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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ben Stuckart

A candidate for City Council President, City of Spokane in the 2011 Washington General Election

Party: Democratic

Age: 53

City: Spokane, Washington

Political experience: Served two terms as City Council president. Lost race for Spokane mayor in 2019.

Work experience: Former executive director of Communities in Schools of Spokane County. Former regional manager at TicketsWest, 2001 to 2007. Spokesman for the 2010 campaign in support of the Children’s Investment Fund initiative, which voters rejected.

Education: Graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1990. Earned bachelor’s degree in political science from Gonzaga University in 2000 and master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University in 2006.

Family: Married. Has no children.

Contact information

Race Results

Candidate Votes Pct
Ben Stuckart (D) 29,625 53.24%
Dennis Hession 26,024 46.76%

Details & headlines

Related Coverage

Candidates prepare for results

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Many candidates, issues familiar from past ballots

Washington voters checking their ballots this weekend for the first time may feel a sense of déjà vu. They voted last year on proposals to get the state out of the liquor business, and in 2008 to require more training for home health care workers. And while it isn’t immediately clear from the ballot language, the initiative on road and bridge tolls resurrects some of last year’s initiative requiring supermajorities in the Legislature.

Hession vs. Stuckart, Tab Tax

Former Mayor Dennis Hession and Ben Stuckart, director of Communities in Schools of Spokane County, debate the $20 annual vehicle tab tax that was approved earlier this year. Hession and Stuckart are running for Spokane City Council president.

Hession vs. Stuckart, Public Comment

Former Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession and Ben Stuckart, director of Communities in Schools of Spokane County, explain how they would run meetings differently than Council President Joe Shogan if they are elected council president.

Hession vs. Stuckart, Introduction

Former Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession and Ben Stuckart, director of Communities in Schools of Spokane County, debate why they feel they are the best candidates to be the next Spokane City Council president.

Hession-Stuckart race is a contrast in styles

Primary election voters in Spokane didn’t seem eager for a change. They gave incumbent Mayor Mary Verner a big victory over her opponents and former Mayor Dennis Hession a first-place win for City Council president as they head to November.

Nicks set to retire as chief steps down

The Spokane Police Department’s top two officers are on their way out, leaving city officials to find new leadership as they struggle with the continuing legal fallout surrounding the death of Otto Zehm. Assistant Chief Jim Nicks announced Tuesday his upcoming retirement will coincide with the previously announced departure of Chief Anne Kirkpatrick.

Corker endorses Stuckart

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Spin Control: Council president race in North Side voters’ hands

The race for Spokane City Council president would appear to be a tossup, particularly in many north Spokane precincts where a clear favorite has yet to emerge. No duh, you might say, considering that winner Dennis Hession got only slightly more than a third of the vote in a four-person field.