Top grades to Medical Lake for civic involvement

This space has voiced concerns in the past urging citizens to take some time away from whatever it is they do in their spare time and pay attention to what goes on in City Hall and within their respective school districts.

That process involves 10s of millions of collective local tax dollars; real money as they say, real big money.

The stewards of that money are our members of the city council and school boards, but as we move towards the Nov. 7 general election, some different numbers jumped off the pages of the Spokane County Elections Office website.

On the positive side was the interest that the citizens of Medical Lake have shown ever since the filing period for the Aug. 1 primary ended on May 19 where 12 candidates tossed their hats into the ring for three council and one mayor’s race.

Kudos to Shirley Maike and Mikeal Suniga, who will battle it out to fill the seat left vacant by two-term Mayor John Higgins. Others like Don Kennedy, Tony Harbolt, Ted Olson, Gary Plumlee, John Merrick, Elizabeth Rosenbeck and most recently Monica Manza, who will mount a write-in campaign against John Paikuli, are to be applauded for their dedication in pursuit of spots on the City Council.

Ten miles away in Cheney the interest was tepid at best. Just one of three council races garnered more than one candidate, and the race to replace the retiring Tom Trulove as mayor had just one taker, Chris Grover. Tim Gainer and Paul Schmidt are vying for the spot left open by Grover in Council Position No. 1.

The Cheney Free Press editorial board has nothing against those running unopposed, Grover for mayor or John Taves and Teresa Overhauser who are, so far, set to return to council seats. But are there really no other Cheney citizens with an interest in how the city runs — or where and how your valuable tax dollars are spent?

Airway Heights somewhat mirrors Cheney with four council races up for grabs and just one — Position No. 4 featuring James “Sonny” Weathers and Jared Lacambra — worth watching on Election Night.

It’s pretty disappointing when so few citizens feel it is important to add more ideas and voices to the civic stew pot.

Because think of what’s at stake.

The Cheney School District plans to spend over $58 million in 2018 and Medical Lake nearly another $23 million. The city of Cheney spent more than $26 million in 2017 and Medical Lake plans expenditures of just $3 million in 2018 for services. No mere couch cushion change here.

Money aside, issues like water and zoning continue to be challenges for Cheney. And in Airway Heights, what will the emergence of a new casino do for its law enforcement? Who knows what new ideas might have emerged from a bigger pool of candidates?

As Medical Lake grapples with ongoing decisions over growth and public safety, at least there are more minds at work.

We talk about checks and balances needed in government and the only way to have that in an election is to see competition at the ballot box. The issue goes beyond city hall where four local school board races also have candidates running unchallenged.

Those who do not like decisions made in council chambers or the board room — or who have other concerns — and remain on the sidelines, you’ve said you’re OK with how things turned out.

Our local situation might be a reflection on what takes place nationally. Congress, which has abysmal approval, continues to get rehired at equally astonishing rates each November.

Again, hats off to Medical Lake for showing their community — and the West Plains — the process is designed to work.

As for Cheney and Airway Heights, all must be like life in Shangri-La.