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Hession-Stuckart race is a contrast in styles
Primary election voters in Spokane didn’t seem eager for a change. They gave incumbent Mayor Mary Verner a big victory over her opponents and former Mayor Dennis Hession a first-place win for City Council president as they head to November.
Record donation from Costco
OLYMPIA – In an effort to get voters to end the state’s liquor monopoly, Costco this week made the single-largest political contribution in history – nearly $9 million – to a state ballot campaign. The discount retail giant based in Issaquah, Wash., nearly doubled down on its contributions this year to the Yes on Initiative 1183 campaign. The company had already spent more than $12 million through cash contributions and in-kind services, such as employee time for gathering signatures in less than a month to get the proposal on the Nov. 8 ballot.
District 1 race draws outspoken council critics
After a packed, six-way primary, voters in northeast Spokane have two unconventional choices to fill the Spokane City Council seat that will be vacated at the end of the year by Bob Apple. Both candidates have clashed with City Hall and were probably the biggest critics of existing city leadership among those who ran in the primary. Both have a bankruptcy in their pasts. Both have longtime ties to Northeast Spokane and have led neighborhood councils. Both have the backing of one council member who serves the district.
Candidates for council District 3 talk jobs
The race to represent Northwest Spokane has turned into one about priorities. Is the top priority jobs, as Steve Salvatori argues, or is jobs one of many priorities, as Joy Jones says?
Salvatori, Jones outline differences
Candidates for Spokane City Council responded to 20 questions from The Spokesman-Review soon after filing to run for office. Because only two candidates filed to run for the Northwest seat, there wasn’t a primary and none of the responses given by Steve Salvatori and Joy Jones ran in the print edition until today. To read more questions and responses, go to The Spokesman-Review’s Election Center at spokesman.com/elections.
Allen vs. Rush, Street taxes
City Councilman Richard Rush and former City Councilman Mike Allen debate the $20 vehicle tab tax and possible creation of a street utility tax. Allen is challenging Rush’s bid for re-election for his seat representing South Spokane.
Rush, Allen lock horns
As a member of the Spokane City Council, Richard Rush hasn’t been afraid of controversy. He led the charge to create the city’s new controversial water rates, and while others are backpedaling, Rush has stood firm. He says reverting to a flatter rate structure proposed by critics likely would mean most water customers will be forced to pay more.
City Council seat rivals weigh in on issues
Candidates for Spokane City Council responded to 20 questions from The Spokesman-Review soon after filing to run for the office. Because only two candidates filed to run for the south seat, there wasn’t a primary and none of the responses given by Richard Rush and Mike Allen ran in the print edition until today. To read candidates’ responses to all the questions, head to The Spokesman-Review’s Election Center at spokesman.com/election.
Allen vs. Rush, Red Light Cameras
City Councilman Richard Rush and former City Councilman Mike Allen debate red light cameras. Allen is challenging Rush’s bid for re-election for his seat representing South Spokane.
Condon vs. Verner, Water Rates
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner and David Condon, former district director for U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, debate the city’s new water rate structure, which decreases rates on those who use less and increase rates on those who use more. Condon is challenging Verner’s bid for re-election.
Scaled-back Bill of Rights still packs in issues
Much is different and much is the same in Envision Spokane’s second attempt to get voters to approve a version of its Community Bill of Rights. Its proposal on the November ballot is significantly scaled down. Instead of the nine rights the group floated in its failed 2009 citizen initiative, this list only includes four.
Mayor’s race highlights water, police choices
If the results of the August primary are any sign, Spokane voters liked what they saw from Mary Verner during her first 45 months in office. Characterizing herself as even-keel in turbulent times, she nearly doubled the vote total of second-place finisher David Condon, a former congressional aide to Republican U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers.