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The last time Dick Denenny ran for re-election on the Spokane Valley City Council, it wasn’t much of a contest.
Part of the city’s original governing board after the vote for incorporation passed in 2002, Denenny ran unopposed on the November 2005 ballot, collecting over 16,500 votes to earn a four-year term.
Fellow council members Gary Schimmels, Diana Wilhite and Richard Munson also coasted to uncontested victories that year while two incumbents, Mike DeVleming and Steve Taylor both garnered 59 percent of the vote in defeats of challengers Howard Herman and Jennie Willardson, respectively. In a battle for the seat vacated by Mike Flanigan, Bill Gothman outdistanced Ed Mertens, 54 to 46 percent.
When the ballots are printed for the August primary this year, Schimmels, Wilhite and Munson will be vying once again to return to City Hall. Denenny, meanwhile, will sit this one out.
“I know that I am not running,” Denenny said in a telephone interview last week. “I had a wonderful opportunity to help form the city and set it off in the right direction, but now it’s time for me to get back to my business.”
As the owner of Richard H. Denenny and Co., an insurance brokerage and consulting firm, Denenny is among the minority of council members who still holds down a full-time job. In addition to his council duties, Denenny serves on three outside boards and continues to take an active role in ongoing discussions to build a new wastewater treatment plant.
Denenny said he plans to stay involved in the community, participating in his local Rotary group and working with leaders and citizens in the development of a wastewater treatment facility. The camaraderie and goodwill of the City Council and city staff will be missed, he said, as well as the opportunity to have a positive impact.
“We have a great deal of respect and consideration for each other,” Denenny said of his cohorts at City Hall. “Being involved in government, you really are part of the decision-making process that can make a difference for your grandchildren.”
Working with Munson on the Spokane Transit Authority board of directors, Denenny helped establish increased route service for greater Spokane Valley – an accomplishment that he lists among his proudest. As for his successor, Denenny said a successful heir apparent “should be somebody who is energetic, listens to people and has a real sense of community.”
On Wednesday, Denenny’a potential replacement, Tom Towey, took part in a candidate open house at the Mirabeau Park Hotel along with Schimmels and Brenda Grassel, who has announced she will run against Wilhite. In 2007, Towey ran a last-minute campaign against Taylor, earning 26 percent of the vote through write-in ballots. This time around, he will run for Denenny’s vacated Pos. 7 seat.
Schimmels said the April 22 event was part of a push “to try and change the face of the City Council.” He said both Towey and Grassel are “more fiscally conservative than many of the current members of the council,” referring to issues like the Sprague/Appleway Revitalization Plan and the latest initiative to build a new City Hall.
“I think we need to sit back and see how we spend money,” Schimmels said.
While Schimmels does not support the current campaign to disincorporate Spokane Valley – “It wouldn’t be good for the community,” he said – he is lobbying for “a new direction for the city,” one that includes fewer consultants, less restrictive SARP zoning and an approach to government “that doesn’t waste money.”
“Generally, the city has prospered,” Schimmels said. “We have some excellent programs in place in areas like road repair. Things like a strong mayor and disincorporation are not the answer, so why not change the face of council? I just don’t want to see the city fail.”
Wilhite said she is running again in part to ensure that issues like the SARP and the city’s snow plowing contract are not left undone.
“I’m a people person,” Wilhite said. “I think an important part of being on a City Council is explaining to people what the city is doing. I’m grateful to be a part of building the city structure. I’m honored people have given me the privilege to represent them.”
Candidates must file with the Spokane County Elections Office by 5 p.m. on June 5 to be included on the Aug. 18 primary ballot. Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton said ballots will be mailed out July 28. The top two candidates in August will advance to the general election in November.
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By
Craig Howard
