Richard, Mielke, Burke, Wolverton win races

Clear winners emerged Tuesday in primary races for two Spokane County commissioner seats.

Bill Burke defeated Brian Sayrs 61 percent to 39 percent in the Democratic primary for the District 2 seat, representing the southeast third of the county.

Republican Mark Richard won his primary in that district with 43 percent of the vote compared to opponents’ Matt Ewers’ 29 percent and Steve Peterson’s 28 percent.

In District 1, in Spokane County’s northeast third, Linda Wolverton beat her Democratic opponents with 51 percent of the vote. Tom Hargreaves received 32 percent and Barbara Lampert 17 percent.

Republican Todd Mielke was unopposed in the commissioners’ District 1 Republican race.

In the primary, only voters within each specific commissioner’s district get to vote on the race. Voters countywide cast ballots on both races in the November general election.

District 1

“I’m excited to be running against Todd,” said Wolverton, who is running for Spokane County commissioner for the first time. “I think my experience and my financial leadership are exactly what the county needs right now.”

Wolverton is currently serving as Spokane County’s elected treasurer. That experience is what swayed voter Georgene Diana.

“She has been around for a while. She’s used to being in public office,” Diana said.

Improving the county’s bottom line and increasing its wastewater treatment plant are key issues right now, Wolverton said.

Democratic opponent Barbara Lampert was philosophical about her loss.

“I was my first choice,” she said with a laugh. “It looks like Wolverton beat me fair and square, and I’m looking forward to her winning the (general) election.”

Fellow Democrat Hargreaves, a former Air Force major, vowed that he would continue to work for the county’s best interests, particularly protecting its natural resources, even if it is outside the commissioners’ office.

Of those in District 1 who cast a ballot in the commissioner’s race, 48 percent voted Democrat and 52 percent voted for the sole Republican candidate, Mielke, a former state representative and current lobbyist and consultant.

Before the first returns came in, Mielke said that the new primary system doesn’t offer candidates the same kind of information the old system did.

“I don’t think that I can translate the primary numbers into general election numbers the way we used to,” he said.

Mielke said his campaign from now until the general election will be focused on jobs and land-use issues.

“We need to be very aware of our land-use decisions. We need to make sure that the rules are reasonable and that they are applied consistently,” he said.

At Madison Elementary School on the North Side, Brennan Sahagian said he voted for Mielke because he seems like a “people’s person,” and family-oriented.

District 2

Promoter and community revitalization consultant Burke credited his sound victory in the Democratic primary in this largely Spokane Valley district to hard work and experience gained through his last campaign for commissioner.

He said he’s enjoying himself more this time around.

Burke has already been promoting himself outside his district with signs, and over Labor Day weekend with a very visible presence at his best-known Spokane event, Pig Out in the Park.

“We’ve been countywide the whole time. There’s such a short time between the primary and the general,” Burke said.

The key issue in the upcoming campaign will be the economy, he said, adding that every issue from law enforcement to roads is related to it.

“Everything you look at. It all comes back to the same thing – a lack of resources because of the economy,” he said.

Opponent Sayrs left the Democrats’ party at the Ridpath Hotel early to catch a bus home to Liberty Lake.

“I’ve got the best job. I’m a city council member in Liberty Lake, so it’s hard to be disappointed in continuing in that role,” he said.

Democratic ballots accounted for 45 percent of the votes cast in the District 2 commissioner’s races, with 55 percent Republican.

Richard, government affairs director the Spokane Home Builders Association, celebrated with approximately 75 supporters at Players and Spectators in a back room decorated with flag-shaped helium balloons.

Richard said his campaign succeeded because of the alliances and partnerships he formed. He said he expects public safety and the need to create living wage jobs to be major issues of his campaign.

“I’m tired of the bickering and infighting. I will lead and move forward without the rhetoric and negativism,” Richard said.

Richard’s Republican opponents Peterson and Ewers conceded defeat.

“Mark’s winning and good for him. We did the best we could,” said Ewers.

“As a mayor, I have a no-lose situation,” said Liberty Lake Mayor Peterson of his primary defeat. “I wish whoever wins the best of luck, and look forward to working with them.”

Both Burke and Richard said they expected a good race to the general election.

Richard said Burke will be a formidable opponent, but Richard said he feels he is more bipartisan and has a better grassroots campaign than Burke.

“I’m not going to underestimate Bill (Burke),” Richard said. “He’s going to work hard.”