Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ben Stuckart

A candidate for Council President, City of Spokane in the 2015 Nov. 3 Washington General Election

Party: No party

Age: 52

City: Spokane, WA

Why running: “I’ve seen a lot of great things happen, I also see a lot of challenges. I want to continue working for the citizens of Spokane,” Stuckart said. “I think I’ve been very effective as a council president and we’ve done a lot of great programs, but I want to see some of them to the finish.”

His pitch: Stuckart said he believes he’s the best candidate to address the city’s housing crisis, which he believes is the root of the homelessness issue.

He also points to his accomplishments as the city’s legislative leader for nearly eight years and the city’s continued economic growth.

Political experience: Served two terms as City Council president.

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 (N) 19,643 63.63%
John Ahern 11,227 36.37%

Details & headlines

Related Coverage

Spokane forming incentive program for developers

Seeking to quell any more criticism over the handling of city money going toward the Davenport Grand Hotel, Spokane Mayor David Condon and City Council President Ben Stuckart announced Monday the creation of a program that would offer city incentives to developers in a “uniform and transparent way.” Condon noted that discussion for such a program has been happening at the city for a couple of years, but the issue came to the fore when the City Council pushed back against Condon’s informal agreement in 2013 offering Walt Worthy up to $2 million for environmental cleanup at his new hotel. Earlier this year, Worthy asked for $318,000 for pollution mitigation.

City Council will discuss River Park Square expansion plan

A plan that would effectively expand River Park Square needs more than brick and mortar. It needs city property. Centennial Real Estate Investments, a sister company of River Park Square, announced earlier this year that it hopes to tear down a building it owns adjacent to River Park Square to build a new structure that would house Urban Outfitters. The plan calls for the city to vacate 17 feet of city right-of-way along Wall Street to allow for a larger store.

Spokane City Council wants people to stop saying “Bridge to Hookerville”

The decision came during the weekly open forum portion of Monday’s council meeting after civic gadfly George McGrath used the term — again — to describe the planned pedestrian bridge spanning a wide rail corridor to link the north and south ends of the growing University District. The southern side of the district includes a stretch of East Sprag

Spokane City Council approves buying land for bridge

Supporters call it iconic and necessary, detractors use terms unfit for print, but the University District bicycle and pedestrian bridge inched closer to construction Monday as the Spokane City Council approved spending nearly $1.7 million to purchase 20 parcels of land. With the land acquisition, city and university district officials now wait for the state Legislature to make a decision on the final $8.8 million needed to build a 120-foot-tall cable-stayed arch bridge.

City Council creates panel to craft paid sick leave legislation

Requiring employers in Spokane to provide workers paid sick leave took another step forward this week. The Spokane City Council on Monday approved the formation of a committee comprising health, labor and business representatives to help craft a paid-leave law.

Protesters call for $15 minimum wage

Marchers took to the streets of the nation’s cities Wednesday evening in support of a $15 an hour minimum wage, following a similar if much smaller rally in Spokane earlier in the day. About 25 people gathered outside of the Fred Meyer store in the East Central Neighborhood of Spokane at 9 a.m. The rally lasted just a few minutes before demonstrators boarded a Seattle-bound bus, where people from around the state gathered for a larger protest.

Condon pushes for vote on salary

The issue of how much Spokane’s top elected official should be paid was revived Monday by Mayor David Condon, who challenged the City Council to “look to solutions rather than just the problem.” Condon called on the City Council to put a measure on the “next available ballot” asking voters to approve a plan to have the city’s Salary Review Commission set the mayor’s pay. The commission currently determines compensation for City Council members and Municipal Court judges.

Spokane City Council hires Brian McClatchey as legal adviser

An ally of Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart has been chosen to replace city attorney Mike Piccolo as the council’s legal adviser, a move designed to assert the council’s independence from Mayor David Condon’s administration. Brian McClatchey, a local attorney with ties to regional tribes and experience on the city’s Plan Commission, was picked by a unanimous vote of council members Thursday afternoon.

Sen. Maria Cantwell promotes oil train safety bill

With trains rumbling on the BNSF viaduct behind her and flanked by uniformed Spokane firefighters, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, called for greater federal oversight and stricter regulations for the nation’s railways carrying crude oil. Cantwell – who was joined by Spokane Mayor David Condon, Council President Ben Stuckart, Fire Chief Bobby Williams and Spokane Valley Deputy Chief of Operations Andy Hail – stood in front of Spokane Fire Station No. 4 and said Spokane had a particular interest in oil train safety but was not unique in its concern.

Spokane City Council puts hold on cell tower construction

No new cell towers will be built in Spokane until the “form, fit, function and placement” of the towers is defined by the City Council, which put a six-month moratorium on new towers despite warnings from the city’s legal department of a potential lawsuit. The moratorium, put forth by Councilman Mike Allen and unanimously approved by the council Monday night, also puts a hold on any permits that have been with the city for up to six months.