Spokane County Clerk
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Timothy W. Fitzgerald (R) | 126,045 | 58.66% |
| Michael A. Kirk (D) | 88,823 | 41.34% |
* 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
Timothy W. Fitzgerald
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 63
- City:
- Deer Park, WA
- Occupation:
- Spokane County Clerk
Political experience: Appointed Spokane County Clerk in April by the Spokane County Commission after longtime clerk Tom Fallquist retired prior to his term ending. Deer Park Municipal Airport Advisory Board member.
Education: Graduated from Robinson High School in Fairfax, Virginia. Earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the Virginia Military Institute, master’s degree in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Graduated from Naval Flight School and designated a Naval Aviator in 1985.
Political background: Appointed Spokane County Clerk in 2014 and elected to a four year term later that yearin 2015. Republican precinct committee officer. Former co-director of legislation for the Washington State Clerks Association. Vice President of the Washington State Association of County Clerks. Awarded Washington State Clerk of the Year in 2017.
Work experience: Served more than 30 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including as a deputy operations officer for the Multi-Nation Force West in Iraq in 2008 and 2009 and chief of staff of the First Marine Expeditionary Force Forward in Afghanistan in 2012 and 2013. Retired from Marines as Colonel. Served as chief of staff for Regional Command in Afghanistan. Member of the Spokane Regional Law and Justice Council. Board member for Spokane Veterans Court, Spokane United Way and associate member of the Spokane County Bar Association.
Family: Single. Has four children.
Michael A. Kirk
- Party:
- Democratic
Education: Graduated from Southside High School Center for International Studies in Greenville, South Carolina. Earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and classical languages from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio and master’s degree in systematics from St. Vincent College and Seminary.
Political background: First run for office.
Work experience: Stay at home dad. Freelance writer/editor. Youth and family ministry with the Diocese of Charleston. Taught high school with the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. Youth and family ministry with the Diocese of Rochester.
Family: Married to wife, Noelle Kirk, and has a daughter
Complete Coverage
Tim Fitzgerald wins new term as Spokane County clerk
Incumbent Republican Tim Fitzgerald is likely to retain his seat as Spokane County Clerk against Democratic challenger Michael Kirk.
Spokane County clerks candidates differ on experience, goals for reform
Two candidates for county clerk, incumbent Tim Fitzgerald and challenger Michael Kirk, have similar goals to boost technology, but they differ on reform