Hession sees ‘bright future’

A new Spokane mayor formally took office Tuesday, hours before City Council members debated a new ethics code that came, in part, because of the scandal that drove the last mayor out of City Hall.

Former Council President Dennis P. Hession was sworn in shortly after noon as Spokane’s 42nd mayor.

“There is great pride here in our city. The future is ours and it’s a bright future,” Hession told a standing-room-only crowd in Council Chambers at City Hall.

Later on Tuesday, the City Council voted unanimously to appoint Councilman Joe Shogan as council president to fill the vacancy created when Hession moved to the mayor’s office.

Shogan, who is entering his third year on the council, was chosen over second-term Councilman Al French, who had offered himself as a candidate to replace Hession. Shogan had been council president pro tem under Hession.

Hession takes over from former Mayor Jim West, who was recalled on Dec. 16 after 65 percent of city voters approved his removal during a mail-in election.

Hession, as council president for the past two years, moved up to mayor pro tem the same day, and then was appointed to replace West by a unanimous council vote on Dec. 19.

The delay in the swearing in allowed Hession to clear up unfinished business at his law practice and turn his attention full-time to the $143,000-a-year mayor’s job, as required by City Charter.

Hession will fill the two years remaining in West’s four-year term. Another advantage to the delay is that those two years are considered a “short term” under the charter, allowing Hession to run for two subsequent four-year terms under the city’s term-limits rule.

Among the dignitaries, family members, city employees and associates who attended Tuesday’s ceremony was former Mayor Sheri Barnard, one of the first to call for West’s resignation after The Spokesman-Review in May reported that West was abusing the power of his office in seeking dates with young men.

“I’m just so thankful it’s over,” Barnard said.

She said Hession conducted himself with integrity during council meetings over the past months and at numerous public appearances after West’s reputation became tarnished.

“Dennis has earned respect by the way he has handled himself,” Barnard said. “He’s really represented the city well.”

Hession’s daughter, Sarah, held a Bible, on which Hession placed his left hand for the oath, delivered at 12:06 p.m. by Spokane County District Court Judge Richard White, who also serves on the Spokane Library Board of Trustees.

In a brief speech after the oath, Hession said he intends to shore up leadership in city government, push new policy initiatives and build better partnerships across local agencies.

He was overtaken by emotion when he acknowledged his wife, Jane, as being a partner in his rise to political prominence. An awkward silence was broken when a single member of the audience began clapping, triggering a round of applause from other guests.

In a reference to the West scandal, Hession said, “I commit to you that your interests will never be compromised.”

“With your help we can and will do great things for the city of Spokane,” he said.

Also on Tuesday, council members decided to postpone for two weeks a vote on a proposed code of ethics and the creation of a seven-member commission to enforce the code, both of which are viewed as a response to West’s recall.

Council members said they want to give members of the public more time to provide input on the code and were not trying to sidestep a vote through the short delay.

“This is high in the minds of the community because of what we’ve just gone through,” French said. “The opportunity is here.”