Election Center
Confusing affirmative action initiative a product of long back-and-forth about best way to afford opportunity
If you signed petitions this spring to put Referendum 88 on the November election lot because you oppose affirmative action laws, should you mark it “Approved” or “Rejected” on your ballot? We explain.
Gov. Jay Inslee endorses Ben Stuckart, while Nadine Woodward bolsters support among business, law enforcement groups
A range of groups, elected officials and defeated candidates are lining up behind the two candidates running for mayor of Spokane.
Spin Control: Competition to be the 51st star in the American flag
For a brief moment, it seemed like U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib had something in common with state Rep. Matt Shea.
Suit contends affirmative action campaigners didn’t pay companies that gathered signatures to get initiative passed
When the campaign to change Washington’s affirmative action laws turned in thousands of petitions to send the initiative to the Legislature, sponsors bragged that they had a record number of signatures for such an effort. But they didn’t mention that those signatures hadn’t been paid for.
Shawn Vestal: Realtors and other rich interests are pouring money into funds to back Nadine Woodward and other Spokane candidates
As special-interest money pours into local elections, do donors with $50 to contribute deserve 100 or even 1,000 times less free speech than the deep pockets? What about people without even that?
Peetz v. Rasmussen: Spokane Valley City Council candidates differ in identifying city’s issues, solutions
Spokane Valley Councilwoman Brandi Peetz and challenger Michelle Rasmussen both hope to focus on public safety and a regional solution to homelessness if they win a four-year term on City Council in November, but they differ on much else, including how to pay for infrastructure improvements and whether the city should consider adopting equity and diversity policies.
Medical Lake School Board candidates highlight perspectives on military, special needs students
Incumbent Medical Lake school board member Felicia Jensen said she understands the concerns of military families as a retired U.S. Air Force officer and can gauge how well the school district is preparing students for college through her job at Eastern Washington University. Challenger Laura Parsons, a Medical Lake City Council member, said her perspective comes from helping to manage the city budget and raising children who have special needs.
Cheney school board candidates Swenson, Johns disagree on tax proposals
Incumbent board member Mitch Swenson said the school district needs the two-year capital property levy of 50 cents per $1,000 on November’s ballot to acquire land for future schools and upgrade technology in schools. Challenger Bill Johns said he believes the capital levy is a result of excessive teacher pay increases causing the district to dip into reserve funding.
Deer Park City Council candidate supports direction of current government
Caleb Stapp faces Heather Newsom in the Nov. 5 election for position 4, currently held by retiring Councilman Don Stevens.
Ethics complaint targets Spokane Councilwoman Karen Stratton’s endorsement of Pasco marijuana business
The complaint filed Friday alleges Stratton violated several portions of the city’s ethical code prohibiting city officials from using public resources to further their own financial interests. The councilwoman said the timing of the complaint, after a letter she wrote last summer had been shared publicly in conservative circles online, indicates it is politically motivated and that she hasn’t benefited financially from the action.
Safety and security a key topic in Spokane School Board elections
All six remaining Spokane School Board candidates agree that the question of improving security is more complicated than the black-and-white question of whether the district should arm its campus resource officers or contract with law enforcement for similar services.
Northeast Spokane guaranteed a conservative councilman, so Benn, Cathcart highlight experience
Preview of the city council race between Michael Cathcart and Tim Benn in the northeast.
Pair cited for campaign sign theft in Spokane Valley after numerous candidates report vandalism
Allegations that political signs in Spokane Valley have been stolen and damaged have flown back and forth this election season, and now two men have been cited for doing so.
Incumbent Cragun, challenger Phillips face off for Deer Park City Council seat
Longtime Deer Park City Councilwoman Dee Cragun says her experience will help finish important projects and mentor new members. Her opponent in November’s election, Carla Phillips, argues it’s time for a new voice. Cragun served on the city’s planning commission before being appointed to the City Council to fill a vacant seat in 1998. She’s been on the council ever since with the exception of one year when she lost an election by 32 votes but then ran for another seat the following year and won.
Longtime Liberty Lake mayor faces city councilman in re-election race as town continues to grow
Mayor Steve Peterson said Liberty Lake needs to continue to think big about its services and offerings to the population, which is expected to grow more than 60% over the next two decades. City Councilman Shane Brickner said Liberty Lake would do well to create more long-term, detailed plans about how it will deal with that boom.
Cheney school board candidates representing Airway Heights tout elected experience, say district needs more schools
Both incumbent Cheney School Board member Henry Browne and challenger James “Sonny” Weathers are pointing to their experience as elected officials as reasons to vote for them and think the school district needs to build more schools to address growth in enrollment.
Spokane mayor, city council president hopefuls debate homeless issues at library forum
The candidates for mayor and city council president debated the city’s approach to homelessness at a forum at the Spokane Public Library on Thursday.
Debate over city land among issues in Millwood City Council race
Longtime area resident Kate McLachlan is facing off against newcomer Ed Mack in the race for a Millwood City Council seat in November. McLachlan, who works as an administrative law judge, has lived in Millwood for the past three years but grew up in Spokane. She was appointed to the Millwood City Council to fill a vacant seat in early 2018.
Ties to marijuana businesses are disqualifying bankruptcy filers, including City Councilwoman Karen Stratton
The U.S. Trustee Program, responsible for policing the federal courts’ bankruptcy proceedings, is weeding out cases involving people or firms with ties to state-sanctioned marijuana businesses. Earlier this summer, that included Karen Stratton and her husband, Chris Wright, despite the fact that the majority of their debts were not wrapped up in the family-owned farm they’ve helped operate since 2014.
Developers offer mixed views on video’s proposed ‘cure’ for Spokane
Local developers offer their perspectives on the issues raised in “Curing Spokane,” a video released Thursday that discusses downtown crime, public safety and homelessness.
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