SPOKANE, Wash. - Out with the old, in with the new. David Condon officially became the 44th mayor of Spokane Friday morning at an outdoor swearing-in ceremony at the clock tower in Riverfront Park.
The ceremony began with an Honor Guard and prayer, then Condon's wife and kids and dozens of supporters watched as the Spokane-native took his oath of office. Condon said he chose the ceremony's clock tower as a backdrop to represent Spokane's vast history as well as its future.
In a brief speech, Condon promised to work together with city hall,touted economic growth, and transparency.
"I'm going to build an efficient team of people whom I can trust, you can trust me, and I know I need to earn that trust from those throughout city hall," Condon said.
"It's a great and exciting day for me personally and I'm really looking forward to the future of the city of Spokane and the team we put in place over the next several months."
Condon said public safety would be his first priority once in office but, so far, he's kept those plans under wraps. "We will be addressing that first thing next week," he told KHQ after the ceremony.
The Speech had mixed reaction from the crowd. Christine McCabe said she was "Really touched by the diversity this morning." While others like Spokane Protest Chaplain Deb Conklin, who walks with those in the Occupy Movement said, "We want him to remember that he is the mayor of the people of Spokane no the corporations that gave money to his
campaign."
Condon said his transition team is comprised of several dozen people who are working to plan the next 100 days for the Spokane. On Friday, he named Theresa Sanders the next city administrator. Sanders is the city's former economic development director.Presenting David Condon during the ceremony, Sanders identified herself as Condon's Transition Team Director and said it has been "a great pleasure to be working with David Condon the last few months.
After the ceremony, City Spokesperson Marlene Feist announced the retirement of two long-time city employees including Public Works and Utilities Director Dave Mandyke as well as General Administration Director Dorothy Webster. Together, the pair have served the City 60 years.
Mandyke did not immediately return KHQ's request for a comment but Webster said Condon gave her an ultimatum, asking her to resign or retire.
In a statement to KHQ, Webster said,"God has placed me in a position where my choice was easy and I am at peace with my decision and my current circumstances. No matter what others think, I believe I have served well during the past 22 1\2 years. I now look forward to the next phase of my life.
Condon also said he chose Acting Assistant Police Chief Scott Stephens to be the Acting Police Chief, but said that appointment is
effective only through the weekend.
Condon officially takes office January first. He said a report from his Transition Task Force will come out January 10th.
PRESS RELEASES FROM CITY OF SPOKANE ABOUT CHANGES IN CITY LEADERSHIP:
**MAYOR-ELECT CONDON NAMES THERESA SANDERS AS CITY ADMINISTRATOR****
Mayor-elect David Condon today named Theresa Sanders as the City
Administrator for the City of Spokane, the City's highest appointed
position. "I am very proud to announce that Theresa will be leading
my team," says Mayor-elect Condon. "She is responsive and innovative
and will place the priorities of the citizens of Spokane at the
forefront."
Sanders, a native of Spokane, brings a strong background
in management, economic development, and local government to this
position. She attended North Central High School and Eastern Washington
University, earning a Bachelor's degree in Government. This will be
the second time she has worked for the City of Spokane, previously
serving as Economic Development Division Director for two and a half
years.
Earlier in her career, Sanders worked at Microsoft in Redmond,
Washington, in various leadership roles including product marketing and
international business development. Upon returning to the Spokane area,
Sanders served in both rural and urban Economic Development positions
before being appointed to the City position by Mayor Dennis Hession. Sanders currently is the Interim Athletic Director at the Spokane Club.
Sanders says she is looking forward to being back at City Hall working
for the Condon administration. "I am honored to accept this position
and to help carry out the vision of Mayor-elect Condon," says Sanders. "I look forward to the many challenges and opportunities that we will
face in the coming weeks and months."
*******DOROTHY WEBSTER TO RETIRE FROM CITY*******
Following a meeting with the new City administration, General
Administration Division Director Dorothy Webster has said she will
retire from the City effective mid-January. Webster has been with the
City for 22 years. "I would like to commend Dorothy for her many years
of service to Spokane's citizens," says Mayor-elect David Condon.
Webster joined the City in 1989, after working at the Community Colleges
of Spokane. She has served in a number of positions at the City,
including roles in affirmative action and as Deputy City Manager under
the City's previous form of government.
In her current role, she has
directed the work of the City's Youth, Human Services, Community
Centers, Management Information Services, Public Defender, and City Hall
Maintenance and Security departments and has led a number of special
projects, including managing federal stimulus dollars to help improve
the City's energy efficiency.
During her time at the City, Webster has
been a tireless advocate for diversity and equality, ensuring
non-discriminatory hiring practices at the City and equal treatment of
citizens.
She also helped to shepherd the naming of Martin Luther King
Way in the University District. Additionally, Webster was instrumental
in launching a Customer Service initiative that has been successful in
providing increased access and services to the citizens of Spokane. She
also initiated business continuity planning to ensure continued City
services during any emergency that would make City Hall unavailable.
Among other community involvements, Webster recently completed service
on the Sacred Heart Medical Center's Board of Directors.-30-
******DAVE MANDYKE TO RETIRE FROM CITY*******
The City of Spokane today is announcing that Public Works &
Utilities Division Director Dave Mandyke will retire from the City after
38 years of service. "I would like to commend Dave for his many years
of work on behalf of the citizens of Spokane," says Mayor-elect David
Condon. Mandyke joined the City in 1973—the year before Spokane's
World's Fair.
He worked his way up through many City positions to
become an Assistant City Manager in the City's previous form of
government and has spent the last decade helping to lead the City's
utility and street departments, which include more than half of the
City's workforce.
He endeavored to earn his bachelor's degree in
business administration at night at Eastern Washington University to
assist with his rise at the City. Among other accomplishments, Mandyke
helped to lead the implementation of the City's 2004 Street Bond, which
will repair some 110 miles of City streets when the projects under the
bond are complete in 2013.
He led public works response efforts to
major snow events and other emergencies. He oversaw millions of dollars
of work at the City's water reclamation plant and the replacement of
miles of water and sewer lines throughout the City. Mandyke also
managed the City's animal control contract for years, led legislative
outreach efforts for a time, and did work in economic development.
Mandyke also served on the Downtown Spokane Partnership's Business
Improvement District Board and served as President of the Washington
state Chapter of the American Public Works Association.
CHELSEA KOPTA
Digital Journalist
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and KHQ. All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
