Gary Schimmels

A candidate for Spokane Valley City Council pos. 4, City of Spokane Valley in the 2013 Washington Primary Election, Aug. 6

Age: 90

City: Spokane Valley , WA

Occupation: Deputy Mayor

Gary Schimmels, 75, owned and operated a local locksmith business from 1998 to 2007. He attended Eastern Washington University prior to serving two years in the Army, and was a construction industry employee/owner/operator from 1964 to 1994. He has served on the City Council since Spokane Valley incorporated in 2003. In the 2009 election Schimmels ran on the “Positive Change” slate with four challengers who unseated the incumbents. He has been selected by his fellow council members to serve as Deputy Mayor. Schimmels has argued against spending down the city’s reserves, but is willing to do so to pay for the Sullivan Bridge replacement and funding two new police officers. He doesn’t favor any tax increases now, but “in future years saying ‘no’ or ‘never’ may not apply or be an option.”