By SHANNEN TALBOT
Staff Reporter 

French, Anthony battle for commissioner

6th District, commissioner races profiled

 

Last updated 11/1/2018 at 4:38pm



The race for Spokane County Commissioner in District 3 has heated up in recent weeks, as incumbent Al French takes on political newcomer Robbi Anthony.

French has served as County Commissioner for nearly eight years. The GOP candidate currently serves on a variety of boards and committees, including the Washington State Association of Counties and the Spokane International Airport Board.

Anthony is a first-time candidate, running as a Democrat. She owns two small businesses in Spokane, has sat on the board of two local non-profits and has made financial responsibility a focus of her campaign.

Anthony made a strong showing with 54.94 percent of the vote in the Aug. 7 primary, with French trailing by more than 10 percentage points at 44.69 percent.

The five commissioner bill signed into law earlier this year by state Gov. Jay Inslee has been a point of contention throughout the race. The law will expand the board from three to five commissioners in Spokane County by 2022 and elect them by district in both the primary and general election.


French argues that law takes voting rights away from citizens who voted down an expansion to five commissioners in 2015, while Anthony is in favor of the board expansion, saying it gives voters better representation. The bill doesn’t take effect until 2021, so all eyes are on the general election

1. What do you think are the three most pressing issues facing the West Plains?  

French

(1) For the West Plains as a whole, water is one of the largest challenges. The geological conditions on the West Plains create areas that suffer from a lack of adequate water while other areas are trying to get rid of surface water that does not drain through rock outcroppings.


(2) Economic development and the creation or attraction of jobs to the area to support growing communities.

(3) Availability of workforce housing to support the anticipated growth coming to the West Plains with developments like Amazon and many others.

Anthony

Quality housing, infrastructure and accommodating growth. I’ve seen homes with their basements flooded due to a lack of proper oversight by the county, roads that are unserviceable, and a community that is going to be impacted the most by the county’s overall growth period.

The county has been quick to rush for growth in the West Plains, and while growth is good, the responsibility of the government is to help manage that growth and make it sustainable. 

2. How would you solve the water issues on the West Plains?

Anthony

There are a few water issues on the West Plains as I understand it. I’m not an engineer or environmental scientist, but what I do know is that the responsibility of a County Commissioner is to find those experts and help them get their solutions into action.

Additionally, we can look at other counties and areas that have been afflicted by similar issues to make sure we avoid mistakes and focus on the solutions that work.

I’m not seeking office because I believe I have all the answers. I am seeking office because I know I can find those who do.

French

With the development of the West Plains Public Development Authority (WPPDA) which I led the development of, we now have a partnership of three drivers of economic development on the West Plains, Spokane County, City of Spokane and the Spokane International Airport (SIA). This organization is currently seeking a consultant to explore the creation of a stormwater utility. This utility would collect stormwater from surface ponds and drainage areas, treat that water and use it to recharge our aquifers. I have led the effort to bring these partners together with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Washington State Department of Ecology to explore this opportunity.

3. What is the best method of managing growth on the West Plains?

French

The community has already developed a growth strategy for the West Plains and we now need to implement it. There is a need for more workforce housing and I am working with the cities of Cheney, Medical Lake, Airway Heights and Spokane to expand the opportunity for single-family home ownership in these communities. I was successful in working with the Washington Department of Transportation to accelerate already-funded projects for expanded capacity at the I-90 and Medical Lake interchange and the Geiger Road Interchange. I have brought the partners listed in answer 2 to address water issues. I have all of the agencies at the table working together to address the opportunities that growth provides.  

Anthony

We are going to have to watch the data closely as the West Plains grows. We will have to find ways to accommodate new homes and other mix-housing solutions that place lower strain on our infrastructure and allows folks to work their way to home-ownership.

Moving slowly, thoughtfully and methodically will not inhibit growth. If anything, demonstrating that we are considering growth in a pragmatic approach will reassure that anyone who is looking to join the West Plains is that they’ll truly have a place to call home and not feel shoehorned into the community. 

For more information on Robbi Anthony, visit http://www.robbianthony.com

For more information on Al French, visit http://www.alfrench.com.

Shannen Talbot can be reached at shannen@cheneyfreepress.com.

 

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