Mager asks for probe into County CEO search
Former Commissioner Bonnie Mager wants the state Attorney General's Office to look into the process used to pick Todd Mielke as the front-runner for the Spokane County CEO job.
Mager delivered a letter to Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell on Monday requesting the probe and alleging possible violations of the state's Ethics Code and Open Public Meetings Act. Mielke was named the top choice by a panel of business luminaries to replace outgoing Chief Executive Officer Marshall Farnell, who announced his retirement earlier this year. Public interviews are scheduled to take place Wednesday with Mielke's colleagues, Al French and Shelly O'Quinn. Candidate Richard L. Davis is also expected to be interviewed Wednesday morning.
Mager, who was defeated by French in the November 2010 election, calls Mielke's application for the CEO job while a sitting county commission "an inherent conflict of interest" that violates the state's ethics code precluding officials from using their positions to gain special privileges or beneficial, insider knowledge.
Mielke has said his tenure as county commissioner, dating to 2004, gives him an advantage over others applying for the position. In a cover letter submitted to the county CEO selection committee in April, Mielke wrote, "For the past 11 years, I have served as an elected county commissioner, have been entrenched in the operations of Spokane County, and have had as deep of involvement than anyone in the workings of counties throughout Washington State since 2004."
Farnell's salary was increased in June 2012, with the approval of French and former Spokane County Commissioner Mark Richard. Mielke was listed absent from that meeting in public records.
Calls placed to Mager and Mielke were not immediately returned Monday afternoon. Haskell said through Spokane County spokeswoman Martha Lou Wheatley-Billeter he would be meeting with his senior deputies to determine what course of action to take.
This story is developing and will be updated as more information is available.
