Breean L. Beggs
A candidate for Spokane City Council president, City of Spokane in the 2019 Washington General Election, Nov. 5
Party: No party
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.
Contact information
Race Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Breean L. Beggs (N) | 33,586 | 50.72% |
| Cindy Wendle (N) | 32,629 | 49.28% |
Related Coverage
Beggs’ first job as council president is to fill his seat on council
By winning his race for Spokane Council president, Breean Beggs will vacate his seat representing the South Hill district.
Shawn Vestal: Beggs will play crucial role after supposed change election idles
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As Beggs takes slim lead, City Council president candidates chase signatures
Entering the weekend separated by only 145 votes, the Wendle and Beggs campaigns have had teams canvassing the city to track down voters whose ballots were initially rejected by election officials and to ensure their votes are counted.
Spokane council president race now even tighter, recount possible; disputed council races still close
The already tight race for Spokane City Council president narrowed even further on Friday and could be heading toward an automatic recount. The race between Councilwoman Karen Stratton and challenger Andy Rathbun to represent District 3 on the Spokane City Council also remained close.
Races for Spokane council, council president narrow
The gap between candidates for Spokane City Council president was cut by more than half after additional ballots were counted on Thursday, indicating the race will go down to the wire.
Tight Spokane races stay that way after more votes are counted, remain too close to call
County elections officials offered an updated tally of the votes on Wednesday that was good news for those held a lead after the initial results rolled in on Tuesday.
City Council president candidates Breean Beggs and Cindy Wendle on the record, on the issues
The Spokesman-Review asked the candidates for Spokane City Council president a series of questions about city policy and priorities in an attempt to glean further insight into their priorities and positions.
Ads for Beggs, Wendle offer different take on crime
A new ad for Cindy Wendle laments the sharp rise in drug-related crime in downtown Spokane. But a new ad for her opponent, Breean Beggs, celebrates a decrease in crime of more than 15% citywide. They’re both right.
As campaign ad shows Baltimore homeless camp, Cindy Wendle says she doesn’t recognize Spokane
In a 30-second spot released this week by a candidate for Spokane City Council president, a brief scene shows a row of tents shaking in the wind. But the footage appears to have been taken in Baltimore, not Spokane.
Spokane’s response to homelessness dominates mayoral, city council president debate Tuesday night
Whether it was Nadine Woodward and Ben Stuckart for mayor, or Breean Beggs and Cindy Wendle for City Council president, candidates for public office laid out different plans for addressing Spokane’s population living on the streets at a Pints and Politics debate downtown Tuesday.