Bowman vs. Collins in Airway Heights race

The only race for an Airway Heights City Council seat pits incumbent Jack Collins against Planning Commission Chair Larry Bowman at Position 5.

Attempts to contact Collins for an interview were not successful, and he has not posted any information in the Spokane County Elections Department's 2015 General Election Voters' Guide.

According to a story published in the Aug. 7, 2014 Cheney Free Press, Collins was appointed to Position 5, vacated by Kevin Richey when he was appointed mayor. He was one of four applicants to fill council Position 3 previously held by Barron Williamson, who stepped down when he moved from the area.

A resident of Airway Heights for over four years and a lieutenant in the city's fire department, Collins ran in 2013 for the council Position 2 seat, but was defeated by current Councilman Steve Lawrence. In an Oct. 17, 2013 Cheney Free Press story, Collins said one of his priorities was ensuring current services in the city are covered as the community grows.

"Having the city grow and improve as long as it's not affecting the current citizens or taxing the emergency systems are my biggest platform," Collins said then.

In both Cheney Free Press stories, Collins said another priority is the city's budget. In 2013 Collins said there were several taxes he wanted to look at, but didn't specify which, and that the best way to produce revenue was to make the city's business climate more welcoming.

At the August 2014 meeting, Collins said he wanted to engage younger residents in the city through the use of social media.

"If anyone wants to have a discussion with me, I'm very open," he added.

Recently retired from the military where he was in aircraft maintenance, Bowman has been stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base the past 13 years, building a home in Airway Heights over seven years ago. Bowman said the reason for moving to Airway Heights was to be closer to the base as well as Eastern Washington University, but also for a reason that goes back to his roots in the small, Northern California town of Olivehurst, located just southeast of Yuba City, north of Sacramento.

"I'm drawn to small towns," Bowman said in an Oct. 26 interview.

According to information from the 2015 Voters' Guide, Bowman has professional experience as a quality assurance director, anti-terrorism officer, emergency response and recovery team manager and several other positions. He has associate degrees in instruction of technology and military science along with aviation maintenance technology, a bachelor's in accounting and is currently working towards his masters in business administration marketing and accounting.

Bowman said he is applying to attend Gonzaga University to finish his MBA along with receiving a juris doctorate. He volunteers with a number of organizations including as a youth sports coach, something he sees as vitally important to communities through the lens of his experiences in Olivehurst.

Raised by his grandmother while his parents worked in canneries around Yuba City, Bowman said he was taught at an early age the importance of getting to know people and working together. These are traits he believes are important, including in public service where he might not necessarily agree with people on issues.

"As a community, we can make a decision," Bowman said. "It's not just one person who sits on the top and makes a decision. We all can do it."

Bowman has served on the Planning Commission as chair, and he said it's been an educational experience. The commission is one of the first "voices" of the community when it comes to land use issues.

Bowman said the city needs to expand, and while that might not necessarily mean physically as Airway Heights has limited space, that expansion will bring not only new responsibilities but also new resources and opportunities. Bowman said he understands longtime residents might be "frightened" by the prospects of expansion, but feels it's important to find a way to bridge that gap so all views are heard and understood and that growth is accounted for in the budget.

A registered member of the Choctaw Tribe, Bowman is in favor of the Spokane Tribe's Economic Project (STEP), but sees it more than just a casino. He views the project as bringing more business to the community, both new and existing.

Bowman is in favor of the proposed Highway 2 renovation project, envisioning the main thoroughfare through the city lined with trees, landscaping and inviting businesses that make travelers want to stop and spend money.

"I just want to help the community," Bowman said of his reason for running for council. "I just want a bigger voice in the community."

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.