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It would appear the “October surprise” has been moved up to June.
Saying “no one else would run,” longtime 4th District state Sen. Bob McCaslin filed last week to run against Spokane Valley Mayor Richard Munson for City Council.
McCaslin and Munson are the only two names listed for Position 5 and will automatically advance to the November general election as they, by default, will acquire the “top two” most votes in the August primary.
Should he win, however, McCaslin would not automatically become mayor of Spokane Valley. That title is bestowed by the rest of the City Council under the city manager form of government.
As for his state Senate duties, the 82-year-old McCaslin says he will be able to do both jobs – as long as his council colleagues let him. While there is no provision that does not allow for a legislator to hold more than one office at a time, state law says council positions “shall become vacant” after more than three unexcused absences.
“Hopefully, they will understand when I’m in Olympia,” McCaslin said, but he added he would be available for key votes.
Munson said he called McCaslin on Friday night after seeing his name on the county Web site of those who had filed for office. After learning it wasn’t McCaslin’s son, Munson said he expressed his disappointment.
“He’s against (the Sprague-Appleway Revitalization Plan, he’s against a new city hall,” Munson said. “What I want to know is, what does he plan to do for the city?”
McCaslin said he is in favor of “Sprague Avenue improvements” but opposed – like other members of a group called Positive Change spearheaded by local community activist Chuck Hafner – against the idea of a new city hall to be located at University City. But while others in the group talked about the idea of running for council, when no one stepped forward he decided he had to be the one.
“This is not something I wanted to do,” McCaslin said.
McCaslin’s choice of running against Munson – who has been on the council since Spokane Valley’s incorporation vote in 2002 – was aligned to create the most change on the council should he win. Tom Towey, a member of the Planning Commission who has been critical of the city’s policies, will be unchallenged in Position 7, a seat that will be vacated by Deputy Mayor Dick Denenny at year’s end. And Diana Wilhite, a former city mayor, will be challenged by Brenda Grassel, who has also been at odds with city planning, at Position 1.
Gary Schimmels, who had advocated for a scaled down version of the Sprague Appleway Revitalization Plan, will have no opponent in Position 4. Schimmels, too, has been on the council since Day 1.
Munson is concerned that McCaslin would have difficulty serving on the various boards and commissions that council members serve on. McCaslin counters that his legislative role is part time, as would his duties for the City Council.
Former Mayor Mike DeVleming said McCaslin underestimates the time commitment needed to be on the council.
“As a resident of Spokane Valley, I want a full-time council member,” DeVleming said. “It’s more than just a Tuesday night meeting.”
DeVleming also wondered why McCaslin – a Republican like Munson -- wouldn’t try for the presumably easier-to-win Position 7 spot.
“It’s very strange,” he said, but added that McCaslin has long been critical of the city government. “It doesn’t surprise me he’s running.”
In other races, the primary election ballot will only have one true battle where a candidate will not move on. Four candidates will seek the spot to be vacated by incumbent June Sine. And three will vie for an open seat in the Freeman School District.
The candidates who filed include:
East Valley School District
Director District 3 – Bill Powers, Kay Sieck, Guy Gifford and Heidi Gillingham.
Director District 4 – Christie Burton Hart and Kerri Lunstroth (incumbent).
Director District 5 – Roger Cox and Roger Trainor (incumbent).
Freeman School District
Director District 1 – John Zingg, Allen Crist and Hal Ophus.
Director District 2 – Chad Goldsmith (incumbent).
Director District 4 – Diane Woodman (incumbent).
West Valley School District
Director District 1 – Jim Williams (incumbent).
Director District 2 – Bob Dompier (incumbent).
Director District 5 – Pam McCleod (incumbent).
Central Valley School District
Director District 2 – Tom Dingus (incumbent).
Director District 5 – Anne Long (incumbent).
City of Liberty Lake
Position 2 – Josh Beckett, Cristella Kaminskas.
Postion 4 – Jason Adelmann, Odin Langford (incumbent).
Position 6 – Ryan Romney (appointed incumbent).
City of Millwood
Mayor – Dan Mork.
Position 1 – Kevin Freeman (incumbent).
Position 2 – Richard Schoen (incumbent).
Position 3 – Brian Ellingson (incumbent).
Position 5 – Shaun Culler (incumbent).
Spokane Valley Fire
Commissioner Position 3 – Monte Nesbitt (incumbent).
Commissioner Position 4 – Joe Dawson (incumbent).
Fire District 8
Commissioner Position 2 – Lee Boling (incumbent).
Fire District 9
Commissioner Position 2 – Michael Atwood (incumbent).
Liberty Lake Sewer District
Commissioner Position 2 – Darlene McHenry, Frank Boyle (incumbent).
The primary election is Aug. 18.
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By
Mike Huffman
