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Election 2009 Guide

A guide to major races and issues in the Inland Northwest for the November 2009 election.

  • Referendum 71

    This bill would expand the rights, responsibilities, and obligations accorded state-registered same-sex and senior domestic partners to be equivalent to those of married spouses, except that a domestic partnership is not a marriage.

  • Initiative 1033

    This measure would limit growth of certain state, county and city revenue to annual inflation and population growth, not including voter-approved revenue increases. Revenue collected above the limit would reduce property tax levies.

  • Proposition 4

    Spokane voters will weigh in on Envision Spokane’s proposed community bill of rights

  • Spokane Valley City Council races

    Incumbent Ian Robertson has three challengers: Dean Grafos, Ed Pace and Ed Foote. Incumbent Diana Wilhite is challenged by Brenda Grassel, while state Sen. Bob McCaslin is running against Mayor Rich Munson.

  • Spokane City Council races

    Northwest district: Incumbent Nancy McLaughlin faces Karen Kearney. Northeast district: Mike Allen and Amber Waldref square off. South district: Incumbent Mike Allen faces Jon Snyder

  • Spokane Municipal Court

    Incumbent Judge Tracy Staab faces a challenge from Bryan Whitaker, a criminal and family law attorney

  • Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls races

    Incumbent mayors Sandi Bloem, of Coeur d’Alene, and Clay Larkin, of Post Falls, face challengers, as do city council members in the two cities.

  • Kootenai County Jail measures

    Whether bonds should be issued for $57 million to be repaid over 10 years to improve the jail, and if the county should raise the sales tax by a half-cent for 10 years to fund property tax relief and the jail.

  • East Valley School Board

    Four candidates are running for the seat being vacated by June Sine, and two incumbents each face a challenger.

  • Spokane School Board

    The races for two seats pit incumbet Jeff Bierman against Heidi Olson and incumbent Rocky Treppiedi against Laura Carder.

  • 9th Legislative District

    Republicans Susan Fagan and Pat Hailey square off in a race for the Washington state House of Representatives.

  • Other races

    Covering the West Plains, Liberty Lake and smaller cities

  • Endorsements

    See which candidates and measures won the endorsement of The Spokesman-Review’s editorial board.