Dennis P. Hession
Encyclopedia
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
for nearly two years. He became mayor pro tem
Pro tempore
Pro tempore , abbreviated pro tem or p.t., is a Latin phrase which best translates to "for the time being" in English. This phrase is often used to describe a person who acts as a locum tenens in the absence of a superior, such as the President pro tempore of the United States Senate.Legislative...
on December 16, 2005, when a special election to recall Mayor James E. West
James E. West (politician)
James Elton "Jim" West was an American politician. In 2005, while Mayor of Spokane, Washington, he was the target of allegations of the sexual abuse of boys twenty years earlier. These allegations became public after West became a target of a sting operation conducted by his hometown newspaper,...
was certified (West having been recalled after involvement in a sex scandal). Hession was officially appointed mayor by the City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
on January 3, 2006, to serve the remainder of West's term in office. He unsuccessfully sought election to the appointed position, conceding the election to city council member, Mary Verner, on the evening of November 9, 2007.
Prior to becoming mayor pro tem he had served for four years on the Spokane City Council. In 2004 he was elected City Council President.