panel at the International City Managers

Association conference in Columbus, Ohio last month.

• Tom Agnew, a commissioner with the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District, told council that the utility is seeking a new water reclamation plant operator. Dan Grogg occupied the post with LLSWD for 39 years before retiring this summer.

• Mayor Cris Kaminskas will present the first draft of the 2023 municipal budget at the Oct. 4 council meeting.

• Council unanimously approved the confirmation of Jennifer Kosaka and Bill Norman to the Community Engagement Commission.

• A three-year agreement with ProCare Services for the annual maintenance of AEDs –automated external defibrillators – supplied to the Liberty Lake Police Department by the Spokane Valley Fire Department was unanimously approved by council. AEDs save lives by reviving those who experience cardiac arrest.

Photo by Craig Howard Work on the parking lot at the Trailhead at Liberty Lake Golf Course continued last month. On Sept. 6, City Council approved a guaranteed maximum price of just under $7.3 million on a project that will deliver a new clubhouse at the city-owned course.

Council takes strategic approach to capital facilities

By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor

Lisa Key was an employee with Broome County in New York state when she took a swipe at her first Capital Improvement Plan.

The year was 1987 and Key tackled the task with a degree in community development and a good helping of ambition. After relocating to the Northwest, Key continued to delve into capital upgrades, working for the city of Hayden, Idaho, where she took on large-scale projects like the revitalization of Government Way, updates to the city’s water and sewer plan and an overhaul of the transportation plan.

When she arrived at Liberty Lake in 2018 after serving as Planning director for the city of Spokane, Key brough no shortage of experience when it came to coordinating a blueprint for capital projects.

Prior to Key’s arrival as Planning and Engineering director, Liberty Lake’s Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) was tucked away in the multilayered Comprehensive Plan.

“It was vague on the planning level,” Key recalls. “What we have now is a financial tool.”

Key and City Manager Katy Allen went to work along with council to implement a strategic plan that would serve as a blueprint for the city’s future. A stand-alone CFP

was part of the transition. Council adopted the CFP in late 2018 along with the budget for the following year.

“The goal is to maintain the quality of the city’s existing assets as well as plan ahead for our growing city,” Key said.

It has now become a rite of passage each autumn for Key to provide council with a detailed rundown of capital projects on deck for the next six years. On Sept. 20, Key appeared before the dais again, conducting a workshop on a CFP that will cover 2023 to 2028.

“This is a first draft,” Key told the governing board. “We are looking to get council feedback.”

A few timelines for transportation projects had shifted from the last version of the plan, including closeouts of the Harvard Bridge and Kramer Overpass moved to 2024. The intersection at Country Vista and Appleway is now slated for design in 2023 and construction in 2024 while the overlay of Appleway is scheduled for design next year and construction in 2024.

A pair of frontage improvement projects – on Appleway and Mission – will be addressed down the road with Appleway now set for design in 2026 and construction in 2028. The work on Mission is being pushed to design in 2024 to pursue a grant opportunity.

On the parks and public facilities front, the much-heralded upgrade at Trailhead topped the list with the final cost ringing in at just under $7.3 million. The upgrade at the driving range – which several council members emphasized will be limited to “netting and poles” –has been a source of debate during the talks on Trailhead. Key said the hope is to price the project before

the end of the year and include it in the CFP with installation happening next spring.

“I’m hoping we’ll have at least one more discussion to address the scope of this project,” said Mayor Pro Tem Phil Folyer.

Key told council that when it came to the driving range upgrade, “there are several options that may cost more on the long-term maintenance side than on the capital side.” She assured council they would have an opportunity to weigh in during the design process.

In doing research on another long-discussed project – the shade structure at Rocky Hill Park – Key said she discovered antiquated pricing of $20,000.

“This is one that has been on our Capital Facilities Plan for a long time,” Key said. “The price has gone up.”

The latest version of the CFP includes a renovation game plan for the building on East Mission that will serve as the future home of the municipal library. Design will take place next year with construction in two phases over two years. The 14,400-square-foot space is expected to open as a library in early 2024.

“We need to replace windows and doors among other improvements,” Key said. “Those are asset management issues we need to address because of the age of that building.”

Key emphasized to council that CFP price projections include inflation as well as future equipment and technology costs.

“We wanted to give you what we think are real costs,” Key said. “We’re trying to be transparent.”

A driving influence in the CFP is the city’s new asset management

software that provides detailed updates on the state of current facilities. Parks and Maintenance Director Jennifer Camp oversees the program.

Key reminded council that 10 unfunded capital projects have carried over from the last CFP prioritization exercise. Some of the more notable ticket items include the much-discussed dog park, River District community messaging board and a Fallen Heroes Circuit Course station and community garden at Orchard Park.

One project that appears to have graduated from the unfunded list is the expansion of council chambers. Key said the plan for now is for the design to take shape in 2024 with the addition of 1,500 square feet projected to happen in 2025. Council Member Chris Cargill added that the Parks and Arts Commission should be made aware of the project in case the group wished to add aesthetic elements to the space at City Hall.

“At least it has a scope now, even though that scope may change,” Key said.

Key assured council that the timeline for CFP projects can move up or back based on funding and the city’s priorities.

“It’s very fluid,” Key said. “Anything can change based on our knowledge on the ground and what’s happening with the budget.”

In response to a question from Council Member Wendy Van Orman about collecting public input on the CFP, Key pointed to an upcoming public hearing on Nov. 1 and also encouraged council to gather feedback from residents on capital priorities.

First read of the CFP is slated for Nov. 15 with second read included on the Dec. 15 agenda.

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Oct 8 | Final Liberty Lake Farmers Market | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturdays through Oct 8th, Town Square Park, 1421 N Meadowood Lane. Shop local from our 40-50 vendors each Saturday. Our market is full of wonderful produce, baked goods, eggs, meats, fish and specialty items from all around the Northwest.

Oct 22 | HUB Drive in Move Double Header - 6 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. HUB Sports Center. HUB Sports Center is taking you back to the good old days! 6.p.m. show featuring Beetlejuice and 8:30 p.m. show is Friday the 13th. $25 per movie per carload (carload = number of seatbelts in car) and is recommended to be purchased ahead of time at https://www.hubsportscenter.org/ drive-in-movies/

Oct 29 | HUB Drive in Move Double Header - 6 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. HUB Sports Center. HUB Sports Center is taking you back to the good old days! 6.p.m. show featuring Coco Sponsored by Greenstone Homes and Hocus Pocus at 8:30 p.m. $25 per movie per carload (carload = number of seatbelts in car) and is recommended to be purchased ahead of time at https:// www.hubsportscenter.org/drivein-movies/

Oct 31 | Tunk or Treat – 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Legacy Church, 23129 E Mission Ave. Legacy Church will be hosting a free trunk or treat event for the community.

RECURRING

ACT 2 Senior Classes | Affordable classes offered by Community Colleges of Spokane to those who are retired or planning to retire. A wide range of courses from geology and history to exercise and art are offered at CenterPlace, 2426 N.

Discovery Place, as well as other locations throughout the area. For more, search for “Act 2” at scc. spokane.edu.

Catholic Singles Mingle | Meeting times and locations vary. This group, with no dues, is for single adults of all ages. More at www.meetup. com/Catholic-Singles-Mingle.

Liberty Lake Library | 23123 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake. Various clubs and weekly meetings including book clubs, children’s story times, LEGO club, computer drop-in class, knitting club, and more. More at www.libertylakewa. gov/library

Men’s Weekly Bible Study | 7 a.m. Tuesdays. Millwood Presbyterian Church, 3223 N. Marguerite Road, Millwood. The men’s weekly Bible Study meets in the Reception Hall with different members sharing in the leading of the study. All men are invited to join. More at www. milwoodpc.org.

Spokane County Library District | Locations include Argonne, Fairfield, Otis Orchards, and Spokane Valley. Special events and weekly activities for all ages including book clubs, children’s story times, classes, Lego club, teen anime club and writing clubs. More at scld.org.

Spokane Falls Needlework Guild | 12 p.m.-3 p.m. first Thursday of the month at Senior Center at Mirabeau. Open to anyone who enjoys cross stitch, embroidery, needlepoint and other needlework arts. For more information, contact Chris Baldini at 509-993-8971. Hope to see you!

Toastmasters, Liberty Lakers #399 | 5:45 to 7 p.m., 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, we are currently meeting online only. RSVP to get the link on www.libertylakers.org. This is a speaking and leadership development club.

MUSIC & THE ARTS

Oct 8 | Ridgeline High School

Homecoming Dance – 8 p.m. at Ridgeline High School Field House. Students must have pre-purchased tickets to attend.

RECURRING

Spirit of Spokane Chorus | 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, rehearsals at Opportunity Presbyterian Church, 202 N. Pines Road. Make new friends by joining this women’s chorus, specializing in four-part, a cappella harmony in the barbershop style. More at 866-6354.

HEALTH & RECREATION

RECURRING

Al-Anon Meetings | Mondays, 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m., Liberty Lake Library. No meetings on holiday Mondays. Is there a problem of alcoholism with a relative or a friend? Al-Anon Family Groups can help. For more information, call 509-456-2125.

Al-Anon Family Meetings | Tuesdays, noon to 1 p.m., 708 N. Pines, Spokane Valley. Is there a problem of alcoholism with a relative or a friend? Al-Anon/ Alateen family groups can help. For more, call 456-2125.

Veterans Assistance Groups |

The Vet Center, 13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley. Eligibility: combat veteran from all eras, military sexual trauma survivors. For more, call Steve at 893-4746 to make an intake appointment.

Group | Mondays 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Eastpoint Church, 15303 E. Sprague Ave. Learn how to heal from the deep hurt of divorce and discover hope for your future. DivorceCare for Kids (ages 5-12) meets at the same time and location. Cost is $25 for workbook. More at 892-5255 or eastpointchurch.com.

Drumming for Wellness & JOY!

| August, 9:00-9:45am. Drumming in Community serves to “de-stress the body, improve the mood, and allow self-expression.” Just $6 p.p. or bring a friend for a 2/$10 rate. No experience necessary. All instruments provided. For more information: email: carla.carnegie@ gmail.com, or call: 509 592 7875. Willow Song Music Therapy Center. E. 21101 Wellesley. #102. Otis Orchards Wa. 99027.

Family and Friends of Addicts

| 6 p.m. Wednesdays, The ONE Church, 15601 E. 24th Ave., Spokane Valley. Support group utilizing tools and principles to help navigate relationships with addicts and finding peace, strength and hope. For more, call 590-2422.

HUB Sports Center | 19619 E Cataldo Ave., Liberty Lake. Various activities and events occur throughout the week including:

• Pickleball drop-in: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; $4 online, $5 at door. Pre-registered players have priority, limited availability for drop-ins. Clinics held twice a month. For more info www.hubsportscenter. org/pickleball/

• Classes including Kenpo Karate, Taekwondo and Fit for YOUR Life. See hubsportscenter.org for cost and times.

Liberty Lake Running Club | Meets at Liberty Lake Physical

Therapy, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays through October. Weekly threemile run/walk. Earn T-shirt after six runs.

Liberty Lake Couples Golf League

| Meets at Liberty Lake Golf Course, 10 a.m. Thursdays through September. Open to all levels of golfers, new members are welcome all season. Cost to join is $15 per couple plus green fees. For more email dianerudnick@gmail.com

Military Sobriety Support Group

| 10 to 11:30 a.m., Spokane Vet Center, 13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley. For more, call Steve at 893-4746.

Mindful Music & Movement | 1:00-1:50pm Wednesdays, Willow Song Music Therapy Center, 21101 E. Wellesley #102-103, Otis Orchards. All are welcome to this session specifically designed for adults living with chronic health issues. Session addresses physical function, vocal wellness and strength, self-expression, breath work, movement, and increase of mood through music experiences, as facilitated by board-certified music therapist, Carla Carnegie. $10 per person. For more, email carla.carnegie@gmail.com or call 592-7875.

CIVIC & BUSINESS

Oct 12 | Candidate Forum – 5 p.m. at Ridgeline High School. Come learn about all of the candidates asking for your vote in November. Ridgeline Students will be asking questions of each of the County Commissioner candidates but candidates for all races have been invited in an open house format to answer any questions you may have. Sponsored by The Liberty Lake Splash and Free to attend.

Oct 13 | Candidate Forum – 5 p.m. at East Valley High School. Come learn about all of the candidates asking for your vote in November. East Valley Students will be asking questions of each of the State Legislature and County Sheriff Candidates but candidates for

COMMUNITY

all races have been invited in an open house format to answer any questions you may have. Sponsored by The Liberty Lake Splash and Free to attend.

Oct 13 | CVSD Community Conversation – 6 p.m. at Horizon Middle School, 3915 S Pines. These events are an opportunity for two-way conversations with your School Board Directors and Superintendent John Parker in an open house format. Join us as we talk about our upcoming plans and hear your feedback about what you want to see for our students in the future as part of our upcoming five-year strategic plan. For more information visit cvsd.org/ communityconversations

Oct 15 | Candidate Forum – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Valley Assembly Church, 15618 E Broadway Ave. A series of forums for candidates to share their ideas on a variety of subjects, featuring candidates for State Representative Dist. 3 & 4, Sheriff, County Auditor and Prosecuting Attorney.

Oct 27 | CVSD Community Conversation – 6 p.m. at North Pines Middle School, 11900 E Broadway. These events are an opportunity for two-way conversations with your School Board Directors and Superintendent John Parker in an open house format. Join us as we talk about our upcoming plans and hear your feedback about what you want to see for our students in the future as part of our upcoming five-year strategic plan. For more information visit cvsd.org/ communityconversations

RECURRING

Central Valley School Board | 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, CVSD administration building, 2218 N Molter Road

Liberty Lake City Council | 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive Liberty Lake Parks and Arts Commission | 4 p.m. on the first Monday of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive

Liberty Lake Community Engagement Commission | 6 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive

Liberty Lake Kiwanis | 6:45 a.m. Wednesdays, Liberty Lake Portal Building, 23403 E Mission Ave.

Friends of Liberty Lake Municipal Library | 1 p.m. the last Thursday of each month, Liberty Lake Municipal Library, 23123 E. Mission Ave.

Liberty Lake Lions Club | 5:30 p.m. every second and forth Thursday of each month at Barlow’s Restaurant, 1428 N. Liberty Lake Road. Please join us!

Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary Club | Noon to 1 p.m. every Thursday at the Meadowwood Technology Campus, 24021 E. Mission Ave. For more, visit LibertyLakeRotary.org.

Liberty Lake Merchants Association | 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays,

Liberty Lake Portal, 23403 E. Mission Ave., Suite 120. For more, call 999-4935.

Liberty Lake Municipal Library Board | 1:00 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month, 23123 E. Mission Ave or via Zoom.

Liberty Lake Planning Commission | 4 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive.

Liberty Lake SCOPE | 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month, City Hall, 22710 E. Country Vista Drive.

Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District Board | 4 p.m. on the second Monday of each month, 22510 E. Mission Ave.

Submit items for The Splash Community Calendar by the 15th of the previous month by emailing editor@ libertylakesplash.com. Priority is given to noncommercial local events open to the public.

Valley, WA 99216

SVFD Report – August

Fire Prevention

Incidents of Significance:

a.m. Valley Engine 3 responded to a reported vehicle on fire near the I90 exit ramp for Liberty Lake/ Otis Orchards Eastbound. Crews arrived to find a vehicle smoking on

was determined there was a faulty radiator hose and not a fire.

• Structure Fire, August 26, 3:54 p.m. Multiple crews responded to a reported house fire near

South Tschirley Road and South Corbin Lane. Crews arrived to find smoke visible from the outside. All occupants were evacuated. Crews found a fire in the laundry room. The fire was quickly knocked down.

Brush Fire, August 26, 9:09 p.m. Multiple crews dispatched to a fire reported along I90 in the trees near the weigh station on the south side of I90 near the state line. Crews found a slow-moving brush fire alongside I90 with trees involved. The fire was knocked down quickly and all crews returned in service.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) serves a population of 136,000+ over 75-square miles, including the cities of Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, and Millwood, as well as surrounding unincorporated areas. In 2021, our cross-trained Firefighter/EMTs and Firefighter/Paramedics responded to more than 22,400 emergency calls.

Established in 1940, SVFD is committed to pursuing excellence and is distinguished as an accredited agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), and by SVFD’s Class 2 fire insurance rating from the Washington Survey and Rating Bureau

Connect with SVFD at: spokanevalleyfire.com. For department news, safety information, and timely updates, find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

E a t , Sh op & Be Merr y

S H AR E YOU R

GI F T IDE A

W I T H TH E VALL E Y !

at the shoppers and businesses of the greater Spok ane Valley — and as a bonus we will include your gift idea as par t of our stor y listing can’t-miss local gift ideas. (Restaurants, don’t feel left out. You can contribute a tantalizing menu item to be included in our ar ticle on dining out.) Either way, submitted photos are encouraged!

“Eat, Shop and Be Merr y ” is a special cover sec tion that will be included in the December issues of both The Current and The Splash. That ’s right — be a par t of both publications for one price

Distribution

This guide is strategically scheduled to land November 21 and 22 the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving and Small Business Saturday

I t will be distributed in The Splash (12,000 copies delivered to ever y address in Liber ty Lake and available for free at more than 120 newsstands through Christmas) as well as The Current (27,000 copies delivered to 20,000 homes in Spok ane Valley and at more than 220 newsstands throughout the greater Spok ane Valley).

That

this holiday guide

throughout

greater Valley

already popular monthly

4.83˝w x 5.66˝h

1/4 PAGE: $485 (normally $790)*

A holiday guide for the Spok ane Valley, Liber ty Lake, Millwood, O tis Orchards, Newman Lake and Rockford areas

Adver tising options

9.83˝w x 5.66˝h 1/2 PAGE: $875 (normally $1440)*

11.5˝h

PAGE: $875 (normally$1440)*

11.5˝h

L PAGE: $1650 (normally$2,700)*

* Normal rates based upon the typical cost of adver tising at that size in both The Splash and The Current.

Interested in running in our publications at other times throughout the year? You qualify for a discount! Are you already running ads with us? Your current discount applies.

Deadlines

Display ad with submitted menu item or gift idea:

Display ad (submitted gift idea or menu item will be printed if space is still available):

“Eat,

Merry”

Splash

holiday money.

Current

Student of the Month Citizen of the Month

Central Valley senior Ashley Hampton believes it’s important to help others see their value and potential. “I think everyone deserves to feel like they belong,” she said. “You can be a friend somewhere and anywhere. If we can just try, that’s what matters.” Hampton maintains a 4.0 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society and CV’s Leadership program. She has contributed to a variety of community service projects through school and her church, including a blanket drive and stepping up as a volunteer at Hutton Settlement and Northwest Food Bank. Hampton serves as ASB secretary and is standout artist whose work has been displayed locally. She has an Instagram account that publishes positive messages and quotes. Hampton has played the cello for seven years and participated in orchestra and also been a member of color guard.

Athlete of the Month

As a sophomore, Deakon Sell excelled for the inaugural edition of the Ridgeline football team. He was named All Greater Spokane League Honorable Mention as a strong safety and also played receiver. Against West Valley, Sell collected two interceptions, including one for a touchdown. He was named Ridgeline’s Defensive MVP. This season, the junior cocaptain had a dozen tackles and two pass breakups against Central Valley. “We’re just looking forward to getting better and continuing to build as a team,” he said. Sell lettered in basketball last year and in track where he competed in the long jump, 100-meters and 4 x 100. He qualified for districts in the long jump and has a personal best of 19 feet, 11 inches, an improvement of over 2 feet from the start of the season. Sell maintains a 3.65 grade point average.

Like a generous lakefront shade tree, Linda Knudsen has shed kindly support to the Liberty Lake community for decades. Knudsen has lived in the same home for 60 years and is a founding member of the Garden Club, volunteered with the LL Fourth of July Celebration and been a MOPS (Mother of Pre-Schoolers) leader. When her husband Ron taught and coached at Central Valley High, Knudsen provided meals for staff, teams and cheer squads. Linda and Ron were marred for 60 years before his passing in January. They have four children, eight grandkids and five great grandkids.

A Bible study that started at Liberty Lake Community Church 50 years ago is still held weekly at Knudsen’s home. She also volunteers with Our Journey of Hope, a cancer care ministry. “A lot of good people seem to find Liberty Lake,” she said.

Thanks you for all you

do in our community

to you

Special Election Guide 2022

Dear Readers:

With the upcoming election heating up and the sea of political signs filling our streets, we at The Splash wanted to take the opportunity to provide you with some information about the candidates seeking your vote this election cycle. It had become a tradition to bring you this election guide that showcases as

many candidates as we can get to respond.

In order to give you more insight into who these people are we reached out to all of the contenders

appearing on your ballot and asked them to please provide a 300-word response to the following questions (which we would publish at no cost).

1. What best qualifies you for this position?

2. What is the most important issue that needs addressed?

This year we have also

added some fun questions!

1. Where is your favorite local place to eat?

2. Most admired public servant?

3. Favorite hobby/ activity?

While not everyone chose to respond to our request, a good number have and we hope that you find their unedited responses helpful for your voting consideration.

This year you can register to vote even on election day by going to CenterPlace in Spokane Valley.

Thanks for reading The Splash, we hope you enjoy it!

The Splash Team

P.S. If you have any feedback on how we can enhance the voter’s guide or if you found it valuable please let us know by emailing us at elections@ libertylakesplash.com or by calling our office at 509-242-7752

Vote by November 8

Where is your favorite local place to eat?

Tiffany SmileyWild Sage

Cathy McMorris RodgersHay J’s Bistro

Natasha HillCascadia Public House

Julie AndersonEast-West Café

Ted CummingsHay J’s Bistro

Suzanne SchmidtThe Max at Mirabeau

Leonard ChristianCafé Rio

Josh KernsThe Backyard

Wild Bill SchreinerGolden Corral

Mary KuneyTrailbreaker Cider

Paul Brian Noble - Vaqueros

Mexican Restaurant & Taqueria

Tom KonisHome

Vicky DaltonBBQ in my back yard

Bob McCaslinApplebee’s

Tim FitzgeraldFirst Street Bar & Grille

Larry HaskellOutback

John NowelsPryor’s

Wade NelsonBrownes Bistro

Jenny ZapponeSteamplant

Deanna CrullRincon Tapitio

Andrew BivianoRon’s

U.S. Representative

Cathy McMorris Rodgers Incumbant

to advocate for veterans, hydropower, reducing the tax burden, supporting law enforcement, and rural communities across Eastern Washington. My mission is to restore trust and confidence in representative government.

What best qualifies you for this position?

I am proud to run on my record of delivering results for you and your families. I’ve had a productive two years, getting things done for the people of Eastern Washington. I have cosponsored 23 bills that have passed the House, seven of which have been signed into law. I am committed to continuing

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

I am committed to prioritizing real solutions to win the future and restore hope in the American Dream.

From rural broadband expansion, to flipping the switch on American energy here at home, I believe in an all-of-theabove strategy. Families across Eastern Washington are feeling the pain of the

Biden administration and one-party-rule. Inflation has hit a 40-year high, and prices have risen across the board – everywhere from the gas pump to the grocery store. We need to balance the budget, remove burdensome regulations, unleash American energy to bring down gas prices, and stop out of control government spending to reduce costs for families in Eastern Washington. It’s time for Congress to start working for the people and reverse the damage the Biden administration’s supply chain and inflation crisis has caused, so families can afford to put food on the table. The American people are counting on us.

What best qualifies you for this position?

I have been an advocate for over 15 years as a civil litigation attorney, primarily representing plaintiffs against Fortune 500 companies and Insurance companies. I know how to work hard, strategize and when to compromise to get the best result. I also bring a unique perspective as a mixed race black woman who is a fourth generation eastern Washingtonians from Spokane’s Hillyard neighborhood. My four siblings and I were raised by our Mom and Grandma, and three of us still live here and are raising our kids here. I am deeply invested in making sure we have a safer and healthier community to raise our children and better pathways for them to pursue their dreams.

That is why I am actively organizing in my community

for change and have wound down my practice to run for office against CMR. After serving on Spokane County’s Redistricting committee and drawing 5 new districts, I also know we have an opportunity to turn out the Democratic vote this mid term in the largest county in our district and get Democrats elected up and down the ballot. We need to capitalize on this momentum now.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

The most important issue is strengthening unions and labor protections. Every issue that’s on the table is a labor issue, from inflation, farming, the environment, racial equity, criminal justice reform, police accountability, child care, and reproductive rights. If people are not protected and have the resources and protections necessary to live, work and thrive, our labor force is

destabilized and our economy suffers. To make communities healthier and stronger, we need collective action and that is what Unions can provide by educating and training our workforce to organize and leverage their value as bargaining power. We also need to ensure equity within the Unions to make sure that women, BI-POC, and LGBTQAI2+ communities are not discriminated against within these system.

Natasha Hill Challenger

SENATOR

Tiffnay Smiley Candidate

Leg. District 4 -State Rep. Pos. 1

Ted Cummings Candidate

taken over by extremists who seek to move us into a fascist and authoritarian controlled nation.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

What best qualifies you for this position?

I grew up on a farm in rural Washington, where I learned the value of hard work at a young age. Growing up, I always dreamed of becoming a nurse so I could help other families in my community. After I graduated from Whitworth College, I realized my dream of becoming a nurse and later married my high school sweetheart Scotty Smiley. At the time, it seemed like I had achieved the American Dream. But that dream shattered in 2005 when I learned that my husband had been blinded by a suicide car bomber while serving in Iraq.

I immediately flew to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to be by Scott’s side. Much to my surprise, I had to stand up to the federal government and fight for Scotty, his dreams and the care he had earned. My experience with the military bureaucracy highlighted the challenges facing so many other service members and their families. That’s when I began my fight -- not only for my husband -- but for all veterans in America.

I took on the federal government – and I won. Not only did I make sure Scotty received the care that he needed, but I fought the VA to ensure my husband could one day serve our country in uniform again. Scotty later became America’s first blind activeduty Army officer, breaking barriers for many who followed along the way.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

I’m now running for the U.S. Senate because Washington state needs someone who will fight for them in Washington, D.C. – and that’s exactly what I’ll do. I will draw on my life’s experiences to build coalitions and work for policies that improve public safety and protect Washington families, combat spiraling gas prices and the inflation that’s hurting the middle class, and address the homeless crisis plaguing our communities.

What best qualifies you for this position?

We have an important election this year, one that could decide the fate of our democratic way of life, if that sounds, silly and dramatic, I would say that is exactly why I am running. I announced my campaign by saying that I was running against a Republican party that I viewed as a terrorist organization and a hate group; I left out my view that the party has been

Here just days before this midterm election and after many heated discussions, I am more convinced than ever that the Republican party, under the control of selfserving fanatics, is a clear and present danger to our nation. I have taken to wearing a shirt with the picture of August Landmesser, standing against propaganda and lies, as the inspiration for my campaign as State Representative. In the book “Night” by Elie Wiesel he details the fate of his family and village because they refuse to believe or “see” the impending danger, even

when the threat literally came to dinner. The picture of defiance in the face of hateful nationalism and the story shared in the book “Night” is not fake news or propaganda, and it isn’t history, it is only yesterday and if we do not vote Democratic this election, hate and violence can be our tomorrow. We must work to rebuild trust in each other, in our institutions and to support education and science. We must confront those who seek to divide with misinformation and unAmerican personal agendas. August and Elie’s family were consumed by lies that stoked hate and nationalism but we can choose to keep our rights and freedoms, we can secure them by protecting our political process and vote Democratic.

What best qualifies you for this position?

My name is Suzanne Schmidt and I have lived in the 4th Legislative District for 25 years. My children and now grandchildren have attended schools in the Central Valley School District.

As the daughter of a small business owner, I know how hard it is to start a business and stay in business. Having recently retired as the President/CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors, I have dedicated my career to representing businesses and their employees. Having worked with nearly every state agency in Washington, I know we can do better as a state to cut red tape and empower families, workers, and small businesses to succeed.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

While inflation is on the rise and driving the cost of everything up from gas to housing and groceries, our state has collected more tax dollars than ever before. I believe we should be cutting taxes to give relief to hard working families. I will work to reduce taxes by reversing legislation that has been passed in the last two years.

We all deserve to feel safe in our homes and neighborhoods. I support our law enforcement officers and will fight to bring accountability back to our justice system in order to keep our community safe. In Olympia, I will focus on restoring Public Safety by reversing legislation that limits if not eliminates our law enforcement officers from doing their jobs I will

Suzanne Schmidt Candidate

continue to collaborate with community partners in supporting businesses and their employees with economic development that creates good paying jobs. I support projects such as the “Bridging the Valley” grade separation projects, the expansion of the HUB Sports Center and the Performing Arts Center. I will draw from my experience with workforce development and apprenticeship training to create good paying jobs for the 4th District.

county commissioner dist. 3

Josh Kerns Incumbant

in government, and have prioritized public safety.

I am a lifelong resident of Spokane County and a small business owner. I am committed to making this the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

growth across all sectors and supporting our law enforcement to promote public safety.

Secrety of State

Julie Anderson Candidate

What best qualifies you for the position?

I have served the people of Spokane County as Commissioner for six years and have worked to protect and grow jobs, have never voted to raise property taxes, have promoted transparency

I previously worked for the Washington State House of Representatives and have utilized my relationships and knowledge of the legislative process to benefit the people of Spokane County.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

We must continue to focus on strong economic

I am proud to have been a part of creating two Public Development Authorities dedicated to economic development. These PDA’s have created thousands of new jobs in our County.

This year alone, as your County Commissioner, I supported a budget to fund 19 new Sheriff deputy positions to enhance public safety in our community. We all deserve to live in safe neighborhoods, free of crime.

What best qualifies you for this position?

In addition to overseeing state and local elections, the Secretary of State registers private corporations and collects, preserves, and makes available the historical records of the state.

What best qualifies you for this position?

I have worked for three different counties. Started 3 different business, Created business standards that exceeded customer base standards, Created budgets that were reality and exceeded expectations with team members!!

Lost

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

Decaying Roads, represent the people of District #3 and what they want accomplished. Be on the job and available 24/7,Get public works in order, Example: Get all school bus routes plowed before busses arrive!!!

Wild Bill Schreiner Candidate

This is a technical job that requires professional administration and expertise. I’ve conducted hundreds of elections and have over 12 years of experience managing documents and registering businesses. As Pierce County’s Auditor, I’ve led a nationally recognized, award-winning office that has increased voter access, enhanced election security, and improved auditing procedures. I hold national and state certifications in election administration and am a state-certified public records officer.

I offer deep, practical experience without political strings attached. It’s important that the next Secretary of State not be affiliated with a political party or have their campaign financed by a political party. It doesn’t make any sense for the umpire at home plate to also be a player for one of the teams! That’s why I’m running as a nonpartisan and always have. My commitment is to safeguard elections, not partisan interests.

My campaign is supported by current and former election administrators from across the state, as well as former state officials. They understand the Office of the Secretary of State the best. They trust me to do the work with the highest integrity and skill.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

My top priority is election oversight. We have a trustworthy democracy when every voter feels welcomed, knows how to participate and can do so easily, and believes that the system is fair and secure. My focus is creating this culture and supporting / enforcing laws that support the vision. I will need the help of student leaders and young voters to accomplish this.

While Washington’s elections serve most voters extremely well, I will also focus on increased voter engagement.

PUBLIC SAFETY:

Ozzie Knezovich, Spokane County Sheriff

John Nowels, candidate for Spokane County Sheriff

Spokane Valley Firefighters, Local 876

District 8 Firefighters, Local 3711

CURRENT AND FORMER ELECTED OFFICIALS:

Shelly O’Quinn, former Spokane County Commissioner

Mark Schoesler, 9th District Senator

Jeff Holy, 6th District Senator

Mike Volz, 6th District Representative

Jacquelin Maycumber, 7th District Representative

Tim Fitzgerald, Spokane County Clerk

Michael Baumgartner, Spokane County Treasurer

Tom Konis, Spokane County Assessor

Nadine Woodward, Mayor of City of Spokane

Pam Haley, Mayor of City of Spokane Valley

Cris Kaminskas, Mayor of Liberty Lake

Kevin Freeman, Mayor of Millwood

Carrie Roecks, Mayor of Rockford

Jamie Paden, Mayor of Fairfield

Ben Wick, Spokane Valley City Council and former Mayor Brandi Peetz, Spokane Valley City Council

Tom Sahlberg, Liberty Lake City Council

Steve Peterson, former Mayor of Liberty Lake KayDee Gilkey, former Mayor of Fairfield

Sam Reed, former Washington Secretary of State Dan Hansen, West Valley School District Board Member Debbie Long, Central Valley School District Board Member

Michael Cannon, Mead School District Board Member

Marianne Nichols, Pend Oreille County Auditor

Heidi Hunt, Adams County Auditor

POLITICAL GROUPS:

Spokane County GOP

Mainstream Republicans of Washington Republicans of Spokane County

BUSINESS AND LABOR:

Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors Associated General Contractors of Washington

Inland Pacific Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors

Washington State Farm Bureau PAC Spokane Association of REALTORS

Spokane Home Builders Association

Avista

Frank Gurney Inc.

Central Pre-Mix

Max J. Kuney Co.

Spokane County Public Works Department, Local 1135 Laborers, Local 238

IBEW, Local 77

Individual endorsements:

Daniel Alsaker

Barry Baker

Lee & Barb Boling

Dwight Calkins

Vicki Carter

Kristine Chase

Dave Clack

Cory Condron

William Dinneen

Pat & Kathleen Dix

Richard Edwards William Fanning

Tracy Fitzgerald

Cheryl & Hap Gotzian

Clyde Haase

Bill Hughbanks

Paul & Lissa Humphreys

Jack Kestell

William Keyes

Patrick Killien

Wendy Knopp

Shelly Kuney

Dan and Sarah Kuney

Bob & Sarah Martin

Sarah McMorris

Todd Mielke

Earl Moore

Bud Morrison

Brenda Nelson

Sonya & David Olson

Perry Paden

Jack Pring

Catherine Reynolds

Monte & Laura Roth

Lori and Ben Sawyer

Suzanne Schmidt

Stephanie Simpkins

OZZIE

Peter Stanton Carl Stewart

Thomas Stewart

Steve Sunleaf

Steve Twiggs

Valerie and Tod Whitman

Robert West

Scott Wetzel

Rick & Diana Wilhite

Steven Wulf

Steve Yoshihara

And many more!

County Comissioner Dist. 4

Mary Kuney Incumbant

office, accelerated construction of new recreational trail heads, and implemented electronic permitting. I’m a CPA with a successful career in the private sector before serving as a Washington State Auditor. I was in-charge of the Spokane County audit for two years, ensuring the County complied with all laws and regulations.

departments, improving efficiency, and promoting collaboration to make your government work better for you. With your support, we can continue to build our community for the future.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

What best qualifies you for this position?

It’s an honor to serve as your County Commissioner. I ask for your vote, so I may continue to work collaboratively to address the issues facing our County. I have a proven track record of providing fiscally responsible solutions that protect the public, grow our economy, and maintain our infrastructure. As your County Commissioner, I’ve increased the road maintenance budget, fully funded the Sheriff’s

I’m a national Civic Leader for the Air Force, advocating for Fairchild and the Survival School. I’ve been volunteering in this community for over 30 years, helping the youth of Spokane. This includes Hutton

Settlement, Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts, Junior League, and HUB Sports Center. All these organizations provide opportunities for kids and teach them to be valuable members of our community.

As your County Commissioner I’ve been breaking down silos between

Public safety must be our top priority, as it is approximately 70% of the County budget including the sheriff, courts, clerk, jail, etc. If we have a safe community, people will want to live here, companies will want to locate and grow here. This will lead to a stronger economy and good paying jobs. I’m endorsed by Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, as the only person in this race he trusts to protect our community. I’m also endorsed by the Spokane Valley Firefighters and Fire District 8.

What best qualifies you for this position?

I love my family, my community, and my country. I have been married to the love of my life for 25 years. I have raised four awesome kids, and now I have one grandchild.

I have twenty-five years of leadership experience and community involvement and have achieved a master’s degree in leadership from Northwest University. I am a Peacemaker Fellow (Certified Mediator) and the CEO of Peacemaker Ministries. Over eight years, I have overseen, managed, and developed million-dollarplus church budgets and worked collaboratively to solve problems and bring people together around the world.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

I am a principled-based leader that does not sway to

the latest emotional soundbite of the media. When principles are the foundation of a leader, it transforms the way they lead. Three principles I hold too.

Servant Leadership - Humble but Courageous

Separated PowersRepresenting the interest of the people.

Individual Freedom – “We the People” know what is best.

• Taxes are the people’s money, not the county commissioner’s money. I will work toward lowering property taxes. I will work toward reducing property taxes and capping property taxes for senior citizens.

• The primary role of government is safety and equal justice. I will lead toward reducing lawlessness and homelessness. I am for building a new county jail, funding the sheriff’s department, and funding the judicial system so that the laws can be enforced.

Paul Brian Noble Candidate

• I am for freedom. If elected, I will be a voice for the people to ensure that the government is not overreaching your rights as a US citizen.

• I am for small businesses. I will ensure that small businesses do not just survive but thrive in our economy. I will do this by limiting the government. Business owners know what is best for the people they serve and don’t need the government telling them how to do their job.

Leg Dist.

state rep. pos 2

Leonard Christian Candidate

What best qualifies you for this position?

I’m the best qualified to be your State Representative because I know how to work together, stay focused and get things done! I grew up here in Spokane and graduated from Ferris in 1984. I married my high school sweetheart 9 days after graduation and joined the Air Force 2 weeks later. My 21 years of service in the military taught me how to work with people from all over the world to accomplish the mission of keeping America safe. As a former Washington State Representative, I accomplished more in 2 months than my opponent has in 2 years. I did not waste my time and your tax money on bills that would divide us because we have serious issues. As a legislator in 2014, I was able to work with both sides to pass a bill that protects citizens personal information, was on 5 committees, worked on both the capital and general budgets and wrote legislation focused on election transparency.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

As a small business owner, I understand the impacts government regulations and over reach have on our ability to succeed and stay in business. As a husband and father, I understand the impacts inflation and higher taxes are having on our families. And as a citizen, I understand the importance of fully supporting our law enforcement and first responders to keep our community safe. As your representative I will work hard to remove government waste to lower your taxes and protect your rights. Please visit my website www. LeonardChristian.com to find out more and feel free to call, text or email me with your concerns and questions.

Most

Tiffany SmileyMother Teresa Cathy McMorris RodgersAbraham Lincoln

Natasha HillSandy Williams

Julie Anderson - The unsung heroes and heroines

Ted CummingsLincoln

Suzanne SchmidtRonald Reagan

Leonard ChristianPresident Abraham Lincoln

Josh KernsRonald Reagan

Wild Bill SchreinerKent Pullan

Mary KuneyAbraham Lincoln

Paul Brian NobleJesus

Tom KonisJFK Vicky DaltonCecil Andrus

Bob McCaslin - my Father, State Senator Bob McCaslin

Tim FitzgeraldGeneral Joseph Dunford

Larry HaskellJustice Scalia

John NowelsJohn W. Gardner

Wade NelsonGeorge Washington

Jenny ZapponePresident Abraham Lincoln

Deanna CrullMay Arkwright Hutton Andrew BivianoAbraham Lincoln

county auditor

Vicky Dalton Incumbant

What best qualifies you for this position?

When I was first elected in 1998, I had already spent 10 years as an internal auditor for Spokane County developing efficient processes while following the laws of the state. As a Certified Public Accountant, I took naturally to the tasks of the Auditor’s Office. This includes managing the accounting of the County

as well as maintaining voter registration rolls, securing ballots and counting your votes accurately. As Auditor, I also ensure that the ownership records of your real property and your vehicles are protected and preserved. To further hone my skills, I earned the credentials of Certified Government Finance Manager and Certified Election Administrator.

Since the beginning, I have worked to streamline and automate the processing and record keeping my office is entrusted with by statute. Access to public records has never been easier because we moved from paper to electronic processing in many areas of the Auditor’s office.

Growing up in a small

community, I learned how important it is to help each other, and that experience drew me into to public service. I am here to help every person in Spokane County.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

Unfounded, unsupported allegations of stolen elections are undermining the public’s trust in the backbone of our democracy - our vote. Our voting systems have never been more secure, from registration to ballot counting. You can absolutely trust that your vote is counted accurately and in the way you intended.

What best qualifies you for this position?

It has been my honor to serve our community in the Washington State Legislature for 8 years. Now, I decided to leave the legislature so that I may run to be your County Auditor because now more than ever before we need leadership and transparency in our election process. As an elected public servant, I understand that I answer to the people of Washington State and the Spokane County community. I will bring that same level of public service to the auditor’s office.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

One of our most precious rights as citizens of the United States is our right to vote. The right to vote is the citizens’ voice. In Washington State

Bob McCaslin Candidate

Ballot Drop Off Locations

Library

23123 E Mission Ave

the auditor’s office is tasked with protecting this right. We must ensure we have working security cameras to monitor this process, proper chain of custody of ballots, and actively keep the voter rolls accurate. As your County Auditor, I will make sure it’s easy to vote but hard to cheat in Spokane County. Election security protects everyone, regardless of party and I am committed to ensuring every voice, regardless of party, is heard.

Liberty Lake, WA 99019

Otis Orchards Library

22324 E Wellesley Ave

Otis Orchards, WA 99027

Spokane Valley Library

12004 E Main Ave

Spokane Valley, WA 99206

Argonne Library

4322 N Argonne Rd

Spokane, WA 99212

Bruce Bannister Hollis Barnett Derek Baziotis LaVerne & Kent Biel Erin Bishop Bruce Bourgeous Nadine Burgess Ingle Buttitta Kim & Scott Chaffin Tanner & Jordan Chaffin Leonard Christian Kent Clausen Sarah Cottam Jim DeWalt Maggie Di Mauro

Anthony Di Mauro Carol Dikes

Lynette Filler Tracy Fitzgerald Sue Fogle Mark Fortune Keely Friesen Jeff Gallagher Matt Galvano Carolyn George Ashley Gorman Bill Gothman Dean Grafos Jon Gross Kathleen Helm Gordon Hester

Dean Haagenson

Joshia Hoch Dan Houk Bill Hughbanks Gayle Jaqueth Laurie Kendall Scott Keno Dayne Kuhlman Max Kuney Larry & Christie Lambeth Arin LaMountain Glen Larson Kristil Lenhart Debra Long Kelly Lotze

Spokane Co Commissioner Mary Kuney

Spokane Co Commissioner Josh Kerns Spokane Co Commissioner Al French Spokane Co Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich Spokane Co Clerk Tim Fitzgerald Spokane Co Treasurer Michael Baumgartner Spokane Co Assessor Tom Konis

State Senator Jeff Holy State Representative Mike Volz Liberty Lake Mayor Cris Kaminskas

Liberty Lake Councilman Chris Cargill Millwood Mayor Kevin Freeman Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward Spokane Valley Mayor Pam Haley Spokane Valley Councilwoman Brandi Peetz Spokane Valley Councilman Ben Wick

Associated General Contractors Inland Northwest Associated Builders and Contractors Spokane Home Builders Association

Dave Lucas David Lucke Mitchell & Frances Lykins John & Denise Mandere Kate McCaslin Brenda McKinley Bob McKinley Dana McKinley Jeff McMorris Sam & Kathy Millard Shane Miller Deb Moody

Corrine Moore Earleen Moore John Morris Neil Muller

Jan Munson

Scotty Nicol Wendy Novak Shawna & John Nowels Peggy Paullin Kelli Pearson Steve Peterson Kim Plese Bonnie Quinn Jerry Quinn Will Rasavage Sheryl Rassmusson Candice Richardson Anne Rorholm

Pat & Mary Savage Vicki Sellers Ray Skelton Karen Skoog

John Smaligo

Brad Stark Steve Sunleaf William Sweigert Adrienne Torre Bill Vaughn Jim Waldo Dana Weary James Welsh Chud Wendle Bob West

Tyson West Tracie Wetzel Scott Wetzel Rick & Diana Wilhite Melissa Williams Frances Wills Steve Wulf

Paid for by Suzanne Schmidt for State Representative, R 9116 E Sprague Ave #470 Spokane Valley, WA 99206

Finance Committee - I worked with Rep. Mike Volz to eliminate the usurious late penalties on on property tax. Previously we had worked together successfully in the Spokane Country Treasurer’s Office to allow partial payments of any amount at any time. Coupled with HB 1410 sponsored by Rep. Volz which passed unanimously we culminated a ten year effort to help distressed tax payers.

Community and Economic Development Committee - As Assistant Ranking member we made long strides to get broadband internet out to rural areas of Washington State for work, school, and healthcare.

Children, Youth, Family - As Assistant Ranking member overseeing Juvenile Justice, Foster Care, and Early Learning we worked to help youth to overcome present day challenges while endeavoring to maintain fiscal responsibility to tax payers.

Spokane county assessor

Tom Konis Incumbant

and statutes that dictate the work that the office does. In addition to valuing properties for tax purposes our office also manages the exemption programs, creating parcels that are segregated and processing the personal property program.

electronic site plans on their new construction.

Using the plans, we can pre-sketch improvements before visiting properties giving us correct data and again being able to complete more parcels in a day’s work.

What best qualifies you for this position?

I am Tom Konis your County Assessor. I became the Assessor in 2019 however I have worked in the office for over 29 years. Before becoming Assessor, I was a certified appraiser for our office. I valued both houses and commercial properties.

I have a full working knowledge of all aspects of the Assessor’s office. There are over 300 laws

Since becoming Assessor, I have worked very hard at improving our office by adding modern technology to improve the work we do for Spokane Counties taxpayers. We purchased a program and tablets that allows our appraisers to do most of their work directly in front of a property instead of in the office. This has allowed us to not only complete more parcels in a day but to also spend more time at each property to ensure that we have all the information needed to arrive at a correct value for each parcel. We have worked with most of the municipalities to now receive

spokane county treasurer

What best qualifies you for this position?

I have been the County Clerk for over eight years. I promised the constituents of Spokane County I would fully modernize my office to streamline all the processes and provide substantial cost savings. To date, the Clerks Office has implemented: debit and credit card transaction capability; barcode scanning for filed documents; electronic templated forms; automated all Protection Orders to Police Records Department; replaced the 40-year-old case management system with a new modern version; digitized all of our paper legal files back to 1878; implemented a complete electronic filing system that handles all eight Court case types. These innovations have made my office one of the most modern in the state.

I manage the second Bysiest

office in the County government and run the day-to-day County legal system. We average 41,000 plus filed legal documents a month. My office serves 10,500 customers a month. I have management, leadership, and fiscal experience to run an office this dynamic and complex. My record over the past eight years demonstrates my ability.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

The most important issue is access to Justice. Everyone has a fundamental right to access our legal system. There are five constitutional amendments in the Bill of Rights outlining our legal rights. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a vast majority of agencies closed their doors to public service. However, The Clerk’s Office did not close. We remained open through the entire Pandemic providing services with multiple options such as: drop boxes with

I have been married to my wife Kathy for 44 years. We have 4 daughters and 10 grandchildren with

another due in February. We have been property owners in the county since 1979. We currently live in the Valley Springs neighborhood overlooking Spokane Valley. Prior to becoming Assessor, I officiated high school and Division 1 volleyball.

Even though I am running unopposed I would appreciate your vote.

Tim Fitzgerald Incumbant

electronic stamps; electronic submissions; Ex Parte mail; remote hearings and in-person service.

Furthermore, our new electronic filing system has made it very easy for the public to file legal documents remotely. This has eliminated the need to take precious time off work, find and pay for parking, and enter the courthouse in person. My priority in the Clerk’s Office is to ensure access to justice for all.

PUBLIC SAFETY DRIVEN

Prosecuting attorney

PROVEN LEADERSHIP

Spokane County Sheriff

John Nowels Candidate

Larry Haskell Incumbant

What best qualifies you for this position?

I am best qualified for this position because I have been the elected prosecutor for the last 8 years and I am most familiar with all the issue’s confronting our criminal justice system and have established the relationships that will facilitate the changes that need to be made as we move forward. I also have been in prosecution for the last 21 years and know prosecution inside and out.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

What best qualifies you for this position?

The most important issue we face in Spokane County right now is rising violent and property crimes rates. The Sheriff’s Office employs the most advanced crime fighting techniques to identify those committing crime and take them into custody. We must continue to innovate using new technology and adding manpower. However, the biggest driver of rising crime rates in Spokane County is

bad public policy set by the State Legislature for the last ten to fifteen years.

Police reform legislation passed in the last two years accelerated these crime rates unnecessarily.

I will work with legislators and other elected officials, lending my professional expertise on law enforcement matters, to correct bad public safety legislation. We must hold offenders accountable beyond arrest and support the entire criminal justice system to have lasting effect on public safety.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

I am qualified to be the Spokane County Sheriff through my education and proven experience. I have a B.A. in Criminal Justice, a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, and demonstrated leadership experience of other law enforcement personnel at

every rank and every division of the Sheriff’s Office. I have a proven track record of holding personnel to the highest professional standards in both performance and conduct. I have also demonstrated the ability to transform the work done by the Sheriff’s Office and implement innovative technology and techniques.

I understand the challenges facing the Sheriff’s Office and Spokane County and have the proven skills, knowledge, and ability to conquer them.

In addition to my education and experience I’ve had unique experiences, both professionally and personally, that lead me to believe in the potential of every individual.

I believe in developing others and that anyone can succeed at whatever they set their mind to.

I value hard work and expect it from everyone tasked with providing public safety.

The most important issue that must be addressed is the rise in crime in our communities and to work with the legislature and law enforcement to establish both treatment and penalties for offenders and achieve victim justice.

What best qualifies you for this position?

Unapologetically committed to:

Keeping you safe

CHALLENGER DID NOT RESPOND

Protecting your property

Keeping your trust

The highest ethical standards

Holding offenders accountable

I have spent my whole adult life basically in service to our country and our community. I honorably served six years in U.S. Navy as an intelligence Specialist becoming the division supervisor. I then served over 20 years with our local Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. While at the Sheriff’s Office I have worked Patrol Division, Marine Patrol, Civil Division, and as a Sexual Assault Unit detective. I also took on many specialty positions within our department that included the Emergency Operations (Dive) Team Leader/ trainer, Search & Rescue Coordinator, Defensive Tactics lead Instructor, Patrol Procedures instructor, Incident Command

Systems operations lead/ instructor, Tactical Team, and the Women’s Self-Defense lead instructor. I have real leadership experience both when I served in the U.S. Navy and the Sheriff’s Office. I will work tirelessly as your Sheriff to protect your Constitutional rights as an individual and make Spokane County a safe place to live and work for you and your families.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

There are several issued that we are facing as a community, and I am going to work to try and tackle every issue. But most of our problems that affect the citizens of Spokane County stem from one major issue and that is extremely low staffing levels within the Sheriff’s Office. We are one of the lowest in the nation at .7

Wade Nelson Candidate

deputies to 1000 citizens with the national average being about 2.2 Deputies to 1000. It sends a ripple through everything we do, and the community is seeing the results with the rising crime, long response times when they call, and Homelessness not getting addressed within our community. If this issue is not corrected, we will not be able to provide the services our community needs and deserves.

District court judge 6

Deanna Crull Candidate

extremely knowledgeable. These qualities have earned me the support of every judge I have worked alongside, as well as many others.

What best qualifies you for this position?

Years of experience is just one qualification which sets me apart as a candidate for the position of Spokane County District Court Judge, Position #6. I have served on this bench as a pro tem or fill-in judge in for the last 3 years, and as a court commissioner in Airway Heights for the last year-and-ahalf.

On the bench I have demonstrated that I am efficient, unbiased, and

Beyond experience, I bring a demeanor of transparency to the bench that allows the people before me to understand what I am doing and why. A District Court Judge should ensure there is access to justice, they should recognize community concerns, and operate within the restrictions of the law.

My desire to serve the Spokane community goes beyond just the role of judge. I am involved in working to improve our system. I volunteer and serve on committees comprised of judges from across the state.

These committees discuss the need for public outreach from the bench and effective therapeutic courts.

I bring over 20 years of

practical experience to the bench. As an attorney, I worked inside these very courtrooms as a prosecutor and a defense attorney for both private and indigent individuals. I have worked with minorities and victims of domestic violence. I understand the struggles and concerns they face when it comes to navigating the legal process.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

At the end of the day, the most important issue is community safety. It is a factor in every decision I make. Spokane County deserves someone qualified, experienced, and who makes community safety their number one priority. This is why I am running for Spokane County District Court Position #6.

District Court Judge 3

Jenny Zappone Candidate

What best qualifies you for this position?

The most important issue in this election is public safety. I am running for district court judge because I believe our courts can do more to keep us safe.

I grew up in Spokane Valley and graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law at the top of my class. I have served our community as a prosecutor, civil rights attorney, and district court judge pro tem. Equally important, I have served as a mental health case manager and counselor.

As a case manager, I worked hands-on to help hundreds of children and adults in desperate circumstances heal, grow, and change their lives. This is the precise goal of district court, especially its diversion courts: break

cycles of criminal behavior and prevent crime. My firsthand experience in doing this will be invaluable.

As an Assistant United States Attorney, I learned firsthand how important it is to hold people accountable when they break the law, and to provide restitution to victims. I handled both civil and criminal cases and was proud to represent the United States. I understand that public safety requires consequences when the law is broken.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

In my current work as a civil rights attorney, I defend our constitutional rights and ensure equal treatment under the law. I protect all of us from overreaching government, predatory businesses, and illegal employment actions. I

Andrew Biviano Candidate

What best qualifies you for this position?

I was born and raised in Spokane. My husband and I are proud to raise our three children here. My deep roots and love for this community energize my ongoing commitment to public service. I have served this community as a prosecutor for over a decade and believe that a city is only as safe as its most vulnerable citizen. I have dedicated my career to holding criminal offenders accountable and getting justice for the crime victims of Spokane. My legal experience encompasses every aspect of our criminal justice system. I have litigated all levels of criminal offenses, from low level offense to the most violent crimes our community faces. I have spent considerable time working with those suffering from behavioral and substance abuse disorders and charted pathways to success through the available resources.

will bring this same sense of duty to the bench.

This background and experience have uniquely prepared me to perform the central responsibilities of a judge: (1) defend our civil rights; (2) protect our community; and (3) break the cycle of repeat offenders continuing to victimize people. It would be a true honor to be chosen to serve you as a district court judge. I am confident I would serve you well.

Judges have the difficult, but necessary task of weighing personal accountability, rehabilitation, and the safety of the community when determining an appropriate and fair sentence. A judge must balance each of these interests while diligently following the law. I was recently evaluated by the Spokane County Bar Association Judicial Panel and was rated “exceptionally well qualified” which is the highest possible rating for this position. My experience, commitment, and extensive research on issues facing our community make me the best candidate.

What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed?

Courts are often viewed as a revolving door of the same people, committing the same crimes, and getting the same treatment as before. That should not be the case. The issues affecting our community revolve around behavioral health disorders, illicit drug trade, and an increase in violent crime. We need to address these issues head on. That is exactly what I will do as a judge by enforcing the laws we have on the books and utilizing the tools available to us in the community.

What is your favorite hobby/ activity?

Tiffany Smiley - family, reading and finding solutions

Cathy McMorris Rodgersspending time with family

Natasha Hill - Reading and spending time with my kids

Julie AndersonArt

Ted CummingsRiding

Suzanne Schmidtanything outdoors

Leonard Christianflying

Josh KernsWoodworking

Wild Bill Schreiner - Landscaping and maintenance

Mary KuneyTravel

Paul Brian NobleTarget Shooting

Tom KonisAntiquing

Vicky DaltonWeaving

Bob McCaslinGolf

Tim FitzgeraldFlying airplanes

Larry HaskellChief’s hockey

John NowelsFly Fishing

Wade NelsonMartial Arts

Jenny ZapponeDownhill Skiing Deanna CrullSwimming

Andrew Biviano -

Ultimate Frisbee

EV Levy

East Valley Asks For Replacement Levy

By Ben Wick Splash Publisher

East Valley has seen a number of changes in the last few years, including the more recent safety and security upgrades approved by the voters back in Feb. 2020 that redesigned the main entrances and bus loading / unloading areas at many of the districts schools. However, that funding was a two year levy which is set to expire at the end of 2022.

Brian Talbott, Superintendent of East Valley School District, in his second year with the district, said “Ideally we would have been able to talk with the community more before putting together a levy request, but there are some needs that require our attention now.”

The district has put forward a request on the November ballot to replace or extend the current safety, security, and infrastructure levy for another four years. “While property assessments have gone up significantly this renewal will lower the rate while collecting the same amount of money each year as was approved in the previous levy request” explained

Talbott.

The proposed levy is set to collect $4,255,000 in 2023 then escalate up to $4,924,000 in its final year in 2026 which is a rate of $0.75 per $1,000 assessed value.

Projects included in the levy request continue the previous goals focusing on Safety, Security, and Infrastructure improvements.

According to district, records show most of the school buildings are reaching or passing the 30 year mark.

“When you think about schools like Trentwood Elementary which was last modernized in 1988, while we have a great maintenance staff who have been maintaining them, their core systems and infrastructure such as HVAC units and roofing materials are reaching the end of their expected life.” said Talbott.

“We have been doing the maintenance however we are having increased need for repairs that are now impacting our learning environment. Entire classes have to be displaced out of classrooms to allow for the repairs to be made. This will allow us to proactively replace the equipment in order to reduce the impact on the learning environments.”

What about changes in technology or standards for

building practices, isn’t there a fairly big difference between a building built in the late 1980’s or early 1990’s and today?

There is, said Talbott who continued with an example “Throughout the pandemic the state and local health districts provided recommended air handling standards to provide the safest learning environment for our students and staff and our current HVAC systems struggled to meet these standards.”

According to school district budgets, approximately 85% of the districts funding is attributed to personnel costs leaving little money for facilities within the existing budget.

In addition to the levy request on the upcoming November election, according to Superintendent Talbott, the school district will be launching strategic planning efforts to ask “What are our short term and long term goals for our school system, facilities, and community as a whole?” If anyone from the community is interested in participating in the strategic planning activities look for upcoming district newsletters or contact the district at talbottb@evsd.org

East Valley School District

Capital Levy

Safety

Security

Student Led Candidate Forums are back!!

Join Us!

NOBLE

End sements

Dave Aldrich

Jane Aldrich

Mark Anthony

Jana Beal

Jessica Bellus

Rick Bye

Tanya Bye

MJ Bolt

Paul Carlisle

Tammy Carlisle

Andrea Clark

Chris Clark

Kathy Cornwall

Ivan Dach

Lyle Dach

Teresa Dach

Kim DeLisle

Don Dederick

Lori Dedrick

Shannon Eaglin

Jen Fillis

Lloyd Fillis

Faye Finke

Jim Finke

Allison Figart

Craig Figart

Yvonne Fredrick

Dave Hatten

Robin Hatten

Matt Hawkins

Kevin Helt

Gina Howerton

Wayne Howerton

Corinne Hunt

David Hunt

Jim Jensen

Josh Jensen

Emily Jensen

Renee Jensen

Chuck Kienholz

Sandy Kienholz

Tim Kinley

Ericka Lalka

Erik Larson

Allison Larson

Alica Lasko

Barb Leshae

Mike Mahn

Teresa Mahn

Dr. Kent Mankins

April Marquis

Ron Meier

Tami Meier Chris McIntosh

Paul McQueen

Staci McQueen

Nora Monroe Leticia Miller Steve Miller

Tanya Noble

Rachel Noble

Elaine Olp Chad Orebaugh Pam Orebaugh

Lauri Roskamp

Aaron Smith

Alexis Smith

Nikole Schafer

Ron Schafer

Brian Schelley

Sarah Schelley

Aaron Snider

Lynn Thibault

Mike Thibault

Dave Thomas

Libby Thomas

Jarred Thomas

Marvel Travis

Amber Trovich

Will Trovich

Bev Turner Jerry Turner

Leon Vincent Kent Vincent

Chris Watson

Lisa Watson

Brittany Webster

Jason Webster

Brenda Wesselius

Tom Wesselius

Danica Wick

Brenda Willard

Mike Willard Bill Williams

Judi Williams Joy Yake

Rockford levy

Proposition No. 1 Town of Rockford

Property Tax Levy for Fire Protection

The Rockford Town Council accepted Resolution 22-06 concerning a proposition to finance 2023 fire protection services. This proposition would authorize the Town to levy an excess property tax in 2023 on all taxable property within the Town of Rockford at an approximate rate of $.51 per $1,000 of assessed value to raise $28,500 to be used to provide adequate services in 2023. This levy replaces an expiring levy, which the Town has collected in past years. Should this proposition be:

• Approved

• Rejected

Proposition No. 2 Town of Rockford

Property Tax Levy for Emergency Medical Services

up a

Current, a monthly publication for the Valley, offers visual storytelling, eye-catching ads and community coverage readers have come to rely on. This free newspaper is available at more than 250 high-traffic

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PEOPLE”

The Rockford Town Co uncil accepted Resolution 22-07 concerning a proposition to finance 2023 Emergency Medical Services through the Rockford Fire Department. This proposition would authorize the Town to levy an excess property tax in 2023 on all taxable property within the Town of Rockford at an approximate rate of $.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for six consecutive years to be used to provide adequate services during 2023-2028. This levy replaces an expiring levy, which the Town has collected in past years. Should this proposition be:

• Approved

Rejected

Ridgeline increases traffic

By Nina Culver Splash contributor

People commuting in and out of Liberty Lake via Country Vista Drive have noticed an uptick in traffic with the start of the school year because Ridgeline High School now has the full four grade levels of students attending.

The town, which has not previously had a high school, eased into the traffic congestion last year when Ridgeline first opened without any seniors. But now that the school has freshmen through seniors, there are more cars to contend with.

Liberty Lake City Manager Mark McAvoy said he’s not aware of any unusual problems or complaints about the traffic.

The stretch of Country Vista just east of the high school had been under construction for most of the summer, as was Kramer Parkway that runs north-south just east of the school. The city also installed two new traffic lights on the street, one at Kramer Parkway and one at Legacy Ridge.

The light at Kramer Parkway won’t go live until the new Interstate 90 overpass is complete, which is expected to happen next year. While the light at Legacy Ridge went live last week, McAvoy said it’s too early to see the effect on traffic patterns. People have yet to get used to the light and the new traffic flow it creates, he said. The light was installed to make it easier for people driving north on Legacy Ridge to make a left onto Country Vista Drive, which has previously meant long waits for a break in traffic.

“There are pros and cons to bringing a signal online, especially in the first couple of weeks,” he said. “It will have an impact to some degree, especially coming north on Legacy Ridge. It’s way too early at this point to do any significant analysis.”

McAvoy said the best response to the new traffic congestion is to avoid it if possible. The heaviest traffic is in the half hour before

classes begin and the half hour after classes

School hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from 8:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Thursdays.

In a statement, the Central Valley School District acknowledged the increased traffic. “While there has been some increased congestion this year, both due to construction and the addition of senior classes at Ridgeline High School at the morning start and afternoon end of classes, it is no more congested than the start or end of school at most of our area schools,” the statement said. “We truly appreciate our community slowing down in school zones when children are present and their cooperation for getting everyone to and from school safely.”

McAvoy said traffic is the slowest in the right lane for eastbound traffic in the morning as people wait to turn into the school. He recommends that people use the left lane if they want to go straight through. “There seems to be not much delay associated with

the through movement,” he said.

The traffic issues at the high school were not unexpected, McAvoy said. “There’s no doubt there’s additional volume,” he said.

The increase has led to delays, but not gridlock, McAvoy said. He’s even visited the area several times to see things for himself. “I’ve gone through multiple times,” he said.

Many other schools, particularly elementary schools, have surges of traffic coming and going each morning and each afternoon because many parents drop off their children, McAvoy said. While some high school students are dropped off and picked up, many drive themselves and stay put once they arrive, eliminating that push of traffic leaving the school shortly after arriving.

It also helps that the high school is set well back from the road and there’s plenty of room for cars to line up without blocking the road, McAvoy said. “It’s deep on the property,” he said. “It’s not at the street.”

There’s also a benefit in the fact that the school is somewhat isolated on the edge of town. It’s surrounded by an empty field, not homes and businesses. “The fact that it's out there on its own helps,” he said. “It certainly helps to mitigate other factors. You don’t have different points of access.”

While things are currently going as expected, the city and the district will continue to watch to see if any unexpected traffic issues come up, particularly when the new Kramer overpass is complete next year. “This is something we as a city, in partnership with the school district, are watching,” he said.

Central Valley, in its statement, also indicated its support for continued evaluation of traffic flow near the school. “We support the efforts of the City of Liberty Lake and continue to collaborate with them on traffic mitigation issues,” the statement reads. “We look forward to the completion of construction to assist with the growth of our communities and the correlation of the number of cars traversing as well.”

Scott Draper, AAMS™

PUZZLES

Building lasting

ITZ Sports Performance propels basketball into new zone

By Craig Howard Splash Contributing Editor

It’s a phrase often heard when a basketball player can find nothing but the net.

“In the zone.”

Three-pointers, bank shots, acrobatic layups, even the desperate heave as the clock winds down –every field goal attempt is rewarded with a fruitful passage through the hoop.

At ITZ (In the Zone) Sports Performance in Spokane Valley, the curriculum revolves around buckets and the most efficient way to collect them. The facility at 18195 E. Appleway, just west of Liberty Lake, opened this July at the new Camden Courts complex and celebrated an open house on Sept. 14 with a robust turnout.

Billed as “Spokane’s newest premier basketball training and sports performance facility,” ITZ features state-of-the-art technology from companies like NOAH Basketball, known for a training system called NOAHlytics utilized by 75 percent of NBA players. The approach uses realtime feedback and analytics to ramp up shot accuracy and consistency.

Each of the seven baskets at ITZ includes a 75-inch monitor above the backboard channeling feedback to players. Three of the stations feature the NOAH technology that evaluate release point, arc, deviation to the left or right and other mechanics. The other four hoops provide analytics on shooting.

“It gives them a purpose to go into practice,” said ITZ Director Tom Emory. “It’s about having the mindset of a student of the game and getting better.”

Emory brings a layered background to ITZ as a coach and trainer. In 2015, he led an unheralded

Shadle Park girls’ team to a 3A Greater Spokane League title and the postseason. Emory was also a coach with the NW Blazers for eight years, a span that included 98 percent of players advancing to the college level.

Emory graduated from Sandpoint High in 1990 where he lettered in basketball.

“I came off the bench,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I was great.”

It wasn’t until he enlisted in the military that Emory’s court aptitude and interest in basketball took off. Stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, Emory became a self-proclaimed “gym rat.”

“I was playing against some highquality basketball players,” he said.

Emory’s appreciation for the impact of sports on overall wellbeing increased during his time in the service. The intramural-like competition between squadrons was coordinated by season, whether it was softball, basketball, volleyball or other sports. The experience helped Emory develop a new career track.

“I knew that it was an industry I wanted to spend the rest of my life in,” he said.

Emory went on to become the sports director at the Spokane Club where he oversaw programming of handball, squash, volleyball, basketball and racquetball. In 2000, Emory founded the Spokane Club Shootout, the area’s largest 5-on-5 adult indoor basketball tournament.

A year later, he started the Spokane Basketball School that drew 120 participants in its inaugural class.

After eight years at the Spokane Club, Emory left to take the reins at Sports USA, now known as the HUB Sports Center in Liberty Lake. The initial push for the facility as an athletic club never caught on and Emory moved on within a few months, shifting professional gears to take a job in insurance at Met Life.

The flexibility of his new field allowed Emory to coach youth basketball and begin working on the concept that would become ITZ. During that time, his daughter Sydney, excelled as part of an elite Central Valley program. She would earn two varsity letters and go on to play at The Master’s University in Santa Clarita, California where she currently works as an assistant coach.

ITZ began humbly at the Spokane Valley Fitness Center with 85 lessons a month. Emory hired three instructors and had to pivot when the facility removed two of its basketball courts in a shift to a cross-fit emphasis.

“We started looking for other locations, places like the HUB and the Warehouse,” Emory said.

The relocation was made more challenging by the requirements of the NOAH system where machinery needs to be positioned 25 feet high. During the search, Emory began talking with Steve Huettl, owner of Camden Homes. Huettl’s son, Tyler, was being coached at ITZ and

he brought up an idea with Emory related to land he owned and a potential complex that could house the burgeoning basketball school.

Camden Courts broke ground last fall and is now home to ITZ –which occupies just under 10,000 square feet – and a handful of other businesses including Camden Homes, Lighthouse Physical Therapy and Signs & Things. Huettl is the financial backer and a minority partner in ITZ. Emory said having Lighthouse next door allows for co-programming that will behoove athletes in areas like sports nutrition and injury prevention.

Emory has assembled an all-star lineup of coaches at ITZ, including Tony Skinner who played for Gonzaga in the early 2000s, Jessica Thoens, a standout point guard at Whitworth and former coach at Eastern Washington and Riley Lupfer, Greater Spokane League MVP at Lewis and Clark who went on to a stellar career at Boise State and on the professional level in Germany.

While the focus is primarily on basketball at ITZ, Emory points out that a system like Complete Athlete – which emphasizes speed, agility, plyometrics, quickness and limiting injury – translates to other sports. ITZ also offers one of the few Senaptec Assessment Suites in the region, an innovative high-tech system that enhances brain function and focus. The approach has been used to train elite athletes and treat people recovering from stroke and coping with conditions like autism and Parkinson’s. Emory said ITZ’s overall demographic comprises ages 5 to 95.

ITZ shares another feature with the Zags – a top-notch Maplewood court known as “Focus Floor” that is in place at The Kennel.

Contributed photo

ITZ (In the Zone) Sports Performance, billed as “Spokane’s newest premier basketball training and sports performance facility” opened in July, just west of Liberty Lake. The venue features a regulation-sized court and state-of-the-art technology, like a Senaptec Assessment Suite, the same system utilized by the Gonzaga basketball program.

Basketball training programs here are offered to kids from Kindergarten through college with a diverse focus. Prices starting at $25 for small group classes and memberships running $150 a month. Next May, ITZ will host the prestigious End of the Trail tournament featuring some of the top youth teams in the nation. The HUB and a yet-to-be determined site will also provide courts for the 150-team event that has never taken place in the Spokane area.

“It’s going to be the Hoopfest of Liberty Lake,” Emory said.

HISTORY

events are an opportunity for two-way

School Board Directors and Superintendent John Parker

house

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Conveniently located between Coeur d’ Alene, Id and Spokane, Wa on Beck Road one mile north of I-90. (Idaho Exit 1)

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CONTRIBUTORS

Nina Culver, Craig Howard, Ashley Humbird

The Liberty Lake Splash

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The Splash is published monthly by or before the first of each month. It is distributed free of charge to every business and home in the greater Liberty Lake area. Additional copies are located at drop-off locations in Liberty Lake and Otis Orchards.

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OPINION

Dear Editor,

Kelly Roal’s editorial to Splash readers on why voters should support rebalancing the U.S. Supreme Court with more liberal justices solely because they overturned Roe vs Wade is purposeless and mistaken. It appears the Supreme Court made the right decision by sending abortion legislation back to individual States for local jurisdiction. The first test was in Kansas where voters on August 3rd overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to keep abortion legal in the State. The Constitution grants the Federal government broad, but limited, powers as defined in the 10th Amendment. Abortion is not one of them. States have powers not granted in the Constitution to the Federal government to give citizens a voice in governance, as Kansas did in its recent ballot measure to keep abortion legal in the State.

"If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed,” Thomas Jefferson.

A U.S. Government 101 lesson explaining how the three branches of government, (Executive, Legislative and Judicial) interact with shared, but separate powers that provide checks and balances between the Branches so each Branch “stays in its lane,” Is a must read. The Founding Fathers were mindful of an overbearing, authoritative government when writing the Constitution - court packing is clearly an overreach of Executive and Legislature power!

Roy Fullerton

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TREE SERVICE

Twentieth season of the Liberty Lake Farmer’s Market comes to a close

By Ashley Humbird Splash contributor

There’s something special about getting up on a Saturday morning and heading to the Liberty Lake Farmers Market. For many it’s an outing that the whole family can look forward to. From buying tomatoes to picking out the perfectly frosted cookie, the 20th season of the Liberty Lake Farmers Market has been a success.

The Liberty Lake Farmers Market was founded in 2002 by Jim Frank and Susan Parker with a core group of eight vendors. In the beginning, there was no Town Square Park. The parking lot of the Liberty square building was where neighbors could come and buy fresh produce from local farmers.

Today the Saturday morning market encompasses Town Square Park and flows into the near-by parking lot as well. It’s a farmers market dream location. It has pathways around a central green, bathrooms that are centrally located, a covered sitting area to enjoy delicious meals bought from vendors, and ample parking space.

There are an average of 40 different vendors on any given Saturday morning from a list of 71 rotating vendors. This year saw significant growth for the farmers market over the past couple of years both for the number of vendors that visit, the number of shoppers that come to buy produce.

Paul Puhek, owner of S & P Homestead Farm and treasurer of the Liberty Lake Farmers Market, has been involved with the market since the beginning in 2002 both as a vendor and volunteer. Despite having a full-time job, his hobby is and has always been farming. He grows vegetables such as onions, green beans, leeks, and carrots in a rainbow of colors.

“The market grows just a little bit every year, which is nice. We’re careful about how we grow the market. We don’t just add a ton of vendors in. We try to add a few

each year,” Paul Puhek explains about the vendor process and on the future growth of the market. “We go through a selection process and look for what’s missing at the market, what don’t we have. For example, we’re missing a bread vendor, ok we’re going to go out and look for a local bakery. So, we try not to have too many of the same kind of vendor.”

This year was the second year that EBT was accepted at the market and there has been an increase in usage while being able to draw from a boarder area. The Kernel booth, which was a new booth for the 2022 season, helped bring in families with younger children, by having a place where they could color and then receive a two-dollar voucher to purchase their own fruit or vegetables.

The 2022 season brought life back to the market after the previous years and the vendors enjoyed the returning customers.

“Over-all it was a good season for us. Both for our market locations and for our crops. We started cooler, but then got that warm weather and it turned out to be a great crop for us.” Eric from Elithrop Farm says, “I like how the Liberty Lake Farmers Market is organized. It’s good sized.

The people are really friendly here. And overall, a really great market.

“This year has been great for us,” Joy, owner of Makana farms just a few miles away in Otis Orchards has been a vendor at the Liberty Lake Farmers Market since the 2019 season. “We enjoy seeing lots of new and returning faces each week. We enjoy being able to support our local are with lots of produce especially since we are so close to the Liberty Lake Farmers Market.”

The fruit and vegetable season started late, but has since picked up. At the fall markets now, you can find abundant fresh crisp greens from late season lettuce to kale. Root vegetables like red and white onions, garlic, turnips, potatoes, beets, and sweet carrots. Many vendors are still selling tomatoes since we haven’t had any major frosts yet. Pumpkins, fall squash, apples, and pears are just coming onto the scene to help get you in the fall mood. With the variety of fresh produce, fall farmers markets are ideal to visit.

The wrap up on the 2022 season will be on October 8th. The farmers market group are planning some special events for the day. Elithorp Farms has donated pumpkins for children to paint at the Kernel booth free of charge on a first come

basis. ‘Buy out the farmers’, where shoppers are encouraged to stock up for the winter will be going on. Select vendors will be offering special bulk pricing to help clear out their stock. Paul, owner of S&P Homestead Farm will have onions at a reduced rate for a ten-pound bag. The court yard will have a variety of yard games including Jenga, Connect Four, and Cornhole.

“It’s been a great season. We love the people that come out. We see new faces, familiar faces from past years. We love seeing everybody come out and have a good time,” Brandon Parker, day manager for the Liberty Lake farmers market, recounts of the 2022 season. “To our vendors, we wouldn’t be here without you. We love and appreciate you! Thank you!”

The Liberty Lake Farmers Market will host their last Saturday market on October 8th from 9am to 1pm. They will begin taking and reviewing applications for the 2023 season on February 1st 2023. For up-to-date market information, follow the market on Facebook and Instagram @libertylakefarmersmarket or visit their website @ libertylakefarmersmarket.com. They will post opening day for the 2023 season on all platforms.

Photo by Ashley Humbird Joy with Makana Farm offering flowers and Red and Green Leaf lettuce for the fall market season. The last day for the market will be Saturday, October 8th.