Campaign Press Releases
/ News Articles
(Choose one to jump to the appropriate section or scroll
down the page)
-
06/17/05 - Steve Taylor announces reelection bid for Spokane Valley City Council. Councilmember Steve Taylor has announced his candidacy seeking reelection to the Spokane Valley City Council, Position 2. Taylor, along with the six other members of the new city's legislative body, was first elected in 2002 following an historic decision by Spokane Valley voters to incorporate Washington State's 8th largest city. All seven positions are open for voter approval this November....(continues)
-
Councilmember Steve Taylor says, "I think it is of the utmost importance for every person who rides a bike to take the proper precautions," he prefaces. "I believe, though, that it is an issue of personal responsibility to yourself and your family."
Head Games by Joel Smith - The Pacific Northwest Inlander (6/2/05)
-
"Obviously, it is important to wear a bicycle helmet," Taylor said, adding that his wife wouldn't let him get on a bicycle without one. But, he said, helmet use is a matter of personal responsibility, and passing the ordinance could make people defiant. "I don't believe that it is the proper role of government, especially local government, to interfere in this manner," he said.
Helmet rule advances in Valley council by Peter Barnes - Spokesman-Review (5/25/05)
-
"The city can't justify forgoing road projects to take care of animals, Councilman Steve Taylor said. It needs to look into increasing compliance or finding alternative animal control measures that fit within the budget, he said."
Pet peeve: Animal pact costly to city by Peter Barnes - Spokesman-Review (6/1/05)
-
"Following a series of legal and political discussions going back into January, the Spokane Valley City Council has scheduled a public hearing and vote on whether the city should enact initiative and referendum rights for Valley residents. At the request of Councilman Steve Taylor, a separate resolution to authorize only referendums also will be put to a vote at the council's June 28 meeting...Taylor said at the meeting "the people chose our leaders, and the leaders make their decisions during their specified terms. And if the majority of the public does not agree with the decisions we make, we should be turned out at the ballot box."
Hearing set on initiative and referendum rights by Peter Barnes - Spokesman-Review (6/8/05)
-
"Councilmen Steve Taylor...said working on that specific area (Sprague Avenue and Appleway, 'Auto Row') next year might be thinking incrementally about Sprague revitalization at a time when the city hasn't yet put its comprehensive plan into place and still needs to establish its broader plans for the future."
Valley leaders brainstorm at retreat by Peter Barnes - Spokesman-Review (6/12/05)
-
Council Member Steve Taylor asked the council for tighter restrictions on political signs but got no support from his colleagues. "Political signs are an eyesore," he said. "I'm sure the community feels the same."
City Council loosens sign restrictions by Mike Huffman - Spokane Valley News Herald (6/17/05)
-
As the official week to file for political office approaches, Steve Taylor has announced he will seek re-election to his Position No. 2 seat on the Spokane Valley City Council. Read the entire article...
Taylor will seek re-election to Spokane Valley Council by Peter Barnes - Spokesman-Review (7/1/05)
-
With classes 26 days away and CenterPlace construction all but complete, the Spokane Valley City Council approved a lease Tuesday granting the Community Colleges of Spokane classrooms in the new community center for the next five years. "It's great for our budget, great for our community," said Councilman Steve Taylor after the council gave the final version of the lease its unanimous approval at its regular meeting.
College's lease of CenterPlace OK'd by Peter Barnes - Spokesman-Review (8/24/05)
-
Spokane Valley City Council members have intensified their demand for a say in how land adjacent to the city is developed, threatening to appeal a county decision to expand its legally developable land if the county does not reach a joint planning agreement with the city in the next two weeks. The county's move to allow upward of 976 homes on the southeast edge of Spokane Valley without consulting the city on traffic and other issues "flies in the face of growth management," said Councilman Steve Taylor. Read the entire article...
Boundaries at odds in the Valley by Peter Barnes - Spokesman-Review (9/1/05) -
A grass-roots effort to kill the city of Spokane Valley is itself dead. Tuesday evening, residents circulating petitions to put "disincorporation" to a public vote tallied their signatures and came up way short. They had 9,988 signatures on hand, and needed 13,877 more." We'll end up with slightly more than 10,000," said Sally Jackson, a petition organizer. Jackson, the firebrand whip to undo the city that she once championed, met at North Pines Middle School to count signatures with three dozen of her strongest supporters.
Even with a stack several inches thick of photocopied petition sheets, it was obvious the group had fallen short. Still, supporters waited nearly two hours for more to trickle in. And copies did come – collected from barber shops, veterinary hospitals and houses where supporters invited neighbors to stop and sign. The final 40 to walk in the door took almost an hour. Some residents blamed the weather. The petition drive was launched in March and was followed by rain.
The city's detractors say creating the city was a bad move. Before Spokane Valley incorporated in March 2003, Spokane County ruled the area. Creating the Spokane Valley added another layer of government and didn't improve government service, petition supporters said.
And petitioners discounted the vote in 2002 that lead to the city's creation the following year. In that election, 10,272 people – or 51.4 percent of those who voted – chose to incorporate. The anti-city group thought a second vote was in order, and hoped that turnout would be better. If a larger number of voters endorsed the city a second time, Jackson and others said they'd put the issue to rest.
Petitioners warned when the city was created that it might impose a utility tax. And while that hasn't happened, it might, now that the petition drive has died, petitioner Steve Dickey said." They've been real quiet because of us," Dickey said of the Spokane Valley City Council.
Spokane Valley Mayor Diana Wilhite, reached later in the evening at a City Council meeting, said the presence of the disincorporation effort has had absolutely no effect on the body's decisions. Other council members nodded in agreement at the dais." The tax revenue had totally changed" from earlier estimates, Councilman Dick Denenny said of abandoned talks of a utility tax. Of the disincorporation effort, Denenny said, "it's really a non-issue to most people in the Valley." However, last March, the mayor and City Council took the disincorporation petition very seriously. They instructed the city attorney to examine what would happen if Spokane Valley disincorporated and publicly pointed out that the community would not instantly revert to county rule, but rather would go into receivership.
Jackson and other anti-city supporters vow to bring up disincorporation again. In the meantime, she encouraged petitioners to support council candidate Chuck Parker, who has said he would urge the City Council to put disincorporation on the ballot.
Valley foes end campaign by Tom Lutey - Spokesman-Review (9/14/05) -
The Spokesman-Review Editorial Board responds to the minimal "disincorporation" effort in Spokane Valley, calling it a "non-issue at most".
"Apparently, there's no groundswell to "disincorporate" Spokane Valley. In six months, organizer Sally Jackson and others have collected less than half the signatures required to put a second disincorporation vote on the Spokane Valley ballot. Meanwhile, Shannon Sullivan & Co. have needed only weeks to sign up about 16,000 residents in their effort to recall Spokane Mayor Jim West. The different outcomes in the two petition drives suggest that the recall effort has strong grass-roots support, while the disincorporation crusade is losing steam. Jackson and others collected 9,988 signatures, but needed 13,877 more for another vote. They contend that bad weather last spring caused the drive to get off to a poor start. But Councilman Dick Denenny has another theory that might be more accurate: "It's really a non-issue to most people in the Valley." Jackson and other anti-city supporters vow to bring the matter back. In other words, some people don't know when they're beaten."
A Non-Issue at Most - Spokesman-Review Editorial Board (9/15/05)
-
At a Spokane Valley City Council race debate Tuesday, questions on a possible light rail through the area generated a rousing "not yet," from the candidates, while there was more disagreement on the issue of billboards and diverging visions from candidates on what the city will look like in 10 years...As with any new taxes or changing the Appleway Couplet, candidate Jennie Willardson said a final decision on light rail should be put to an advisory vote. Incumbent Steve Taylor, her Position 2 opponent, said the money and riders to support light rail don't yet exist...A question on billboards generated more dissent among candidates for the three contested positions. The issue split the Position 2 candidates, as well. Willardson didn't take a stand but said she knows many people who would like billboards eliminated. Taylor said an all-out ban would be unfair to sign owners and that he supports the current policy, which allows companies to replace existing billboards...The last question of the night asked how the Valley will look in 10 years. Willardson said the city has growing pains and that she would address the concerns of neighborhoods where development is happening. "We need a city council who is open to listening to those concerns," she said. Taylor's comments included the need for consistent leadership, a new downtown and affordable housing. "We are going to see new industries relocate here," he said.
Council Candidates debate light rail, signs by Peter Barnes - Spokesman-Review (10/20/05)
-
Candidates for City Council courted the support of teens at Spokane Valley's first youth-led candidate debate. Councilman Steve Taylor, said he's the city's representative to the regional Keep America's Promise campaign and works with youth at Greenacres Baptist Church. "I've been involved in youth political activities for the last 13 years," he said. Taylor said the city could subsidize the program fees for some disadvantaged kids, and he said working toward a youth-friendly community ties into his goal of better public safety. Taylor, said that it's important to respect people of differing faiths, but the country was founded on Judeo-Christian values that shouldn't be completely removed from government. After two hours of questioning from teens, the audience voted on the candidates. The results had Taylor, Herman and Mertens winning with 14 votes, nine votes and nine votes, respectively.
Valley Council debate courts young people by Peter Barnes - Spokesman-Review (10/25/05)
-
Council Position 2 - Candidates who run for office should understand that voters place them in positions of leadership to make tough decisions. That truism provides a bright line between the City Council candidates for Position 2.
Artist Jennie Willardson demonstrates a good understanding of the issues, but she wants to seek advisory votes on several of them, including taxes, light rail development and possible Sprague-Appleway couplet changes. Willardson, 43, says her involvement in city matters began with the library controversy. She wants control of the library returned to the Spokane County Library District. She says that issue underscores the need for greater public input. She even advocates elected neighborhood councils. Public input is good, but governments can carry it too far. At some point, the information gathering must end and decisions have to be made. Though only 29 years old, incumbent Steve Taylor has a lot of political experience. He served on former Congressman George Nethercutt's staff and is on a number of regional government boards. He has helped guide the city from its infancy and is well-informed on the challenges that lie ahead.
The chief challenge will be the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan, following the principles of the Growth Management Act. Taylor isn't a big fan of the GMA; he'd like more local control. But he understands that the Valley has to continue the transition from a rural to urban setting. Willardson's motto is "preserving our Valley way of life." She'd like to see more areas with rural zoning. That's unrealistic.
The issues surrounding the couplet provide a good example of the candidates' philosophies. Taylor wants to keep the current one-way arrangement on Appleway and Sprague and extend the couplet east. Willardson has concerns about extending the couplet but wants to ask the voters about it. The Valley needs decision-makers. Steve Taylor is the clear choice.
The best choices to lead the Valley - Spokesman-Review Editorial Board (10/29/05)
