John Ahern
A candidate for State Representative Pos. 2, Legislative District 6 (NW Spokane County and NE Spokane) in the 2010 Washington General Election
Party: Republican
Age: 91
Occupation: Business owner, former Washington Representative
His Words: “I’d be glad to give you a full blown interview after I win the election. Like a colleague of mine said to me in the House, he pulled me aside and said, ‘Ahern, what you don’t say can’t hurt you.’”
His Pitch: According to what Ahern has said at open forum during Spokane City Council meetings, under Stuckart the City Council has lunged to the left, making the city undesirable for businesses and unsafe for citizens. As the council’s leader, Ahern would outlaw marijuana and move to clamp down on immigrants who are in Spokane illegally.
Notable Experience: Former Republican legislator who served five terms in the House of Representatives between 2001 and 2012. Unsuccessfully challenged Councilman Jon Snyder in 2013, when he won 35 percent of the vote. Long-time owner of Janco products.
Education: Graduated from Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland. Earned bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Denver.
Neighborhood: Comstock
Race Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| John Ahern (R) | 32,133 | 51.78% |
| John F. Driscoll (D) | 29,923 | 48.22% |
Related Coverage
Spokane swing district again among state’s spendiest
A Spokane legislative district tops the state for money raised by candidates, and is near the top for spending that money before the August primary. The 6th Legislative District – which curves around central Spokane’s core from the Whitworth area to the South Hill – is often a pricey political battleground. Its last three state Senate races have been the three most expensive in state history, with the 2006 contest between Democrat Chris Marr and Republican incumbent Brad Benson at the top of the list. Nearly $818,000 was spent in that race for a seat that pays just over $42,000 per year.
6th Lege Dist: Swing district or spendy district?
6th Lege Dist: Swing district or spendy district?
O’Quinn says job forbids endorsement
Shelly O’Quinn, a Republican who lost her bid for state House in the 6th Legislative District, said Wednesday that she is not allowed to endorse any candidates in the general election because of her job.
Ahern makes lunch plans with O’Quinn
Ahern makes lunch plans with O’Quinn
Primary election creates odd bedfellows
When he announced his candidacy for Spokane County prosecutor, Dave Stevens called the incumbent, Steve Tucker, an “absent administrator.” But after coming in fourth in a six-way primary, Stevens said this week he will endorse Tucker for prosecutor in the November election.
O’Quinn finish triggers hunches, but map telling
Every campaign worth a darn leaves a losing candidate’s supporters with some hard feelings, nagging questions and what ifs. So Shelly O’Quinn’s third-place finish in a 6th Legislative District House race understandably vexes some folks who believe she has great potential to be a rising GOP star. As they ponder why she lost, some apparently have a theory that Democratic perfidy helped do her in.
Shenanigans in the 6th? Numbers suggest no
Shenanigans in the 6th? Numbers suggest no
O’Quinn not saying if she will back Ahern
O’Quinn not saying if she will back Ahern
Election roundup: Murray, Rossi tie on the gloves
Sen. Patty Murray will face Dino Rossi in the November general election, continuing the fight for a U.S. Senate seat that started even before the Republican former legislator got into the race in May. With hundreds of thousands of ballots still to count, Murray was pulling down the most votes Tuesday night in the state’s top-two primary, and Rossi was a somewhat distant second, but far ahead of tea party favorite Clint Didier, a former NFL player turned Eltopia farmer. Bellingham businessman Paul Akers ran a distant fourth.
Ahern and Driscoll - police ombudsman, global warming, abortion
6th Legislative District incumbent John Driscoll and challenger John Ahern discuss police ombudsman rules, global warming and their stances on abortion in separate interviews.