Rocky Treppiedi

A candidate for Spokane School Board position 3, Spokane Public Schools in the 2015 Washington Primary Election, Aug. 4

Age: 73

City: Spokane

Occupation: Administrative law judge

His words: “This is a time where you need experienced folks at the table with the senior staff.”

His Pitch: Said he nearly didn’t run for school board this year but felt that after years of budget and program cutbacks the “Legislature is stepping up to the plate” and providing funding again. That’s an opportunity, he said, he didn’t want to miss. One of his primary concerns is improving communication between the board, district administrators, teachers, parents and students. One possible way of improving communication would be to change the role school counselors play. Instead of only handling discipline issues they could help relay policy changes to students and parents, he said.

Notable Experience: Appointed to the Spokane Public Schools board in 1996. He’s been an attorney in Spokane since 1979. Works as an administrative law judge for the state Office of Administrative Hearings. Served as an assistant city attorney for the City of Spokane for many years until he was forced to leave the position in 2012 by Mayor David Condon’s administration following his handling of the city’s defense against a lawsuit involving the death of Otto Zehm.

Education: Earned bachelor’s degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Earned law degree from Gonzaga Law School.