lower taxes, less government, making it easier for a more friendly business environment.” Pace, who considers himself Positive Change’s true heir, has won support from many prominent local conservatives. He has endorsements from conservative councilmembers Arne Woodard and Rod Higgins. Brenda Grassel, the Positive Change councilwoman who resigned because she was moving outside the city limits, is running his campaign. While Schimmels hasn’t raised a cent, Pace’s campaign has racked up nearly $8,000. Pace’s donors include Grafos’ wife, Elizabeth; Rep. Matt Shea; former Sen. Jeff Baxter; anti-tax crusader Duane Alton; and Jack Pring, a Spokane Valley businessman who last year sold the city 8 acres for a library for $2.5 million. Pring has long been supportive of the Positive Change group. “My biggest fear of Mr. Pace is that if you look at who funds our city council, our city council has been bought by Jack Pring,” Loberg says. Schimmels, meanwhile, sells himself as an independent, not beholden to pressure Send comments to editor@inlander.com. from others. “Just because they all vote one way, doesn’t mean I’m going to vote one way,” Schimmels says. The biggest point of contention between the three candidates is whether Spokane Valley should draw from its sizable reserve fund, or whether it should slightly raise property taxes to help pay for street improvements and capital projects. Schimmels isn’t opposed to using reserve funds on crucial projects like the Sullivan Road bridge, but he wants to proceed cautiously. Last year, Schimmels says, he voted to raise property taxes by 1 percent. Loberg says she agrees with that approach. Pace would spend excess reserves long before ever raising taxes. “No new taxes, no new fees,” Pace says, describing his philosophy. “As I’m going around and doorbelling and talking to businesses, I haven’t found anyone that wants their taxes raised, even by 1 percent.” n
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