Party raises $2,000 for Palouse Mayor Echanove

More than 90 people showed up to a party March 13 to raise $2,000 to compensate the Palouse mayor after he was reprimanded by WSU with a two-week unpaid suspension.

After a WSU audit showed mayor Michael Echanove had spent close to 30 hours over 15 months at his WSU job on personal phone calls, the WSU administration reprimanded him with a two-week unpaid stint.

University policy puts a limit on the amount of personal business time an employee can be on the phone or university e-mail.

The WSU auditing office was initially informed about the mayor’s on-the-job time use as the result of a report from Steve McGehee, former city council member.

McGehee had obtained public records from the city of Palouse through multiple requests. McGehee noted many of the mayor’s communications derived from his WSU office.

Party-goers ended up raising $3,000, $2,000 of which was given to Echanove. The rest was donated to the city community center.

At the party, Echanove struggled to find words for how encouraged he was by all the support of his city.

“Dear Palouse,” he said softly, looking out over the roomful of people. “[Look at] all those stars, all those fun people. How can you not be warmed in your heart?”

County commissioners, Moscow city council members, Palouse citizens, Palouse city employees, Palouse business owners and school teachers, neighbors, and friends were all at the party.

Palouse citizen Connie Newman organized the party at her house after hearing Echanove would lose the pay of two weeks.

A steady stream of well-wishers trickled through the house, dropping money in the donation box, sipping on wine and listening to Green Frog singer Tiana Gregg.

Several people who spoke to the Gazette had praise for their mayor that night.

“He’s an awesome man and an awesome mayor,” said Tracy Milano, wife of city councilman Mike Milano. “I don’t think he deserves the abuse that’s been heaped up on him by certain individuals in Palouse.”

Boy Scout leader in Palouse, Jay Iverson, has worked with Michael Echanove for more than 20 years as scout leaders.

“Most towns don’t have a mayor who sweeps the streets on Saturdays or picks up garbage on [the highway outside town,]” Iverson said, detailing how Echanove faithfully cleans his city like his own backyard.

Newman said she threw the party to cheer Echanove up, remind him how great a mayor he is, and to stave off the costs associated with no pay for two weeks.

“This is just something fun and positive,” Newman said. “People are just so appreciative for all he’s done.”

Total, party-goers donated more than $3,000. The $2,000 will be presented to Echanove, with the remaining funds going to the fundraising for the city’s future community center building.

Newman later said people continued to call her and show up at her door days later with flowers and money for their mayor. The party lasted until well after midnight.

“It was just a magical evening,” Newman said.

Echanove wrapped up his thoughts on the support of his citizens by praising the people who live in his city.

“This is just how Palouse does everything,” he said with a smile.