Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Michael Echanove
Beginning his 18th year as mayor of Palouse, Michael Echanove has announced this year will be his last in office. He will not seek re-election when his term expires at the end of the year.
He told the city council at its Jan. 8 meeting.
Including two terms as a city councilman, Echanove, 59, has served at city hall for 25 consecutive years.
He was appointed mayor in 2001 and first elected in 2002.
"I've been thinking, There's lots of very smart and qualified people in Palouse that would be excellent mayors. We've got a lot going on in Palouse. The financial health of the city is in pretty good shape," he said
Raised on a farm and ranch outside Boise, Idaho, Echanove was elected to his fourth term as Palouse mayor in 2015.
"Sounds like a great party, doesn't it," Council member Rick Wekenman commented. "Any time someone has spent that long working for the good of the community, usually some sort of festivity is in order. It will be tough shoes to fill. The town has come a long way."
Wekenman is a senior council member, serving since 2002.
Echanove and wife Paula moved to Palouse in 1985. They have three grown children and three grandchildren.
"I'm gonna step back. Someone else can have the fun things I've gotten to do," he said. "Let's find a leader for the future."
Before Echanove is done, he and the council will keep working on the city's wastewater situation. They have until April to submit a proposal to meet new requirements for a Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) permit. The city's current plan is to build storage capacity and get land for an evaporation process.
The DOE has given Palouse until 2024 to build what they need to meet requirements.
Has this played a role in the mayor's decision?
"No," Echanove said. "If anything, I'm kind of sad I'm leaving before this gets figured out. I've always enjoyed big projects with big price tags. I've never met a funding partner I didn't like."
Echanove won re-election in 2016 over former council member Connie Newman.
"Being mayor of Palouse is probably the best elected job in the state of Washington," he commented.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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