Mayor
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| David Condon | 20,414 | 62.65% |
| Shar Lichty (D) | 12,172 | 37.35% |
* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.
The Candidates
David Condon
- Age:
- 50
- Occupation:
- Incumbent mayor
His Words: “We have now for two years developed budgets that didn’t require reductions. Last year we added more police officers. We are looking at doing things smarter, not only our accountability standards and performance measures, but also at how we do economic development.”
His Pitch: As mayor, Condon has overseen falling crime rates, an increase in median household income and a steadying of the city’s finances. Also under his watch, the city cut $150 million off the plan that will significantly reduce pollution from entering the river, which helped prevent significant utility bill increases. Voters also approved a 20-year street levy and $64 million bond to revamp Riverfront Park.
Notable Experience: Incumbent mayor. Former district director and deputy chief of staff for Republican U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers from 2005 until 2011. Served in U.S. Army from 1996 through 2005, including as a company commander at a combat support hospital.
Education: Graduated from Gonzaga Prep in 1992. Earned bachelor’s degree in finance from Boston College in 1996.
Neighborhood: Comstock
Shar Lichty
- Party:
- Democratic
- Age:
- 57
- City:
- Spokane, WA
- Occupation:
- Community organizer
Work experience: Organizer with the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane. Previously a special education paraeducator.
Education: Graduated from Ontario (California) High School in 1983. Earned degree from Spokane Community College in 2008. Earned bachelor’s degree in social work and minor in Africana Studies from Eastern Washington University in 2010.
Political Experience: Lost to David Condon in race for Spokane mayor in 2015. Involved in the local campaign for referendum 74, the 2012 statewide ballot measure to legalize marriage equality.
Family: Divorced. Has four kids.
Complete Coverage
Notes from Police Chief Frank Straub’s top staff show City Hall was informed of hostile work environment allegations 16 months before chief was fired
Allegations about former Spokane police Chief Frank Straub’s behavior were known to officials in the city’s human resources and legal departments nearly two years ago, according to notes from members of the police department who were in leadership roles under Straub.
Shawn Vestal: Stupidity on Facebook shouldn’t disqualify Condon ally
In a quick, quiet vote last night, four members of the City Council voted to punish a political opponent for daring to criticize them. Or – if you take a more charitable view – the council voted to uphold standards of basic civility.
Sick and safe leave right for Spokane
Mayor should not veto an ordinance that will be good for employees and employers.
Spokane mayor hires policy adviser as liaison with City Council
A veteran of Spokane Mayor David Condon’s campaigns has joined his administration as the main point of contact between the city administration and the City Council.
Spokane Mayor Condon vetoes new sick-leave mandate
The veto was expected from Condon, who has opposed the policy since it was first being discussed last year and promised to veto it due to questions of how much it would cost the city to enforce. An override of the veto is likely, as it requires only five votes and the policy passed 6-1 earlier this month. Only Councilman Mike Fagan opposed it.
Condon reorganizes, but says his Cabinet will remain intact
Spokane Utilities Director Rick Romero will retire in April and be replaced by Scott Simmons, who was hired last year to be the director of business and developer services. Romero, 59, has been unscathed by recent turmoil at City Hall and has been praised by City Council members for creative problem solving. He led the effort to remake the city’s plan to nearly stop dumping untreated sewage in the Spokane River to make it cheaper and more comprehensive.
Editorial: Sick and safe leave policy not ready
Spokane law more liberal in some ways than those enacted in Seattle and Tacoma.
Ethics Commission dismisses two complaints against Spokane Mayor David Condon
Two ethics complaints against Spokane Mayor David Condon were dismissed by the city’s Ethics Commission Tuesday evening. A third complaint filed by former City Council President Joe Shogan will proceed to a full hearing by the commission, which will likely occur in late February.
Doug Clark: City should give Ozzie a chance to star in Spokane police drama
Come to think of it, maybe letting Ozzie lead our cop shop isn’t so nutty after all.
Jon Snyder: Departing city councilman hopes to return to Spokane someday
An exit interview with Jon Snyder
Nick Deshais: Favorite stories of 2015
A look back on my favorite stories of 2015
Investigator chosen to examine turmoil at police department, City Hall
Kris Cappel, a principal in the Seattle investigation consulting firm the Seabold Group and a former federal prosecutor, has been chosen by Spokane Mayor David Condon and Council President Ben Stuckart to lead an investigation into the recent turmoil in the police department and City Hall.
Spin Control: Before you forget 2015 politics, how much of it do you remember?
Spin Control looks back at some political highlights and lowlifes of 2015
Larry H. Miller dealership scales back Spokane expansion plans
The plans for a sprawling, six-block downtown Spokane auto campus were scaled back this week, as the Spokane City Council rejected a request from the Larry H. Miller auto dealership to close a portion of South Madison Street.
Spokane police department “dysfunctional,” forum participants say
More than one person described the Spokane Police Department as “dysfunctional” during a city forum Wednesday to gather input on the hiring process for a new chief.
The Zags, Frank Straub, David Condon – Clarnak the Magnanimous dishes on all of them
Clarnak the Magnanimous gives us an idea what lies ahead for our region.
Former Police Chief Frank Straub says ‘old guard’ in department have a stranglehold on reform efforts
In his final work for the city of Spokane, ousted police Chief Frank Straub criticized the “old guard” in the department and said they were to blame for any lack of reform.
Spokane City Council approves scope of investigation into Mayor David Condon’s handling of police chief firing
Before an investigator has been hired or named, the Spokane City Council has written a letter directing the scope of the inquiry looking into the events that led to former police Chief Frank Straub’s ouster this fall.
City of Spokane facing $1 million demand from former parks spokeswoman
Nancy Goodspeed, a former parks department spokeswoman for the city of Spokane, is demanding $1 million from the city following what she describes as a violation of state and federal laws, as well as retaliation and unlawful demands for her medical records from city officials.
In Straub controversy, Mayor David Condon says he was guided by city policy
Spokane Mayor David Condon acknowledged Friday that he was first notified of sexual harassment allegations against the former police chief in early April, but said city policy dictates that such complaints be handled at the “lowest appropriate level, informally and effectively.” In a detailed response to questions posed by the Spokane City Council, Condon apologized to the community and the council for “any confusion that has been created by the way the events have unfolded.”