(The Center Square) – The Spokane City Council’s two conservative members were at odds with their majority counterparts this week over committee and board assignments for 2024.
Jonathan Bingle and Michael Cathcart alluded to politics and disregard of seniority while being rebuffed in proposed revisions for the council president pro tem position, committee chairmanships, and representation on the Spokane Transit Authority’s board of directors.
“There’s no perfect assignment of boards and committee positions. Every council member up here is qualified,” said Council President Betsy Wilkerson, who was supported in majority votes by Paul Dillon, Kitty Klitzke and Zack Zappone on the appointments.
Under council rules, nominations to inter-governmental committees are made by the council president, subject to majority confirmation.
Appointments are divvied up among 51 different internal and regional subcommittees, commissions, boards, and ad hoc groups. They fall under the umbrella of four major committees: public infrastructure, environment, and sustainability chaired by Wilkerson; urban experience chaired by Zappone, finance and administration chaired by Cathcart, and public safety and community health chaired by Dillon.