Hester Withdraws From Commission Race Former Road Worker Backs Wilkinson In Bid For Gop Nod

Sat., May 13, 2000

By Adam Lynn adaml@spokesman.com

The field of Republicans vying to challenge Democrat John Roskelley for his seat on the Spokane County Commission is down to two.

Retired county road worker Jerry Hester said Friday he is withdrawing from the race and will throw his support to Karl Wilkinson. Bill Sprague also is running for the Republican nomination.

So far, Roskelley is the only Democrat in the race. The filing deadline is in late July.

Hester said he evaluated his campaign finances recently and determined he had little chance to win the primary.

Wilkinson, a former East Valley School Board member and real estate sales manager, has raised more than $33,000 in a little over three months of campaigning.

As of Thursday, Hester had gathered just more than $2,000, nearly half of that his own money.

“I probably overestimated the support I thought I had,” said Hester, who entered the race in January.

Hester said he decided to drop out now to give Wilkinson the best chance to win.

“I didn’t think it would be fair to the other candidates to drag it out,” he said. “It’s best to group behind whoever the front-runner is. I know Karl’s going to defeat Commissioner Roskelley.”

Hester had been running on a probusiness platform that included the easing of land-use regulations. He said Wilkinson’s views and his own are very similar to those of Commissioner Phil Harris, who is in the middle of his second term.

“I think either one of us could work well with Commissioner Harris,” Hester said.

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