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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

One of 10 city candidates signs pledge not to approve Guild contract without stronger oversight

Only one of the 10 candidates on the ballot next week for Spokane city office agreed to sign a pledge promising to oppose any Spokane Police Guild contract unless the union agrees to stronger police oversight, the Center for Justice reported this week.

A coalition of groups including the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane asked the candidates as well as four City Council members not running in elections this fall if they would sign a pledge promising not to vote for a guild contract unless the union agrees to the provisions of the ombudsman ordinance that recently was repealed.

The city's 2010 police ombudsman law was thrown out by the City Council last month after an arbitrator ruled that the rules needed to be agreed to by the guild.

Only Donna McKereghan, who is running for the City Council seat in Northeast Spokane signed the pledge. Another candidate, Joy Jones, said she would not vote for a contract without stronger oversight but declined to sign the pledge. Jones is running for Spokane City Council in the Northwest district.

The center created a scoring system based on each candidate's response to its request. To see the rankings, continue reading the post.

Mary Verner, 0

A. 0: Did not sign the pledge

B. 0: Did not explicitly support any provision

C. 0: Did not commit to opposing contract without one or more provisions

David Condon, 0

A. 0: Did not sign the pledge

B. 0: Did not explicitly support any provision

C. 0: Did not commit to opposing contract without one or more provisions

Dennis Hession, 3

A. 0: Did not sign the pledge

B. 3: Explicitly endorsed all three provisions.

C. 0: Did not commit to opposing contract without one or more provisions

Ben Stuckart, 2

A. 0: Did not sign the pledge

B. 2: Explicitly supported independent investigative authority and independence in selecting the

Ombudsman

C. 0: Did not commit to opposing contract without one or more provisions

Donna McKereghan, 6

Signed pledge.

Mike Fagan, 0

A. 0: Did not sign the pledge

B. 0: Did not explicitly support any provision

C. 0: Did not commit to opposing contract without one or more provisions

Joy Jones, 4

A. 0: Did not sign the pledge

B. 2: Explicitly supported independent investigative authority and public closing reports.

C. 2: Committed to opposing a contract without independent investigation.

Steve Salvatori, 1

A. 0: Did not sign the pledge

B. 1: Explicitly supported independent investigative authority

C. 0: Did not commit to opposing contract without one or more provisions

Mike Allen, 1

A. 0: Did not sign the pledge

B. 1: Explicitly supported independent investigative authority

C. 0: Did not commit to opposing contract without one or more provisions

Richard Rush, 2

A. 0: Did not sign the pledge

B. 2: Explicitly supported independent investigative authority and closing reports

C. 0: Did not commit to opposing contract without one or more provisions

Nancy McLaughlin, 1

A. 0: Did not sign the pledge

B. 1: Explicitly supported independent investigative authority

C. 0: Did not commit to opposing contract without one or more provisions

Jon Snyder, 0

A. 0: Did not sign the pledge

B. 0: Did not explicitly support any provision

C. 0: Did not commit to opposing contract without one or more provisions

Amber Waldref, 2

A. 0: Did not sign the pledge

B. 2: Explicitly supported independent investigative authority and closing reports

C. 0: Did not commit to opposing contract without one or more provisions

Joe Shogan, 0

Did not respond.

Bob Apple, 0

Did not respond.

Steve Corker, 0

Did not respond.



Jonathan Brunt
Jonathan Brunt joined The Spokesman-Review in 2004. He is the government editor. He previously was a reporter who covered Spokane City Hall, Spokane County government and public safety.

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