Amber Waldref
A candidate for Spokane County Commissioner, District 2, Spokane County in the 2022 Washington Primary Election, Aug. 2
Party: Democratic
Age: 46
City: Spokane, Washington
Education: Went to Gonzaga Preparatory School. Majored in sociology and English at Georgetown University. Has a master's degree in environment and community from Antioch University Seattle.
Political experience: Served on Spokane City Council from 2010-2017. Served as a Democratic precinct committee officer. Has been appointed to multiple boards, including the Spokane Housing Authority Board and the Washington State Governor’s 2020 Census Committee.
Work experience: Director of The Zone, a northeast Spokane initiative focused on improving education and battling poverty. Worked with Urbanova, a public-private partnership based in the University District that strives to improve public services. Former development director of The Lands Council, a conservation organization. Former field director of Heart of America Northwest, where she focused on environmental cleanup of the Hanford nuclear site. Helped create Priority Spokane.
Family: Married to Tom Flanagan. Has two children. Sister is Vanessa Waldref, the U.S. Attorney for Eastern Washington.
Fundraising: Has raised more than $100,000 as of Sept. 27. Prominent donors include numerous labor unions, Washington State Department of Commerce Director Lisa Brown, the Washington State Democratic Central Committee, Spokane City Council President Breean Beggs, Spokane City Council members Betsy Wilkerson, Lori Kinnear and Zack Zappone, former Spokane City Councilwoman Candace Mumm, former Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart, state Sen. Andy Billig, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, the Spokane Firefighters Union Political Action Committee and the Win With Women Political Action Committee.
Contact information
Race Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Amber Waldref (D) | 11,669 | 55.18% |
| Michael Cathcart (R) | 6,971 | 32.96% |
| Bob Apple (G) | 2,018 | 9.54% |
| Glen R. Stockwell (G) | 491 | 2.32% |
Related Coverage
KSPS debate: Cathcart and Waldref
KSPS hosted this debate between former Spokane City Councilwoman Amber Waldref, a Democrat, and Spokane City Councilman Michael Cathcart, a Republican, for the county commission seat representing District 2. Spokesman-Review reporter Colin Tiernan and Spokane Public Radio reporter Rebecca White were panelists for the event.
Amber Waldref and Michael Cathcart battle it out for Spokane County Commission District 2
A former city councilwoman and an incumbent city councilman both hope to represent east Spokane on the Spokane County Commission.
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For those who liking waiting to the last minute to cast their ballots, here’s a look at the candidate field.
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Two former and one current Spokane City Council member are vying for Spokane County Commission District 2, which covers east Spokane.
Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich’s video address to county commission candidate draws complaint
Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich’s retort to a Spokane County commission candidate in a video recorded at the courthouse and posted to the office’s Facebook page is being investigated by state election officials as a potential misuse of taxpayer resources. Knezovich said the video is part of a public information campaign intended to give citizens the ability to question leaders he charged with working against public safety efforts of his office.
Spokane City Councilman Michael Cathcart is running for county commissioner
Cathcart becomes the second candidate for the east Spokane commissioner district, joining Democrat and former Spokane City Councilwoman Amber Waldref.