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Related Coverage, Page 7
3 new faces vie for seat on Spokane public school board
The job will last for only two years, but the winner of the Position 4 race has a chance to make a big impact on the Spokane Public Schools board of directors. The three candidates – Erin Georgen, Bill Baxley and Kevin Morrison – have staked out differing positions on several key issues, including overall district priorities, the arming of campus resource officers and whether the district should put a supplemental levy on the November ballot.
Getting There: Spokane mayoral hopefuls take stands on 12 transportation issues
The five candidates for Spokane mayor talk road diets, public transportation, bike lanes and whether bringing Lime scooters to the streets (and sidewalks) of Spokane was a good idea.
Two council members, two newcomers vie for Spokane City Council president
Four candidates hope to past the primary election for Spokane City Council president.
Spin Control: County elections offices struggling with new VoteWA system
Washington elections offices struggling with new registration system as August 6 primary nears.
Candidates for Spokane School Board offer differing opinions on arming security, budget issues
Whoever wins the race for Position 2 on the Spokane Public Schools board of directors, expect them to take a cautious approach on budgetary issues. All three candidates – Luc Jasmin III, Kelli MacFarlane and Jenny Slagle – support more fiscal restraint as the district deals with a multimillion-dollar budget deficit. All three support – or at least are open to supporting – the district asking voters for a levy to prevent recent budget cuts.
Candidates for Spokane School Board seat have significant experience in education
The three candidates for Position 1 on the Spokane Public Schools board of directors have extensive experience in education.
Two primary opponents to Lori Kinnear say they would provide a new voice to City Council
An experienced member of the City Council will look to fend off two challengers in the primary race for District 2.
Election preview: Spokane City Councilwoman Karen Stratton draws five challengers in the northwest
Andy Rathbun, Jeff Martin, Christopher Savage, Ken Side and Jeff Rugan have filed against the incumbent councilwoman, who’s been in office since 2015 and has, at times, butted heads with Mayor David Condon as a member of the council’s perceived liberal supermajority.
Three first-time candidates vie for Airway Heights City Council seat
The Airway Heights position 7 council race is full of fresh faces.
Brandi Peetz stresses public safety; challengers focused on leaner government in race for Spokane Valley City Council
While Spokane Valley City Councilwoman Brandi Peetz runs for re-election with a focus on improving public safety and community outreach, two other candidates vying for the nonpartisan position say they can help the city remain fiscally conservative.
Former Woodward campaign manager hints at reasons for her departure in blog post
The former campaign manager for mayoral candidate Nadine Woodward said she was asked “to act contrary to (her) values” in a blog post on Monday.
Election preview: Crowded 7-member field of candidates seeks to replace Mike Fagan on Spokane City Council
The open seat to represent northeast Spokane on the City Council has drawn multiple challengers, including seasoned political players and first-time candidates. They all agree, however, that their district has been overlooked at City Hall for dollars to support infrastructure and industry.
Spokane City Council candidates disagree on homelessness, affordable housing
Spokane City Council candidates were divided on how to make Spokane safer and reduce homelessness, with some arguing for mandatory drug treatment and more police, and others saying more housing was the best way to get people off the street.
Control of Spokane Valley City Council a top issue for two of Councilman Arne Woodard’s primary challengers
Two candidates hoping to unseat conservative Spokane Valley City Councilman Arne Woodard say their goal is to shift the balance of power on the council. Former government contract negotiator Al Merkel and accountant Lance Gurel said they more often agree with more moderate members of the council, Brandi Peetz, Ben Wick and Linda Thompson.
Liberty Lake City Council race a debate between experience and fresh ideas
The incumbent in the Liberty Lake City Council race, Cristella Kaminskas, said her two terms give her important experience to make good policy for the growing city. But her opponents in the Aug. 6 primary say its time for change and say its not appropriate for her to serve on the same City Council as her father.
Shawn Vestal: With first mayoral forum finished, Spokane voters deserve more to decide who should lead city
We need a mayoral contest of ideas and philosophies and proposals, one sharpened through debates, forums, interviews and other means to separate the candidates from stage management and sloganeering as possible.
Spokane mayor, council candidates debate homelessness, downtown crime
All five candidates for mayor shared a stage for the first time Tuesday, disagreeing on homelessness, affordable housing and how to improve safety downtown.
Spokane Valley council candidate Al Merkel facing DUI charge after May crash
Spokane Valley City Council Candidate Al Merkel is facing a charge of driving under the influence after he was arrested in May.
Spokane mayoral candidates draw clear ideological lines in first forum on climate change, criminal justice
At a forum Thursday night downtown, four of the five candidates vying for mayor were confronted with multiple questions on the environment, the future of the criminal justice system in Spokane and how to grow wages with the coming of Amazon.
Spokane mayoral campaign pushes community to question, defend safety of downtown library
Spokane police are called much more often to the STA Plaza and other public locations downtown than the library. But a social media conversation started by mayoral candidate Nadine Woodward has led her opponents to weigh the necessity of keeping a uniformed officer at the location, an idea that would cost the city at least three times its current spending on security in the building.