David Condon
{{short description|American politician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{other people}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = David Condon
| image = SpokaneMayorDavidCondon 2015 0407 (1).jpg
| caption =
| order = 46th
| office = Mayor of Spokane
| district =
| term_start = December 30, 2011
| term_end = December 30, 2019
| predecessor = Mary Verner
| successor = Nadine Woodward
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|2|9}}
| birth_place = Spokane, Washington, U.S.
| party = Republican
| spouse = Kristin Condon
| children = 3
| alma_mater = Gonzaga Preparatory School
Boston College (BA)
| residence =
| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
| branch = {{army|United States}}
| serviceyears = 1996–2005
}}
David A. Condon (born February 9, 1974) is an American politician who served as the mayor of Spokane, Washington from 2011 to 2019. Prior to his election as mayor, Condon was the deputy chief of staff for U.S. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers.
A Spokane native, Condon graduated from Gonzaga Preparatory School in 1992 and then enrolled at Boston College, where he received a B.A. degree in Finance and Military Science. He immediately entered the U.S. Army where he rose to the rank of captain. He retired from military service in 2005, briefly working in small business before being hired by McMorris Rodgers. He rose to become her deputy chief of staff.{{cite news |title=David Condon |url=http://www.spokesman.com/elections/2011/washington-general-election/candidates/david-condon/ |accessdate=29 January 2019 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review}}
In May 2011, Condon announced he would challenge incumbent Spokane mayor Mary Verner in that year's mayoral election. Though he claimed to have a positive working relationship with Verner, he disagreed with her policies regarding taxation, vehicle registration and criminal justice.{{cite news |last1=Blunt |first1=Jonathan |title=David Condon, McMorris Rodgers staffer, declares candidacy for mayor |url=http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/spincontrol/2011/may/02/david-condon-mcmorrisrodgers-staffer-declares-candidacy-mayor/ |accessdate=29 January 2019 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |date=May 2, 2011}} Condon went on to defeat Verner in a close race.{{cite news |last1=Brunt |first1=Jonathan |title=It’s now Spokane Mayor-Elect Condon |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/nov/10/its-now-spokane-mayor-elect-condon/ |accessdate=29 January 2019 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |date=November 10, 2011}}{{cite news|title=Election Center|url=http://www.spokesman.com/elections/2011/washington-general-election/races/citytown/city-of-spokane/spokane-mayor/|publisher=Spokesman Review}}
As mayor, Condon focused on reforming the Spokane Police Department, improving the city's financial situation and building up the city's infrastructure and parks. He was reelected in 2015, becoming the first Spokane mayor to be elected to a second term since 1973.{{cite news |last1=Chitnis |first1=Shawn |title=Spokane Mayor hopes to break curse of one-term mayors |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/politics/spokane-mayor-hopes-to-break-curse-of-one-term-mayors/125721625 |accessdate=29 January 2019 |publisher=KREM2 |date=March 20, 2015}}{{cite news |title=Mayor Condon announces re-election campaign |url=https://www.khq.com/news/mayor-condon-announces-re-election-campaign/article_79ceb7b7-214e-51e8-8788-7607f7f940fb.html |accessdate=29 January 2019 |publisher=KHQ |date=March 3, 2015}} However, he was term-limited and thus ineligible to run for reelection in 2019. Nadine Woodward won the election to succeed him and took office at the end of that year.{{cite news |title=Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart announces run for mayor |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/spokane-city-council-president-ben-stuckart-announces-run-for-mayor/293-538015631 |accessdate=29 January 2019 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |date=April 13, 2018}}
Mayoral tenure
Crime and use-of force incidents were reported to have declined during Condon's tenure as mayor of Spokane. Use of force by the Spokane Police Department was down by 22% while violent crime was down by 19.72% and overall crime down by 8.36% as of early 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.khq.com/news/overall-crime-use-of-force-incidents-down-in-spokane/article_b7c584e3-ed12-5c8f-82d3-5cce1201b79d.html|title=Overall crime, use of force incidents down in Spokane|website=KHQ Right Now|language=en|access-date=2019-08-26}}
Despite campaigning against utility rate and property tax increases, Condon proposed 2.9% utility rate increases to be used for capital projects to reduce the amount of raw sewage flowing into the Spokane River due to major storm events. He also proposed a 2% property tax increase to purchase police and fire equipment.{{cite news|last1=Brunt|first1=Jonathan|title=Spokane City Council OKs property tax hike|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/nov/20/spokane-property-tax-hike-approved-by-city-council/|accessdate=24 September 2014|publisher=The Spokesman-Review|date=November 20, 2013}} He also pledged to tie all future utility rate increases to inflation.{{cite news|last1=Brunt|first1=Jonathan|title=Spokane City Council OKs water, trash, sewer rate hikes|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/nov/19/spokane-city-council-oks-water-trash-sewer-rate/|accessdate=24 September 2014|publisher=The Spokesman-Review|date=November 19, 2013}} The Condon Administration's Integrated Clean Water Plan was one of the first integrated plans to be developed under the Environmental Protection Agency's integrated plan framework. Costs for the plan were estimated up to $310 million.{{cite web|last1=Feist|first1=Marlene|title=Utilities Communication Manager|url=https://beta.spokanecity.org/news/releases/2015/07/15/mayor-shares-spokane-integrated-clean-water-plan-with-utility-leaders/|website=City of Spokane|accessdate=6 November 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141106044258/https://beta.spokanecity.org/news/releases/2015/07/15/mayor-shares-spokane-integrated-clean-water-plan-with-utility-leaders/|archive-date=6 November 2014|url-status=dead}} In late 2014, the city issued $200 million in "green" bonds to pay for part of the Integrated Clean Water Plan. It was the largest amount of debt assumed in the city's history.{{cite web|last1=Deshais|first1=Nicholas|title=City issues $200 million in ‘green bonds’|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/nov/16/city-issues-200-million-in-green-bonds/|publisher=The Spokesman-Review|accessdate=17 November 2014}}
In December 2013 Hoyt Larison, a businessman who had contributed to Condon's reelection campaign and political action committee, was nominated by Condon to serve on the Spokane International Airport Board. Mayor Condon withdrew Larison's name from consideration after members of the City Council and The Spokesman-Review began inquiring into the timing of Larison's donations to his campaign.{{cite news|last1=Brunt|first1=Jonathan|title=Mayor David Condon’s Airport Board nominee withdraws|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/dec/06/hoyt-larison-withdraws-airport-board-application/|accessdate=24 September 2014|publisher=The Spokesman-Review|date=December 6, 2013}}
In 2014, Condon announced that the City of Spokane would join the nationwide Ban the box movement by removing questions relating to criminal history on city applications.{{cite news|last1=Deshais|first1=Nicholas|title=Spokane joining nationwide ‘ban the box’ trend|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/aug/05/spokane-city-job-seekers-get-pass-on-past/|accessdate=23 September 2014|publisher=The Spokesman-Review}} In August that year, Condon announced San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, as Spokane's newest sister city.{{cite news|last1=Groover|first1=Heidi|title=Meet Spokane’s new sister city|url=http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2014/08/27/meet-spokanes-new-sister-city|accessdate=24 September 2014|publisher=The Inlander}}
The following month, officials from the Washington State Auditor's office released a report showing the City of Spokane had multiple rules violations in the handling of Federal grants. This was the third year in a row that the City of Spokane showed an increase in audit findings.{{cite news|last1=Deshais|first1=Nicholas|title=Audit faults city’s grant handling|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/sep/24/audit-faults-citys-grant-handling/|accessdate=25 September 2014|publisher=The Spokesman-Review}}
Mayor Condon's proposed 2015 budget included a $7,000 raise for himself, bringing his salary to nearly $180,000. Condon later announced that he would be donating his salary increase to local charities.{{cite news|title=Mayor says he won’t take planned raise|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/oct/15/mayor-says-he-wont-take-planned-raise/|accessdate=23 October 2014|publisher=The Spokesman-Review|date=October 15, 2014}} In 2015 the City of Spokane's Salary Review Commission voted unanimously to decrease the Mayor's salary to $163,000 effective from the following year. {{cite news|last1=Deshais|first1=Nicholas|title=Panel cuts Spokane mayor’s pay|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/nov/22/spokane-mayor-david-condon-to-take-a-pay-cut/|accessdate=1 June 2018|publisher=The Spokesman-Review|date=November 22, 2015}}
= Spokane Home Builders Association =
In 2014, Condon vetoed an ordinance sponsored by Jon Snyder that would have prohibited the City from supplying water and sewer services to areas challenged under the Washington State Growth Management Act. The Spokane Home Builders Association, a major contributor to Condon's campaign, lobbied hard for the veto.{{cite news|last1=Prager|first1=Mike|title=Mayor vetoes council plan that would have limited sprawl|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/apr/01/mayor-vetoes-council-plan-that-would-have-limited/|accessdate=23 September 2014|publisher=The Spokesman-Review}}{{cite news|last1=Wasson|first1=David|title=Groups lobby to veto anti-sprawl vote|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/mar/20/groups-lobby-to-veto-anti-sprawl-vote/|accessdate=23 September 2014|publisher=The Spokesman-Review}}
= Spokane Fire Department =
In 2013, when conservatives held the Council majority, Condon created a new organizational structure for the Spokane Fire Department which increased the number of political appointees to 14.{{cite news|last1=Wasson|first1=David|title=Condon’s plan to raise number of fire department appointees halted|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/apr/29/condons-plan-to-raise-number-of-fire-department/|accessdate=23 September 2014|publisher=Spokesman Review}} The Spokane Firefighters Labor Union Local 29 filed a lawsuit against the city. In the November 2013 elections, the Spokane City Council majority shifted and passed a repeal of the previous ordinance expanding the political appointments. Superior Court Judge Kathleen O'Connor sided with Spokane Firefighter Labor Union Local 29, calling the city's justification for the expansion "ludicrous".{{cite news|last1=Wasson|first1=David|title=Condon’s plan to raise number of fire department appointees halted|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/apr/29/condons-plan-to-raise-number-of-fire-department/|accessdate=23 September 2014|agency=Spokesman Review}} Condon announced in May 2014 that he had chosen to appeal this Superior Court ruling.{{cite news|last1=Brunt|first1=Jonathan|title=Mayor David Condon fights judge’s ruling on fire appointments|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/may/24/mayor-david-condon-fights-judges-ruling-on-fire/|publisher=Spokesman Review}} The case was eventually dismissed.
References
{{Reflist}}
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{{succession box |
before=Mary Verner |
title=Mayor of Spokane, Washington |
years=2011–2019 |
after=Nadine Woodward
}}
{{S-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Condon, David}}
Category:Mayors of Spokane, Washington
Category:Washington (state) Republicans
Category:Boston College alumni
Category:21st-century mayors of places in Washington (state)