Mary Verner
A candidate for Spokane Mayor, City of Spokane in the 2011 Washington General Election
Party: Democratic
Age: 67
City: Spokane, WA
Education: Graduated from Houston Academy in Dothan, Alabama, in 1973. Earned bachelor's degree in medical anthropology from Davidson College in 1988, master's degree in environmental studies from Yale University in 1992 and law degree from Gonzaga University in 1992.
Political experience: Appointed Deputy for Wildfire & Administration at Washington Department of Natural Resources in 2013 and continues in that role. Served as the mayor of Spokane from 2007-2011 and Spokane city councilwoman from 2004 to 2007. Member and past chairwoman of City of DuPont Tree Board and the DuPont Heirloom Orchard Committee. Member of the Board of National Institute of Building Sciences.
Work experience: Interim CEO, Spokane Tribe Enterprises from 2012 until 2013. Executive Director of the Upper Columbia United Tribes from 2002-2007. Served as director of natural resources for the Spokane Tribe of Indians for about 10 years. Adjunct professor at Whitworth University
Family: Single. Grown daughter and 18-year-old son. Two grandchildren.
Contact information
More about Mary Verner
-
Verner on the issues, Q&A for 2011 mayoral race
Mary Verner gives her positions on taxes, libraries, streets and other issues facing the city in The Spokesman-Review's Spokane City Council candidate questionnaire.
Race Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| David Condon | 30,768 | 52.36% |
| Mary Verner (D) | 27,991 | 47.64% |
Related Coverage
Two enter mayoral race
Spokane voters gained two more choices for mayor on Wednesday, and one of them already tops the list for fundraising. David Condon, former district director for U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and former debt collector Robert Kroboth filed to run in the Aug. 16 primary for mayor. They join incumbent Mary Verner; Mike Noder, who co-owns a local demolition business; and perennial political candidate Barbara Lampert.
Condon’s a candidate
None
Doug Clark: Shogan clears his throat for charity, again
Say what you will about City Council President Joe Shogan. He’s a bit too opinionated, perhaps. He doesn’t suffer fools well and can be a bit quick to pop his cork.
Condon’s criticism of public salaries could backfire
Spokane mayoral hopeful David Condon has made government salaries an early issue of his campaign, targeting specifically city employees earning more than $100,000 a year. But until taking a leave of absence to run for mayor, Condon himself earned nearly $127,000 annually as a Spokane-based federal employee serving as district director for Republican U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Additionally, he has yet to decide whether he would follow incumbent Mary Verner’s lead in capping the mayor’s annual salary to about $100,000 or take the more than $170,000 a year allocated for the job.
City Hall to add security guard
Spokane City Hall will be watched by at least one security guard 11 hours a day starting next month. The decision, officials say, is the result of a few incidents in recent years when employees felt threatened by visitors, including one involving a man who slammed a hatchet down on its side during an outburst in a meeting with the city’s police ombudsman.
Verner calls for hiring more police officers
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner ordered the hiring of at least six new police officers to fill vacant positions within the department and called for adding more officers next year. The move comes after Verner, facing a contested bid for re-election this year, sent two plans to City Council members last week that would balance next year’s municipal budget without raising taxes and provide enough money to reverse recent cutbacks to the police force.