Mertens, Gothmann Maintain Leads

Mertens and Gothmann maintain their leads (votespokane.org):

City of Spokane Valley - Council; Pos 6
RONALD LIPPINCOTT; NP 645 7 %
EDWARD J MERTENS; NP 2,276 23 %
DALE STROM; NP 1,796 18 %
CHARLES G PARKER; NP 1,012 10 %
BILL GOTHMANN; NP 2,370 24 %
JOHN G KALLAS; NP 1,725 18 %

About the winners (from Spokane Valley Online):

Who? Bill Gothmann, 67, is a retired Eastern Washington University instructor and current member of the Spokane Valley Planning Commission.
One of his issues: Future growth. A longtime supporter of incorporation, Gothmann believes the development of the city's first comprehensive land-use plan will be key to mapping how Spokane Valley grows in coming years.
Notable quote: "The county's mistreatment (of the Ponderosa area) made the issue of lack of representation very clear to me."

Who? Ed Mertens, 75 is a retired Valley businessman who was a key figure in Spokane Valley's incorporation effort. He has unsuccessfully ran for the state Legislature (in the 1970s) and the City Council (2002).
One of his issues: Mertens is militant against raising taxes, saying the city has all it needs to continue in the black.
Notable quote: "I always said the city wouldn't have to raise taxes, and it turned out to be true."

Mertens, Gothmann Lead in Primary

Election results as of Tuesday night:

City of Spokane Valley - Council; Pos 6
RONALD LIPPINCOTT; NP 590 7 %
EDWARD J MERTENS; NP 2,089 23 %
DALE STROM; NP 1,631 18 %
CHARLES G PARKER; NP 925 10 %
BILL GOTHMANN; NP 2,134 24 %
JOHN G KALLAS; NP 1,574 18 %

Primary Update

Bill Gothmann does finally have a candidate statement up at the Primary Voters Guide. He stresses his membership on the Planning Commission as well as concerns with careful budgeting and development.

Primary Voters Guide

The Primary Voters Guide can be found here. For Spokane Valley, this is where you find the candidates for City Council Position 6.

No statement yet from Bill Gothmann and I won't read the one from John Kallas because it is in ALL-CAPS.

Ronald Lippincott talks about his community involvement and education.

Ed Mertens reminds us of his long-time role in creating the City of Spokane Valley.

Charles Parker is concerned with public safety, requiring voter approval of more actions, and putting incorporation up for another vote.

Dale Strom's statement lacks significant content about himself.

Voters Guide!

Spokane County's Voters Guide is now available for the November election - those positions with two or fewer candidates. Check it out here.

Among the highlights for Spokane Valley City Council, Jennie Willardson running for Position 2 seems to want Spokane Valley to turn rural:

I am running because our city is at a crossroads. We can let the city become a giant Pines and E. Sprague, or we can keep the Green in Green Acres. Do you want traffic and neon signs, or safe, livable neighborhoods?

No details on how she plans to eliminate traffic and signs. It's hard to be a suburb if you can't get anywhere.

Howard Herman, running for Position 3, should get an award for giving absolutely no reason to support the challenger:

I have a plaque from the City of Spokane Valley naming me as a member of the Honorary First Council. I now seek to advance that Honorary designation by being elected to the office. We, who have lived and worked in the Valley for many years, loved the Valley the way it was before incorporation. When elected, I will work to preserve those attributes of the Valley that have made it such a unique place to live and work, and I will use my office as an advocate for all of the people.

How did he write so much and say so little?

Campaign Websites

We search periodically for campaign websites to link to on the right. Please let us know if you know of one that we do not know of yet and it will get a link.

Thanks!

Primary Update

Under the current primary system, only Position 6 drew enough candidates to have a primary. They will appear on the ballot like this:

City of Spokane Valley
City of Spokane Valley - Council; Pos 6

RONALD LIPPINCOTT; (NP)
EDWARD J MERTENS; (NP)
DALE STROM; (NP)
CHARLES G PARKER; (NP)
BILL GOTHMANN; (NP)
JOHN G KALLAS; (NP)