SPOKANE, Wash. – In front of nearly 200 people at Gonzaga University’s Myrtle Arts Center, incumbent Mayor Nadine Woodward joined the stage for a debate against challenger Lisa Brown Wednesday night.
Jointly hosted by The Spokesman-Review and Northwest Passages, the debate was a part of the ‘Pints and Politics’ program, with No-Li Brewhouse donating beer available for purchase.
On the stage, Mayor Woodward and Brown ran through a list of topics moderated by the Spokesman’s Emry Dinman, including talking about the city’s projected $20 million budget shortfall, development in the Latah Valley and police oversight.
But more than anything, homelessness and solutions surrounding homelessness were discussed, including safe parking lots, the Trent Resource and Assistance Center and encampments near the Spokane River. At one point, Dinman asked Mayor Woodward about Brown’s management of Camp Hope during her time as the Washington State Commerce Director.
“We spent $25 million at Camp Hope and very few have been permanently housed,” Mayor Woodard said. “She fought to keep that encampment open. We even got sued at the city because we were working with the county trying to move people along or into housing, or clean up that encampment.”
“Camp Hope shouldn’t have happened, and there won’t be a Camp Hope on my watch,” Brown responded. “I believe the Mayor wanted homeless people out of downtown and shut down a shelter without opening another one.”
The two will face off again next Tuesday, Oct. 17, at a debate hosted by NonStop Local at the Davenport Grande. That debate will start at 6 p.m. and air on KHQ, while being streamed on NonStopLocal.com.
