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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Mary Verner

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

Party: Democratic

Age: 70

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.

Candidate Channels

Race Results

Candidate Votes Pct
David Condon 30,768 52.36%
Mary Verner (D) 27,991 47.64%

Details & headlines

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Landscape architect named to Park Board

A landscape architect is the newest member of the Spokane Park Board. The Spokane City Council on Monday unanimously approved Mayor Mary Verner’s appointment of Ken Van Voorhis to the board until February 2012.

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Spokane would have to pay a $5,000 fine and upgrade its regional trash incinerator under a proposed deal being considered by Mayor Mary Verner. The settlement, proposed by the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency late last month, is in response to a violation related to mercury pollution in June at the Waste-to-Energy Plant.

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Friends, family remember King Cole

Family, friends and Spokane civic leaders Thursday celebrated Expo ’74 President King Cole for giving everything he had to his family and adopted city. Cole died Sunday at age 88. His life was commemorated in a funeral service at Our Lady of Fatima with Bishop Blase Cupich officiating.

2011 Spokane budget limits layoffs

What started out as 71 city of Spokane layoffs has dwindled to only a couple. In September, Mayor Mary Verner announced that 71 employees would lose their job the day after Christmas to deal with the city’s $13.6 million budget shortfall.

Mayor to sign Spokane budget

Spokane Mayor Mary Verner said Tuesday that she will sign the 2011 budget and utility rate increases approved by the City Council this week. Verner opposed some of the changes the council made to her approved budget, including the elimination of a deputy fire chief position. The council also set water rates lower and wastewater rates higher than Verner proposed.

City flags to fly at half-staff for Cole

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Flags lowered in honor of Cole

Spokane Mayor Mary Verner has ordered flags on city-owned buildings to be flown at half-staff on Thursday in honor of King Cole, president of Expo ’74. Cole died Sunday at the age of 88.

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Deputy fire chief cut stirs furor

The Spokane City Council’s decision last week to cut a deputy fire chief position has angered administrators and Mayor Mary Verner. “It was not discussed with me. It was not discussed with the chief. It was completely unexpected,” Verner said. “What has been created here is an impossibility for getting the job done.”