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Three first-time candidates vie for Airway Heights City Council seat
The Airway Heights position 7 council race is full of fresh faces.
Brandi Peetz stresses public safety; challengers focused on leaner government in race for Spokane Valley City Council
While Spokane Valley City Councilwoman Brandi Peetz runs for re-election with a focus on improving public safety and community outreach, two other candidates vying for the nonpartisan position say they can help the city remain fiscally conservative.
Former Woodward campaign manager hints at reasons for her departure in blog post
The former campaign manager for mayoral candidate Nadine Woodward said she was asked “to act contrary to (her) values” in a blog post on Monday.
Election preview: Crowded 7-member field of candidates seeks to replace Mike Fagan on Spokane City Council
The open seat to represent northeast Spokane on the City Council has drawn multiple challengers, including seasoned political players and first-time candidates. They all agree, however, that their district has been overlooked at City Hall for dollars to support infrastructure and industry.
Spokane City Council candidates disagree on homelessness, affordable housing
Spokane City Council candidates were divided on how to make Spokane safer and reduce homelessness, with some arguing for mandatory drug treatment and more police, and others saying more housing was the best way to get people off the street.
Control of Spokane Valley City Council a top issue for two of Councilman Arne Woodard’s primary challengers
Two candidates hoping to unseat conservative Spokane Valley City Councilman Arne Woodard say their goal is to shift the balance of power on the council. Former government contract negotiator Al Merkel and accountant Lance Gurel said they more often agree with more moderate members of the council, Brandi Peetz, Ben Wick and Linda Thompson.
Liberty Lake City Council race a debate between experience and fresh ideas
The incumbent in the Liberty Lake City Council race, Cristella Kaminskas, said her two terms give her important experience to make good policy for the growing city. But her opponents in the Aug. 6 primary say its time for change and say its not appropriate for her to serve on the same City Council as her father.
Shawn Vestal: With first mayoral forum finished, Spokane voters deserve more to decide who should lead city
We need a mayoral contest of ideas and philosophies and proposals, one sharpened through debates, forums, interviews and other means to separate the candidates from stage management and sloganeering as possible.
Spokane mayor, council candidates debate homelessness, downtown crime
All five candidates for mayor shared a stage for the first time Tuesday, disagreeing on homelessness, affordable housing and how to improve safety downtown.
Spokane Valley council candidate Al Merkel facing DUI charge after May crash
Spokane Valley City Council Candidate Al Merkel is facing a charge of driving under the influence after he was arrested in May.
Spokane mayoral candidates draw clear ideological lines in first forum on climate change, criminal justice
At a forum Thursday night downtown, four of the five candidates vying for mayor were confronted with multiple questions on the environment, the future of the criminal justice system in Spokane and how to grow wages with the coming of Amazon.
Spokane mayoral campaign pushes community to question, defend safety of downtown library
Spokane police are called much more often to the STA Plaza and other public locations downtown than the library. But a social media conversation started by mayoral candidate Nadine Woodward has led her opponents to weigh the necessity of keeping a uniformed officer at the location, an idea that would cost the city at least three times its current spending on security in the building.
Spin Control: Gov. Inslee still pushing for climate debate
Gov. Jay Inslee still pushing for a presidential debate on climate despite the thumbs down from the Democratic National Committee
Spokane city leaders consider building new criminal justice complex, including jail
More than 50 years after voters decided to combine city and county jails, the city is considering separating city and county criminal justice services again.
Woodward leads in campaign money; Stuckart criticizes ‘push’ poll
Contributions for former television news anchor Nadine Woodward have hit six figures, making her the only mayoral candidate in the crowded field to reach that mark so far. Meanwhile, an opponent, current City Council President Ben Stuckart, says a questionable campaign practice known as a push poll is contacting voters with misinformation. He initially alleged the poll came from the Woodward campaign, but later said it could have originated from an independent group.
Mayoral candidate Nadine Woodward, a former TV journalist, won’t interview with Inlander
Former TV Journalist Nadine Woodward has refused to do phone or in-person interviews with Inlander reporters, according to a piece the alt-weekly published Thursday.
Spokane Public Library investigating after video of fight surfaces in mayoral campaign
The Spokane Public Library is investigating after an unauthorized video of an altercation between a guard and a library patron was posted by a mayoral candidate on social media.
Councilman Mike Fagan, Prosecutor Larry Haskell downplay attendance at Liberty State fundraiser
Spokane City Councilman Mike Fagan pumped his fist while leading his audience in an enthusiastic chant Thursday evening, seemingly offering full-throated support to a conservative secessionist movement that would turn Eastern Washington into a 51st state called Liberty. But on Friday, Fagan, who’s running for council president, said he’s not necessarily a supporter of the movement.
Spin Control: Running for office? Great. Now listen up.
Spin Control reprises its eight rules for running for office for the 2019 crop of candidates.
Newcomers ready to campaign for Spokane school board as three incumbents decline to seek re-election
Three incumbents declined to file for re-election to the Spokane Public Schools board of directors this week, setting the stage for newcomers to help tackle public education policy and budgeting.