Personal: 72, married, eight children, 14 grandchildren, lifelong Valley resident. Employment: Retired owner of A&M Quality Heating, former manager for Sears Roebuck.
Education: Graduated from Gonzaga Prep.
Political history: candidate for Legislature, 1974 and 1976, leader in Valley incorporation effort.
Issues: Believes his business experience and work in incorporation effort, including studies of other successful new cities' start-up, are a key.
Finances: No contributions reported, plans to spend less than $3,500 on campaign.
Top priority after taking office: "We have to get a manager hired. That's No. 1. I'm hanging my hat on the council-manager form of government."
Resume
1310 N. Pierce, Spokane, WA 99206
Personal
Married to my wife Vi 52 years.
Eight children and 14 grandchildren.
Professional
Retired successful businessman of 30 years, owner of A&M Quality Heating
Community Activities
Boy Scouts and Valley Boys Baseball in past years; Spokane Valley Business Association, Elks, Knights of Columbus, Valley Chamber and business service organizations and code committees.
Cover letter
I have the requisite knowledge, time
This is the main reason I feel I am qualified to be a Council Member of our new city of ``Spokane Valley'' I want it to be a family friendly City as well as a Business friendly City and to provide the best Education to all our Children of our City and keep them here for the future.
After Initiative 695 passed, it came to me that Taxation without Representation can be costly to us and denies us the right to speak up and make the right changes.
Information had come to me that there were 13 successful cities on the West side of the State that had incorporated in the past 10 years.
Since I had assisted in previous attempts to incorporate, I decided to activate `COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE'' and joined in with the Coalition to incorporate.
Those Cities had chose the ``Council-Manager'' form of government and all were successful. We made contact with them that provided the needed facts to get petition signatures and a successful vote on May 21st.
I have ran a successful business for 30 years and have the knowledge and time needed to help run a City.
Edward J. Mertens
Candidate for City Council Position 2
Spokane
Personal: 72, married, eight children, 14 grandchildren, lifelong Valley resident.