Prosecutor
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Larry Haskell (R) | 87,515 | 59.69% |
| Breean L. Beggs (D) | 59,108 | 40.31% |
* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.
About The Race
Spokane County will have its first new prosecutor in 16 years when the ballots are tallied in November. Competing for the job are Larry Haskell, a deputy prosecutor with the office, and Breean Beggs, a private-practice attorney specializing in civil rights cases. Republican Haskell touts his 16 years of experience in the prosecutor’s office trying criminal cases and endorsements from area law enforcement. Democrat Beggs says he’ll institute more “Smart Justice” reforms in the county, seeking further use of alternative case resolution to ease overcrowding at the jail and seek outside review of potential criminal cases involving law enforcement. The county prosecuting attorney oversees all litigation involving the county, including both criminal and civil cases. Four-year term. Position pays $148,176.50 a year.
The Candidates
Larry Haskell
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 70
- City:
- Spokane, Washington
Education: Graduated from O'Day High School in Seattle in 1972. Earned an associate degree from Seattle Central Community College in 1976, a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Washington in 1979 and a law degree from Seattle University in 1997.
Political experience: Appointed to Airway Heights City Council in 1999 and elected in 2002. Left the council for military service then re-elected from 2005 to 2010. Served on Cheney School Board from 2007 to 2012. Elected Spokane County prosecutor in 2014 and 2018.
Work experience: Active duty in the United States Air Force from 1972 to 1976 and commissioned officer and pilot starting in 1979. Member of the Air National Guard from 1998 to 2002. Returned to active duty from 2002-2005, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Worked as a Spokane County deputy prosecutor from 1998 until 2012. Worked as special assistant U.S. Attorney from 2012-2013. Elected Spokane County prosecutor in 2014 and 2018.
Family: Married to Lesley Haskell. Has five children, three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Fundraising: Raised $34,718 as of July 8, including contributions from Spokane County deputy prosecutors John Grasso, Dale Nagy, Larry Steinmetz and Preston McCollam, local attorney Rob Cossey, and Spokane Valley council members Arne Woodward and Rod Higgins.
Breean L. Beggs
- Party:
- Democrat
- Age:
- 61
- City:
- Spokane, WA
Why he’s running: Beggs is running for a second term amid what he believes is a wave of momentum behind the city. “Spokane is, right now, what I call ‘in play.’ It can really take the next step, and the momentum is strong. I’m someone who brings people together, especially from opposing viewpoints. I have enough knowledge with 3 three and a half years on the council to really facilitate moving forward together.”
His pitch: In his three-plus years on the City Council, Beggs believes he has established himself as a member who brings people together from opposing viewpoints and finds compromise. Beggs has been deployed to find common ground in the city’s approach to emergency communications.
Education: Graduated from Timberline High School in Lacey, Washington. Earned a bachelor’s degree from Whitworth University in 1985 and a law degree from University of Washington School of Law in 1991.
Political experience: Beggs was first nominated to fill a vacancy on the City Council in 2016. He won election to that same seat in 2017. He lost the race for Spokane County prosecutor in 2014.
Work experience: Beggs, an attorney, worked as the director of the Center for Justice from 2004 to 2010. He represented the family of Otto Zehm in a lawsuit against the city. Works as a private practice attorney in Spokane with Paukert & Troppmann PLLC.
Family: Married. Has three children.
Complete Coverage
No charges for deputy in young cyclist’s fatal crash
Three separate investigations into the death of a 15-year-old bicyclist last May in Spokane Valley have determined that a speeding patrol car driven by a sheriff’s deputy did not strike the teen as preliminary reports suggested, the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office announced Friday. Instead, investigators found that Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Bodman braked and swerved to the right, missing West Valley High School student Ryan Holyk – by as little as one foot – as Holyk and a friend crossed Sprague Avenue on bicycles about 10:30 p.m. May 23.
Deputy returns fire and shoots man, incident likely captured by officer body camera
A Spokane County Sheriff’s deputy shot a man tonight after the man fired at him, sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Mark Gregory said.
Investigation shows deputy did not strike teenage bicyclist who died
Three separate investigations into a May bicycling fatality have determined that the patrol car driven by Spokane County sheriff’s Deputy Joe Bodman did not strike 15-year-old bicyclist Ryan Holyk, according to the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office.
Breean Beggs picked to represent ombudsman commission
A local attorney who has pushed city leaders for stronger police oversight has been selected to represent Spokane’s new ombudsman commission. Breean Beggs was selected over a former mayor and another candidate.
Former Mayor Hession among finalists for ombudsman attorney
Former Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession is among three finalists under consideration to serve as the Spokane police ombudsman commission’s attorney. Hession was an early advocate to create a police ombudsman position during his two years as Spokane mayor from 2005 to 2007. He told commissioners that he’s well-equipped to offer legal advice because of his past experience, and stressed the importance of believing in the commission’s mission of providing oversight.
Spokane County prosecutor ends bad-check partnership
Spokane County’s new prosecutor will briefly end a long-standing and controversial deal with a Missouri company that uses the office’s letterhead to target bad-check writers. But Prosecutor-elect Larry Haskell said he believes there’s value in the program and he wants to continue the partnership once he has staff in place to address ethical concerns. The county’s contract with the company, BounceBack Inc., will expire next month.
Haskell, Beggs share mixed view of Tucker
Candidates for Spokane County prosecutor in a debate this week gave current prosecutor Steve Tucker a mixed report card on his charging decisions and professional conduct in several recent, high-profile cases. Throughout their campaigns and in the debate, both have criticized Tucker for his low public profile and failing to fully explain his decisions, some of which they questioned. On at least one case, however, the two agreed the 16-year officeholder got it right.
County agrees to $350,000 settlement with jail inmates
More than 1,000 people jailed in Spokane County in the past six years for failing to pay court-ordered fines will benefit from a class-action lawsuit that prompted the jail to change policy. The settlement, valued at about $350,000, applies to all those booked into the jail for what the courts call legal financial obligations – fees, fines and court-ordered restitution that haven’t been paid.
Q&A with prosecutor candidates Haskell, Beggs
Spokane County prosecuting attorney candidates were allowed 50 words to respond to each of five questions. Their responses are listed in the order the candidates appear on the ballot. Why are you running for county prosecutor?
Prosecutor candidates promise fresh approach to criminal justice
Both candidates for Spokane County prosecutor promised change as they debated Thursday at a downtown candidate forum. The extent of those changes, and the person most qualified to make them, divided the two men vying to succeed Steve Tucker, who has held the office since 1998. Private-practice attorney and former Center for Justice Director Breean Beggs touted his work with the Smart Justice campaign, which led to the lengthy “blueprint” for criminal justice reform that has been adopted in principle by city and county officials.
Republican incumbents carry the day in local races
A slate of inconsequential primaries delivered results Tuesday night as both candidates in a number of two-person races moved forward to November’s general election with a better idea of where their support lies. It was a night for incumbents in the Republican Party as state Sen. Michael Baumgartner, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich and state Rep. Matt Shea all took commanding leads of at least 10 percentage points over their opponents. In the largest spread, Knezovich walloped his challenger, Doug Orr, besting him by 33,000 votes of just 74,000 cast in early returns.
Breean Beggs, Larry Haskell tout skills at prosecutor debate
The two men vying to replace longtime Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney Steve Tucker touted competing advantages at a debate downtown Wednesday night. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Larry Haskell, running for the GOP, said his 16 years of experience in the office and assisting federal prosecutors should make him a clear favorite over his opponent. Democratic candidate Breean Beggs, a private practice civil attorney who led the Center for Justice for several years, said he would bring fresh ideas to the office that would upend the status quo.
Washington Senate hearing considers crime bills
OLYMPIA – The state could have new ways to crack down on some of Spokane’s biggest crime problems like car theft and repeat burglars, as well as take early aim at the “knockout” assault fad through a trio of bills considered by a Senate panel Wednesday. At times, the Senate Law and Justice Committee hearing seemed to come straight from the Spokane police blotter, with bills sponsored by Chairman Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, and endorsed by Spokane law enforcement officials to fight local problems.