ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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Provided over $50 million to support our Homelessness response and prevention efforts
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Provided $5.2 million to provide childcare for families trying to return to work
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Provided $12.5 million to over 10,000 small businesses trying to survive COVID-19 and stay in business
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Provided $2 million for workforce training to prepare citizens to return to work
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Brought over 6,500 new jobs to the West Plains with good wages and benefits
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Secured $5.5 million for West Terrace to install a stormwater collection system to address legacy drainage issues. This project is currently under construction
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Secured funding for a new regional park for the West Plains area
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Secured funding to support the construction of a second access to Fairchild Air Force Base.
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Partnered with Fairchild Air Force Base and the Sheriff's Office for the construction of a new Indoor Small Arms Range on the West Plains that is now under construction
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Secured funding for expanding and enhancing water supply for Medical Lake and Four Lakes area
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Secured enhanced public transportation to the West Plains through a regional hub
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Secured state and federal grants bringing hundreds of millions of dollars for improving and expanding our infrastructure
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As the longest-serving member of the Spokane International Airport Board, I worked side by side with the airport leadership to bring the largest airport expansion project in 23 years to Spokane
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Part of the leadership to bring the new Rail Transload Facility to the West Plains which will attract other new businesses to the area
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Negotiated a partnership with BNSF to replace the failed Euclid Road Bridge. The project is funded, and a contractor has been selected and is working with BNSF on the construction process so they can get underway with construction
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Committed to providing additional funding to the Sheriff's Office to enhance public safety
PHILOSOPHY OF SERVICE
You deserve to know what motivates individuals that want your vote. Understanding what motivates them to act helps gives you confidence in their decision-making process and goals. Al is motivated by a desire to serve others. Al is a staunch believer in servant leadership.
This desire started with his time as a Boy Scout as a teenager. Al then volunteered to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam Era. After completing his tour of duty in the Marine Corps he attended the University of Idaho and received his degree in Architecture with a minor in Business Finance. In college, he served as the leader of the student organization at both the university and the national level.
His civic activity includes his service as a neighborhood leader, planning commission member, hospital foundation board member, community center board member and chair, City Councilmember, and now as your County Commissioner. Al serves on 40 boards, commissions, committees, and organizations to serve the needs of this community.
Al’s leadership skills have been awarded at the local, state, and national levels. Al is the only elected individual in the State of Washington to receive the American Public Transportation Association’s annual award as the “National Board Member of the Year” in 2008.
Al has demonstrated his commitment to serving the interest of Spokane County and deserves your support so he can continue to serve you.
Transparency
In order to be able to hold elected officials accountable to you, their actions need to be transparent. You deserve to know how decisions are being made and how your tax dollars are being spent. That is why Al joined Commissioner Josh Kerns in adopting the Transparency Resolution.
One very critical element of that resolution is calling for Union contract negotiations to be conducted in an open fashion to be viewed by the public. Wages and benefits are the largest portion of the County budget, and you deserve to know how these contracts are being negotiated.
The leadership of several of the County unions have joined them in this process and they have successfully negotiated new contracts.
As a past union member, Al appreciated knowing how his leadership was representing his interests.
Al is the only candidate that has demonstrated his commitment to transparency to you with his actions.
Taxes
A foundational precept of government is that you should have representation in all issues that impact the taxes you pay. If you are being taxed, you should be provided a benefit from those taxes you are charged. This has been a right ever since the Boston Tea Party.
For the last several years the City of Spokane has threatened to levy its 20% utility tax on citizens located outside of the City of Spokane. This tax will impact the citizens in the Cities of Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake as well as the residents located in the unincorporated parts of Spokane County. The three current County Commissioners are fighting against this effort of the liberal Spokane City Council. If, however, the Commissioner candidates supported by the liberal Spokane City Council members are elected you will lose that protection.
Good governance is predicated upon a foundation of checks and balances. Without that checks and balances, government becomes lopsided. As you make your decision on who should serve as your next County Commissioner ask yourself “who is best positioned to represent my rights and interests?”
If you want a Commissioner who will protect your hard-earned dollar, I am that person.
PARKS AND OPEN SPACE
One of the many beauties of Spokane County is the fact that we have four seasons of the year. This provides a full range of outdoor activities for us to enjoy. Al has been committed to protecting and enhancing our natural environment through his service on several local and state boards. Al has also been a tireless supporter of the County’s Conservation Futures Program. This program acquires natural areas in the County and places them in County ownership for the benefit of all our citizens. Spokane County has the largest inventory of Conservation Futures lands in the state. These lands are available to the public for hiking, biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and many other outdoor activities.
To be able to enjoy the outdoors you need to have clean air. Al has served as the Chair of the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency for the last 10 years. This agency has several programs to improve our air quality through education, advocacy and monitoring. The agency also enforces laws and regulations to ensure compliance with air quality standards.
Al has been a strong advocate for protecting and improving the water quality in the Spokane River and other lakes and waterways in the county. Spokane County operates a nationally recognized and award-winning wastewater treatment facility that has removed 1,000’s of septic tanks over the Spokane-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, the sole source of drinking water for most of the County.
With Al’s leadership, the County has invested millions into our parks and recreational facilities. The County operates two state-of-the-art aquatics facilities and many regional parks throughout the County. One of Al’s goals for his next term is to locate a regional park in the West Plains with a full array of activities.
Al’s experience as a licensed architect makes him uniquely qualified to deal with a growing economy while protecting our natural environment and quality of life.