Verner leading in Spokane mayor’s race

Spokane City Councilwoman Mary Verner took an early lead over Mayor Dennis Hession for the city’s top job.

In unofficial election results Tuesday night, Verner held an 8-point lead over Hession, a former council president appointed to the mayor’s office after Jim West was recalled over a sex scandal.

Hession is trying to become the first Spokane mayor elected to a second term since 1973 but faces an uphill battle.

Verner captured about 54 percent of the ballots counted Tuesday night to Hession’s 46 percent.

Some of Hession’s campaign advertising, particularly his first television ad that questioned Verner’s attendance record and some of her votes on taxes, may have backfired for him, Verner said.

Hession, however, told supporters the race was far from over.

“We expect to be strong toward the end of the count,” said Hession, adding he knew it would be a tough race.

“We expect that advantage will shift to us, and we anticipate that we will win.”

Hession said his campaign waged a strong get-out-the-vote effort in the days before the election and he expects the ballots to reflect that as they are counted in the days ahead.

Meanwhile, it appears Spokane voters have approved a $43 million bond measure to build and upgrade city parks and pools.

About 65 percent of the ballots cast in support of it.

But voters across Spokane County were less supportive of a proposal to increase the sales tax to pay for a new law enforcement radio network and restore a popular crime-reporting service.

The measure was trailing but too close to call Tuesday night.

Statewide, a measure that would make it easier for school districts to raise property taxes appeared to be failing.

Another measure that would make it tougher for the Legislature to increase taxes was enjoying a commanding lead.