Steve Eugster    |     home
                                                  
Eugster for Council President
 News:
September 1, 2009 --  mailed in my Campaign Registration (C1) to the Public Disclosure Commission and the Spokane Elections department.  
I am proceeding with the compaign but do so with knowledge of the unique and perhaps impossibility of it.  I am running because I have something to say and something to do if elected. Given the nature of things I doubt the electorate (whatever it is) will show much interest in my candidacy or what I have to say.  In fact, I doubt there will be any "purchase" between me and the elusive mind of the electorate. The electorate likes a sort of magic, I have no magic to bring to it.
 Primary Election 2009
To the 1,800 plus voters who cast their vote for my candidacy, a heartfelt thanks.  The precinct returns show that my positions, what I stand for, had strong support in each and every precinct.  Not enough to win a place on the general election ballot, but enough for me to think there is a remnant in Spokane who support what I have to say, what I stand for.  Unless I change my mind,I suspect I will announce my candidacy for Spokane City Council President in 2011 and will do so soon.
The positions I have advanced need to be addressed during the next two years.  The campaign for those ideas should proceed and evolve.
Contact me at (509) 990-9115,
2418 W Pacific Ave, Spokane WA 99201

 Campaign Summary Statement -- It stays the same:
What city government do we want?  A government of necessary services or government of "good things?"  

It is simple, all we need ask is this – what is realistic, true?  A government which provides necessary services, or, a government devoted to an ever-changing list of "good things."  A government of services can live within its means.  A government of good things cannot.  

There is no end, no limit, to what is thought to be good things. Government of changing fads of  "good things" demands an increasing taxes – and worse, greater tax unfairness. Essential services suffer.
 My concerns and goals are as follows:
City Budget  -- The city budget must be reduced and plans for the reduction started now.  We have to decide what is truly necessary and the extent to which we are going to fund that which we deem necessary.
Fair Taxation -- Our taxation of utilities is highly unfair.  All utilities should be taxed at the same rate if they are going to be taxed at all.  It is absolutely unfair to impose a 25% tax (really a sales tax) on city utility services.  And, a 6% tax on other utilities.
Improper Use of Tax Revenue -- The city and the county of Spokane are mis-using tax revenues.  The use of Conservation Futures Taxes for the purchase of the Downtown YMCA is wrong and in fact is illegal.  It was also wrong and illegal for the City of Spokane to have balanced the budget for 2009  by use of money in the City Utilities collected for capital improvement expenses in the future.
Metropolitan Government -- -- it is time to re-think whether we should pursue metropolitan government.  I think we must start planning for metropolitan government now.
City Form of Government -- Has the "strong mayor system" worked, is it working?  Perhaps it is time to rethink the form of government for the city.  I do not think the system has worked.  It is time to cut our loses and go back to professional government management but with some protections regarding effective evaluation and performance measures.
Downtown Spokane -- Downtown Spokane is ready for some serious thought and renovations.  The entire "streetscape" of Downtown Spokane and the approaches to Downtown Spokane need renewal and renovation.
And there is more:  Highway 195  - The City must act now to reduce the deathly hazards of Highway 195 south of I - 90. City Council Meetings --  People should be welcome to speak on issues before the City Council Meetings.  The Council is actively opposed to open and vigorous speech.  The Council meetings must be welcoming events for those who care about our Spokane City Government. The West Plains -- these areas must be annexed, all of them.
Fairchild Air Force Base -- There is a real possibility that Fairchild Air Force Base may close.  We need a plan.  There is something we can start doing to be ready -- a port district.  It is time for a Spokane County Port District.
Spokane Park Department -- The Park Department is separate from the rest of the City.  This must be understood.  If this is not what the people want then the City Charter has to be changed.  Or, perhaps all parks should be part of Metropolitan Government.