Spokane growth management plan questioned.(Spokane County, Washington)

High-tech executive is leading the charge

Packet Engines Inc. founder Bernard Daines is organizing what he envisions will be a grass-roots citizens' group that would call into question and perhaps push for the reversal of steps city and county government officials are taking to bring Spokane County into compliance with the state's Growth Management Act.

Daines, who sold Packet Engines in December, has hired Spokane land-use attorney Jerry Trunkenbolz and an Olympia-based political strategy firm to help launch the group. Organizers say the group's primary goal would be to "educate" business people and property owners here about the growth-management planning process and about errors they believe have been made in that process.

Daines' interest in the matter may serve as a wake-up call to city and county leaders. Packet Engines, the high-tech company he created here and then sold for $355 million to French electronics giant Alcatel, has been touted by economic-development leaders as a highly coveted feather in Spokane's cap, yet Daines says he's getting the opposite message.

"I wouldn't bring my …