City Council races draw more candidates
Incumbent only one on District 1 ballot
Two more candidates jumped into Spokane City Council races Thursday, ensuring primary races in two of the city’s three council districts.
Laverne Biel, 60, the CEO at Access Unified Networks, filed Thursday for the south Spokane District 2 race.
She has served as chair of the East Spokane Business Association. Her company provides data systems for health care.
The District 2 seat is currently held by incumbent Jon Snyder, founder and owner of Out There Monthly magazine. Snyder, 44, filed for re-election on Monday.
The third candidate in the race is John Ahern, 78, who served 10 years in the Washington Legislature. He owns a copier supply business and has lived in Spokane since 1962. He also filed on Monday.
In the District 3 council race in northwest Spokane, a fourth candidate has entered the race. Curtis Fackler, 57, an insurance agent and health care consultant, filed on Thursday. He has served as chairman of the North Indian Trail Neighborhood Council and was a chairman of the Spokane County Republican Party.
He and three other candidates are seeking to replace outgoing Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin, who cannot seek a third term because of term limits.
The other candidates are Candace Mumm, 51, who has been involved in the Five Mile Prairie Neighborhood Council and served on the Spokane Plan Commission; Michael Cannon, 35, chairman of the city’s Community, Housing & Human Services Board; and Kelly P. Cruz, 53, former chairman of the West Central Neighborhood Council.
So far, Councilwoman Amber Waldref is the only candidate for her District 1 seat. All candidates must file by today with the Spokane County Elections Department.
In Spokane Valley, a two-way City Council race has developed for the Position 7 seat being vacated by Mayor Tom Towey.
Fred Beaulac, 61, filed for the seat on Thursday. He is a former planning commissioner and is operations manager for Hatfield Enterprises.
He will face Bill Bates, who retired as a Rosauers vice president in 1987 and has served on the city planning commission.