David Condon

David Condon (born 1974) is an American politician who currently serves as the Mayor of Spokane, Washington, having served since 2012.^[1] He defeated Mary Verner 52.36% to Verner's 47.64%.^[2] Condon is a former congressional staffer to Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers. He received a bachelor's degree from Boston College in Finance and Military Science. He is a graduate of Gonzaga Preparatory School.^[3]

Tenure as Mayor of Spokane

• Crime and Use-of-force incidents down in Spokane. As reported in early 2015, use-of-force by the Spokane Police Department is down by 22 percent while violent crime is down by 19.72 percent and overall crime is down by 8.36 percent.^[4]
• Despite campaigning against utility rate and property tax increases, Condon proposed 2.9% utility rate increases to be used for capital projects mitigating raw sewage flowing into the Spokane River due to major storm events. He also proposed a 2% property tax increase to purchase police and fire equipment.^[5] He has pledged to tie all future utility rate increases to inflation.^[6] The Condon Administration's Integrated Clean Water Plan was one of the first integrated plans to be developed under the Environmental Protection Agency's integrated plan framework. The plan costs up to $310 million.^[7] In late 2014, the city issued $200 million in "green" bonds to pay for part of the Integrated Clean Water Plan. It was the largest amount of debt assumed in the city's history.^[8]
• In December 2013 Hoyt Larison, a businessman who had contributed to Condon's reelection campaign and political action committee, was nominated by Condon to serve on the Spokane International Airport Board. Mayor Condon withdrew Larison's name from consideration after members of the City Council and The Spokesman Review began inquiring into the timing of Larison's political donations to Condon.^[9]
• Condon announced in 2014 that the City of Spokane would join the nationwide Ban the box movement by removing questions relating to criminal history on city applications.^[10]
• On August 25, 2014, Condon announced San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, as Spokane's newest sister city.^[11]
• On September 23, 2014 officials from the Washington State Auditor's office released a report showing the City of Spokane had multiple rules violations for handling Federal grants. This was the third year in a row that the City of Spokane showed an increase in audit findings.^[12]
• Despite inheriting $1 million from Spokane philanthropist Myrtle Woldson when she died earlier in 2014,^[13] Mayor Condon's proposed 2015 budget included a $7,000 raise for himself bringing his salary to nearly $180,000. The pay raise would bring his salary to more than his former boss Cathy McMorris Rodgers. He also makes more than Washington Governor Jay Inslee.^[14] Condon later announced that he would be donating his salary increase to local charities.^[15]

Planning Director Scott Chesney Controversy

The Spokesman Review reported on November 5, 2014 that Scott Chesney, the City of Spokane's Planning Director, was forced to resign by Condon for what Chesney described as the Mayor's 'loss of confidence' in him. The resignation set off a firestorm within the development community. Major developers like Walt Worthy, who redeveloped the Davenport Hotel, Jim Frank (developer of Kendall Yards), and Ron Wells (developer of Ridpath hotel) all expressed dismay and called for Chesney to be re-hired.^[16]

Spokane Home Builders Association

In 2014, Condon vetoed an ordinance sponsored by Jon Snyder that would have prohibited the City from supplying water and sewer services to areas challenged under Washington State Growth Management Act. The Spokane Home Builders Association, a major contributor to Condon's campaign, lobbied hard for the veto.^[17][18]

Spokane Fire Department

In 2013, when Conservatives held the Council majority, Condon created a new organizational structure for the Spokane Fire Department increasing the number of political appointees to 14.^[19] The Spokane Firefighters Labor Union Local 29 filed a lawsuit against the city. In the November 2013 elections, the Spokane City Council majority shifted and passed a repeal of the previous ordinance expanding the fourteen political appointments. Superior Court Judge Kathleen O'Connor sided with the Spokane Firefighter Labor Union Local 29 calling the city's justification for the expansion "ludicrous".^[20] Condon announced in May 2014 that he chose to appeal this Superior Court ruling,^[21] however this case was eventually dismissed.

References

Mayors of cities with populations exceeding 100,000 in Washington
State capital: Stephen Buxbaum (Olympia)
Ed Murray (Seattle) David Condon (Spokane) Marilyn Strickland (Tacoma) Tim Leavitt (Vancouver) Grant Degginger (Bellevue) Suzette Cooke (Kent) Ray Stephanson (Everett)
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