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Former Mayor John Powers interviews for Spokane health and life‑sciences board seat
Summary
Former Spokane Mayor John Powers told the City Council he wants to help grow the city’s life‑sciences sector as he interviews for a seat on the Spokane County Health Services and Science Authority board, stressing workforce development and residency programs.
John Powers, a former mayor of Spokane, interviewed before the Spokane City Council for a board seat on the Spokane County Health Services and Science Authority (HSSA), saying he would bring economic‑development expertise aimed at expanding the local life‑sciences sector.
Powers, who said he served as mayor after being elected in 2000 and later worked in economic development in the Puget Sound region, told the council the life and health‑sciences industry is “to us today what timber, minerals, and agriculture was to our community 100 years ago.” He said he has worked with regional life‑science planning groups and with the Washington State Life Science Commission and described residency programs as a key tool to retain health professionals in Spokane.
“Residency programs are very pricey,” Powers said. “It can be several $100,000 per year per resident to attract them and retain them and have them build their skills and practices here in our community.” He argued the city, county, hospitals and educational institutions should coordinate funding, workforce training and political support to keep graduates in the region.
Council President Wilkerson thanked Powers for applying and for his economic‑development work. Council members asked follow‑up questions about housing and workforce needs after Powers highlighted recent and planned life‑sciences growth in Spokane, including expanded facilities he said are projecting increased staffing levels.
Powers said concrete supports that could help retain medical professionals include funding for residency programs, housing solutions and partnerships across government and education. He declined to request a vote during the time allotted for the interview and answered council questions before stepping down; the transcript does not record a council vote on his appointment.
Powers said he was open to working with the city and other agencies if appointed and answered additional questions from council members about co‑locating related industries and supporting workforce housing.
The council thanked Powers and moved to the next agenda item; no formal appointment vote appears in the meeting record provided.
