In the race for Spokane County Commission's new District 1, which covers much of west Spokane, Republican Kim Plese, 60, faces Democrat Chris Jordan, 33.
Plese sold her longtime printing company to run for office this year, while Jordan works as an assistant state attorney general on child abuse cases.
Responses to this Q&A have been edited for length and clarity. A shorter version appeared in the Oct. 20 print edition of the Inlander.
INLANDER: Knowing that the commission is likely to have representation from both progressives and conservatives, describe a time you successfully worked with someone you strongly disagreed with politically.
PLESE: I have so much business experience, you know, 32 years of being in business. When I was a business owner it didn’t matter if you’re a Democrat or Republican, you treat everybody with respect. And my whole outlook on it was about service, it wasn’t about politics. It was always about just taking care of your clients.
JORDAN: I’m the only candidate in this race with experience working with both Democrats and Republicans to pass bipartisan legislation. I led a bipartisan effort to pass the Homeless Children Education Act (2014). That was Washington state’s first law helping homeless children in schools, and I had a Democratic and a Republican co-sponsor on that bill, and worked together with both of them to get it done.
What specific steps should the county commission take to address the housing crisis in the area?
PLESE: I think that we just have to be good stewards of existing neighborhoods. One of the biggest problems that I see that’s going to be a huge issue is if they cut off the natural gas pipeline and make it hard for new homes to have natural gas. If you have to go to electric housing, costs are going to skyrocket. The county commissioners just need to be very good stewards of the plan that’s in place, and for the future of our community.
JORDAN: I think we need a regional planning strategy. I just don’t see that regional coordination happening. We do have a housing crisis, and I do think we need more affordable housing options. I’d really like to see that strategy include ways to expand more middle housing options, like townhouses and duplexes across the region, so that folks have more affordable, lower-cost choices.
What major projects or changes should the county implement to address public safety issues?
PLESE: I’m a huge supporter of law enforcement, and the county commissioners are responsible for the sheriff’s department. I would support more training for the sheriff’s department, giving them the tools they need to be able to do their job. It seems like so many things and so many new issues and crimes are coming up, and they’re faced on a daily basis with mental health and things like that. There’s so many criminals out there in our community that just know that our jails are full, and they’re taking advantage of that. What I worry about is our sheriff’s department, they keep re-arresting the same people over and over again, and that’s got to be mentally draining.
JORDAN: We need to, as a system, target the root causes of crime to reduce and prevent some of the crime in the community. I would like to see an expansion of drug treatment services and mental health treatment services, and we can use American Rescue Plan dollars to do some of that. Over 60 percent of the inmates in the county jail have a behavioral health problem, either untreated drug addiction or severe mental illness, and so we know that we can provide treatment and help people deal with some of those problems in their lives and prevent recidivism, by being smarter about some of the ways we invest. There’s other strategies like expanding drug court and supported release for those who are not deemed a danger to the community while awaiting trial and connecting them with services.
How should the county address backlogs in the court system? Should the 13th Superior Court judge approved by the state in 1997 be added?
PLESE: I absolutely believe that they need a 13th judge. The state will pay for half of the judge’s salary alone, and we know the county has to pay for the other half, as well as the staff. In talking to one of the Superior Court judges who is in family law, [there are] 1,800 active cases on our docket right now. So you talk about justice and people can’t get seen in front of a judge for months and months and months. For our citizens, if they can’t get a court date, things get lingering on, and on and on, and that’s got to be frustrating. But as a good steward of funds at the county, that’s something that we need to look at, as far as the budget goes.
JORDAN: Well I think that’s the most obvious step. There seems to be a judicial capacity problem. Are there ways to safely divert people to drug court who could benefit from that program? If they make progress and take the treatment, perhaps their charge could be reduced or dismissed, if that’s called for under the circumstances. We could prevent some of the inflow into the criminal justice system with programs like that. And the county’s Mental Health Crisis Stabilization Center is a great thing, and that’s one way that we can divert people from entering the system in the first place.
Should the sheriff’s office respond to issues with Camp Hope?
PLESE: I think the county and the city can work together more for the betterment of our entire community. I think out of frustration of hearing all the businesses and the people that live around Camp Hope, I mean, I have a building that’s not too far away from Camp Hope and it has caused such a huge effect on everyone in this community. In my district that’s all people can talk about is crime and Camp Hope and the homeless situation. I agree with what Ozzie did. I think that that was a cry that was brought before him and [he] said ‘This needs to get handled’ because DOT [the state Transportation Department, which owns the land the camp is on] is not handling it, the City Council, in my opinion, has not done more to help the situation.
JORDAN: I share the feeling of urgency that I’m hearing from the sheriff’s office about addressing this problem. It surprises me that the city police chief apparently was not informed of the sheriff’s intentions regarding Camp Hope. I think law enforcement should be at the table, but the real issue is the county’s failed regional leadership. Camp Hope is, in part, a symptom of the county’s failure to provide that regional leadership and bring real solutions to the table. So it shouldn’t be one agency rushing in there with a half-baked plan. It should be all of our leaders working together with best practices, with a comprehensive plan that would include offering housing options, transitional services like drug treatment and mental health, and outreach using peer support workers, for example.
What do you think are the top three roles that county government serves?
PLESE: The legislative and administrative branch of county government, and being efficient and guardian of the funds of the county, and making sure that the services the community needs are getting taken care of, first and foremost. Putting together a budget, being transparent, communicating that to the community. And then, you know, the county commissioners are responsible for 2,100 employees, 50 different departments, just overseeing that and having a good working relationship with all the department heads and the employees. And making sure that the people of our community are getting the services that are needed.
JORDAN: Influencing public safety is a big role that the county commissioners play, whether that’s through shaping criminal justice policy, funding the courts and the law enforcement system, sitting on committees, convening committees, that’s a big impact. They provide regional leadership and planning on a variety of issues, from growth to transit to housing, land use, all of these areas. The third thing right now that’s so significant is I think they play a role in building a strong middle class. Specifically, with the American Rescue Plan they were given $101 million from the federal government to invest in Spokane. I would like to see that money invested in working families, in affordable child care, in housing assistance, aid for small businesses, expansion of treatment programs, and that’s a huge impact they have on the community right now. I am concerned that my opponent filled out a questionnaire saying that she would “have the courage to refuse” stimulus dollars. I think that funding belongs to us, and it should be invested in working families in Spokane.
Briefly, please answer the following:
Which county department needs more attention?
PLESE: The court system is the one that needs the most attention right now.
JORDAN: I think the health district is an obvious one. We’ve had good people leave our health district. We need to be ready for the next pandemic.
Should the local health board include a medical doctor among its members?
PLESE: I would say absolutely.
JORDAN: That’s just common sense: Those who are most qualified should be driving the decisions on public health.
Which is more important: a new jail, expanded behavioral health options or another solution?
PLESE: I would say we need a new facility that has mental health and drug treatment all wrapped up in one facility.
JORDAN: Expanding behavioral health options should be the priority and the first step. A new jail would require raising taxes at a time when families are already feeling the pinch.
Does Spokane County’s criminal justice system have an issue with systemic racism?
PLESE: Bottom line, I think there are racial inequities in our criminal justice system.
JORDAN: I’m very concerned about racially disproportionate outcomes, and I think we need to work together to improve equity.
Who is an unsung hero of county government?
PLESE: The employees of the county are the biggest asset that the county has. I’ve been down at the courthouse, you know, getting paperwork and things like that, and I’ve seen people sitting there screaming and yelling and out of control, and so many of the county employees just sit there and take it, and they’re just trying to do their jobs. So I wish they got more credit for what they do.
JORDAN: My experience is working in juvenile court, and I’ve worked with the county’s guardian ad litem program. These are county employees whose job and mission in life is to protect children, and I’ve found them to be extraordinary people. I just really believe in any organization, it’s your people that are at the heart of it. So specifically, I’ve been amazed at the guardians ad litem, but I’m in awe of all the county employees and the hard work they do.
What’s a department whose budget we should decrease?
PLESE: Having not looked at the current budget, I can’t really tell you which one to reduce. I know my opponent wants to buy electric vehicles for the county right now, and that’s one expense that I absolutely don’t agree with.
JORDAN: I think the county is engaged in wasteful spending on litigation. So we need to spend less on lawyers involved in unnecessary lawsuits.
What’s a department whose budget we should increase?
PLESE: I would say law enforcement.
JORDAN: I’m concerned about cuts made to the health district in recent years. I also want to make sure that there’s sufficient mental health support in responding to law enforcement calls.
Should the county take the 1 percent property tax hike this year?
PLESE: I would say no, and the reason being is that so many businesses and people are already suffering because of the effects of the pandemic, that they just can’t.
JORDAN: I think we should do everything we can to avoid it, but we have to look at the budget and make tough decisions. I do think we should look at targeted property tax relief for senior citizens. Anyone who is promising not to take that should identify what programs that they will cut.
Should the courthouse tower be open for public tours?
PLESE: I would say only if it was safe. Maybe what we could do is photograph it for the public so they can see it.
JORDAN: You mean where the hunchback lives up there? I would certainly love to see it. I don’t know if that’s practical, but I am curious.
What is the best county-run open space or park?
PLESE: I’m a huge golfer, and we have so many great golf courses and lakes around here. Every year I used to buy that county discount card and would use that as much as possible.
JORDAN: My wife and I love going to the Saltese Uplands Conservation Area. But you know, as a kid, I spent a lot of time at Holmberg Park on the north side just playing baseball and playing catch with my grandpa, so that’s my sentimental answer.
Who is one local politician, past or present, that you admire and why?
PLESE: I would have to say David Condon. He was a quiet person when he first ran for mayor, and I just watched him over time, in my opinion, become a very good mayor. I admire him for all the work that he did.
JORDAN: Tom Foley, former speaker of the [U.S.] House. I would say I admire him for his decency and, in the stories that I hear, his ability to work with anybody, and the impact that he had.
What year did the county government form? (Answer: 1858)
PLESE: I couldn’t tell you right off the top of my head.
JORDAN: I would guess late 1800s, early 1900s.
Who was the last Democrat to serve on the commission? (Answer: Bonnie Mager, defeated in 2010 by Al French)
PLESE: I want to say Bonnie Mager.
JORDAN: Bonnie Mager.
How many counties were ultimately divided out from the original Spokane County territory? (Answer: 22; five in Idaho, six in Montana, 11 in Washington)
PLESE: I would say 30?
JORDAN: Uh, seven?♦
