David Condon, a congressional aide and Army veteran, said today he's running for Spokane mayor.

Condon, 37, is taking a leave of absence from his job as district director and deputy chief of staff for Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. He said more than a month ago he was studying a challenge to incumbent Mary Verner; today he made it official, saying he wanted to be a "collaborative leader."

"City government is about the basics: snow removal, street paving, police discipline and public safety," he said. "These are not the kind of challenges that lend themselves to partisan politics."

Condon is a nine-year veteran of the Army, and left as a captain. Military and veterans affairs were among his areas of expertise on McMorris Rodgers' staff, on which he served since 2009.

Verner has already announced her plans to run for re-election. Christopher W. Fenton, a lab analyst for Signature Genomics, also has filed with the public disclosure commission.

Under Washington law, candidates don't become official until July when they are required to file petitions with the Spokane County elections office.

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