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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Michael Cathcart

A candidate for Spokane City Council, northeast district, City of Spokane in the 2019 Washington General Election, Nov. 5

Age: 38

City: Spokane, Washington

Education: Went to University High School. Graduated from Montana State University with a bachelor's degree in motion picture arts. 

Political experience: Elected to the the Spokane City Council in 2019, and currently serves as the Spokane City Council president pro tem. Ran unsuccessfully for Spokane County commissioner in 2022. Serves as Spokane’s representative to the Regional Broadlinc Public Development Authority, chair of the Public Safety Committee, chair of the Northeast Public Development Authority, chair of the police and fire pension boards, vice-chair of the Finance Committee, and a current member of the Budget Committee, Spokane Police Advisory Committee and Traffic Calming Committee. Formerly served as vice chair of the Spokane City Council Public Infrastructure & Environment Committee, council liaison for the Spokane Park Board, council liaison for the city’s Employees Retirement System, volunteer for the Spokane Lunar New Year Celebration, chair of the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council, member of the city’s In-Fill Housing Steering Committee and a member of the Mayor’s Quality and Affordable Housing Taskforce.

Work experience: Spent five years as executive director of Better Spokane, a pro-business organization. Worked as an aide for former 6th Legislative District Sen. Michael Baumgartner. Former government affairs director for the Spokane Home Builders Association. 

Family: Married to Vina (Tran) Cathcart. Has a young son.

Political donations: Reported nearly $63,800 as of Oct. 3. Top donors include the Association of Builders and Contractors Political Action Committee, the Build East Political Action Commission, Spokane Realtors, the Spokane Homebuilders Association, manufacturing and engineering firm Pyrotek, and George, Jennifer, Theresa and Ryan Gee of the Gee Automotive Holdings company.

Contact information

Race Results

Candidate Votes Pct
Michael Cathcart 6,444 53.54%
Tim Benn (N) 5,592 46.46%

Details & headlines

Related Coverage

New Councilman Cathcart wants community policing in his district

Mayor Nadine Woodward is moving quickly to identify and open a new downtown police precinct focused on community-oriented law enforcement, with more officers patrolling on foot and bike. New City Councilman Michael Cathcart likes that plan so much he wants to mirror it in northeast Spokane, the district he represents.

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Northeast Spokane has seen several major transportation construction projects in the past few years, including changes to Crestline and Sprague. An even larger one looms with completion of the North Spokane Corridor. City Council candidates Tim Benn and Michael Cathcart offer their views on those projects, as well as whether car tab fees should be reduced.

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At the Oct. 3 Pints and Politics debate, Tim Benn and Michael Cathcart debated city issues related to their race for the District 1 seat on the Spokane City Council.

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