2011 Voter Guide: Spokane takes spotlight
Washington races
Voters in this northeastern Spokane County legislative district will decide who should serve the remainder of the late Bob McCaslin’s term in the state Senate. It’s a race between two fiscal and social conservative Republicans, both opposing tax increases and advocating smaller state government. Democrats didn’t field a candidate, so Jeff Baxter and Mike Padden both advanced to the general election ballot without a primary.
Baxter, a Spokane Valley businessman and relative political novice, was appointed to the seat in February by Spokane County commissioners after McCaslin retired because of failing health. Padden, a former state representative and district judge, sought the appointment but was overlooked during a controversial nomination process by 4th District precinct officers.
The hotly contested race splits the GOP, the dominant force in Spokane Valley politics, which is the heart of the legislative district that also includes Liberty Lake, Millwood and Chattaroy. Victory could hinge on whether Democrats decide to back either candidate rather than sitting out.
Senate terms typically are four years but the winner would have to face voters again next year to secure another term. The position pays $42,106 per year, plus some benefits like health care, although Baxter has opted out of state medical coverage.
• Jeff Baxter, 51, owns three businesses connected to the processing of debit and credit card transactions, and served on the Ways and Means, Judiciary and Human Services committees during this year’s regular and special sessions. He raised about $54,000 by the end of September, with Avista, Weyerhaeuser, Wal-Mart and political action committees for builders, farmers, chiropractors, dentists and therapists all giving the maximum of $800.
• Mike Padden , 64, an attorney, served more than 14 years in the House and 12 years on the district bench, then worked with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to improve DUI courts in Northwestern states. He raised almost $48,000 by the end of September, with Duane Alton, Greenstone Management, several relatives and a builders PAC all giving $800.
Incumbent Mary Verner and David Condon, the former district director for U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, beat three long-shot candidates to advance to the general election.
Verner says she has provided steady, collaborative leadership at City Hall that has resulted in union concessions and few declines in services despite facing multimillion-dollar shortfalls each year she has been in office. She notes that under her leadership the city has completed street bond projects on time or ahead of schedule, built a new police evidence building without new taxes, and pushed forward on economic development efforts including projects to boost the University District and neighborhood centers.
Condon argues that Verner has ceded too much control to administrators and that he would negotiate harder with unions and put more focus on core services. He opposes recent sewer and water rate increases and says he would revoke a utility tax that was implemented early in Verner’s tenure. He promises to hire a small-business ombudsman to help business owners open and expand. Condon says Verner “slowed the course of justice” by her attorneys’ management of legal cases stemming from the death of Otto Zehm, a man who died after a police confrontation in 2006.
The winner has the right to be the second highest paid employee in the city, a salary currently around $170,000, plus benefits. Verner has held her salary at $100,000 a year and says she will continue to do so as long as the economy causes budget challenges. Condon has made the same pledge only for his first year in office.
• Mary Verner , 55, mayor of Spokane.
Notable: Appointed to vacancy on Spokane City Council, 2004. Elected to City Council, 2005. Elected Spokane mayor in 2007. Served as executive director of Upper Columbia United Tribes, 2002 to 2007. Director of natural resources for Spokane Indian Tribe, 1992-2001.
• David Condon , 37, former congressional aide.
Notable: Left his position as district director and deputy chief of staff for Republican U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers – a role he’d held since 2005 – to run for mayor. Served in U.S. Army from 1996 through 2005, including as a company commander at a combat support hospital.
The race to lead Spokane City Council is portrayed by the candidates as a choice between needed experience and a fresh perspective.
Former Mayor Dennis Hession was a surprise late entry into the race, but still captured a first-place primary win. Ben Stuckart, who leads a nonprofit dedicated to schools, topped City Councilman Steve Corker and a long-shot candidate to advance.
Stuckart’s priority is to improve the climate for small neighborhood businesses, to promote growth and generate the taxes needed to sustain city services. Hession says one of his top goals is to create a permitting system that gives the city a reputation for being a partner for growth.
Both support the city’s sustainability plan, the continued use of the Waste-to-Energy Plant and asking voters for a new street bond. Among differing views, Hession says if the economy improves, he would be in favor of asking voters if they are interested in paying for a downtown electric bus line. Stuckart says there are more important priorities that need funding first. Hession says red light camera ticket revenue should be used to help balance the budget; Stuckart prefers the money to stay in a fund for traffic safety projects.
The winner will earn $55,000 a year, plus benefits.
• Dennis Hession , 61, attorney and consultant.
Notable: Elected to Spokane City Council, 2001, elected City Council president, 2003. Appointed Spokane mayor, 2005. Former Spokane Park Board member. Director of special projects for Blue Water Technologies, a firm specializing in wastewater treatment.
• Ben Stuckart , 39, community activist.
Notable: Executive director of Communities in Schools of Spokane County. Former regional manager at TicketsWest, 2001 to 2007. Spokane Arts commissioner. Board member of Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.
Voters in Spokane’s Northeast council district have the choice between two longtime community activists to represent them on City Council. The winner will replace Bob Apple, who is being forced out of his seat by term limits.
Mike Fagan, a conservative local talk show host and anti-tax activist, and Donna McKereghan, former member of the state Legislative Ethics Board, beat four other candidates in the primary to advance to the general election.
Fagan is downplaying some positions he’s taken in the past, including concerns about the United Nations’ influence in the city, and says his top priority is balancing the budget without raising taxes and helping to foster job creation. He promises to bring his “bulldog determination” to accomplish goals.
McKereghan promises to foster more open government and to balance the budget without new taxes or fees as well as eliminating inefficiencies in government – without the help of hired consultants.
Fagan opposes the use of red light cameras and the vehicle tab tax to pay for street improvements. McKereghan supports both.
Apple is backing Fagan. Councilwoman Amber Waldref, who also represents the district, has endorsed McKereghan.
The job pays $30,000, plus benefits. Only voters in the district, roughly east of Division, north of Interstate 90, plus most of downtown, will make a pick in the race.
• Mike Fagan, 51, political activist.
Notable: Co-director of Voters Want More Choices, a group led by Tim Eyman that advocates for lower taxes. Served in U.S. Army from 1978 until 1987.Worked as a purchasing officer of a communications company in California from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s. Former president of Bemiss Neighborhood Council. Co-hosts radio show about local politics.
• Donna McKereghan, 58, owns website design company.
Notable: Former accountant, including for about five years in the 1970s at Boise Cascade. Former member of the Washington State Legislative Ethics Board. Former chairwoman of the Logan Neighborhood Council.
Steve Salvatori, a consumer products broker, transitioned quickly from his campaign for Spokane County commissioner last year to compete for the City Council seat held by Steve Corker, who lost his bid for council president in the August primary.
He faces Joy Jones, a newcomer to city politics who runs a nonprofit that assists kids who have a parent in prison.
Salvatori says his top priority is to push the city to help foster jobs by streamlining the permitting process and lessening regulations on business. He criticizes the current City Council for raising fees and utility taxes in a way that he says hurts businesses.
Jones also lists job creation as a priority, but also adds improving police resources so they can better investigate crime and creating stronger police oversight among her top goals.
The winner will earn $30,000 a year, plus benefits. The Northwest district is north of the Spokane River and generally west of Division Street.
• Steve Salvatori , 57, commercial landlord and business owner.
Notable: CEO of Salvatori-Scott, Inc. Owns Spokane Entrepreneurial Center. Ran unsuccessfully as Republican for Spokane County Board of Commissioners last year. Vice chairman of Greater Spokane Incorporated’s Small Business Council. Serves on several boards, including Spokane Public Market Board.
• Joy Jones , 34, program manager.
Notable: Program manager for Mentoring Children of Promise, a youth program run by Goodwill Industries. Serves on the board of Richard Allen Enterprises, which runs the Emmanuel Family Life Center and the Richard Allen Youth Academy.
City Councilman Richard Rush faces former council colleague Mike Allen in his bid for re-election.
Allen criticizes recent increases in utility rates and says city leaders should focus on creating jobs. He says the city should publish “performance measurements” so citizens can better judge City Hall accomplishments.
Rush says his top goal is to push the city to follow already adopted guidelines, such as the Comprehensive Plan and various transportation plans. He also said the council must continue to strive to create a police oversight system that has independent investigative authority.
Rush led the effort to create the city’s new water rate structure, which decreases rates on those who use less and increases rates for users of more. He championed the concept, he said, as a way to bring relief to low and moderate income households.
Allen supports a flatter rate system and says the change will force further increases as customers cut water usage. He says privatization of some services should be considered for efficiency.
Only voters in District 2, which is south of the Spokane River west of Monroe Street, and south of Interstate 90 east of Monroe Street, can make a selection in the race. The job pays $30,000 a year, plus benefits.
• Richard Rush , 59, property manager.
Notable: Elected to Spokane City Council, 2007. Master’s degree from Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, 1986.
• Mike Allen , 44, niche publisher.
Notable: President of Madkat, which publishes the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Home Field Guide, which is distributed at local groceries. Appointed to Spokane City Council in late 2007; lost bid to retain seat in 2009. Former associate athletic director at Eastern Washington University.
City of Spokane Valley
The increasingly contentious battle for four Spokane Valley City Council seats is shaping up to be a referendum on “Positive Change” politics. Several candidates who ran together on a “Positive Change” slate that was pro-business and anti-Sprague/Appleway Revitalization Plan wrested control of the City Council in the 2009 elections. Candidates in this year’s election have sought to align themselves as either allies or opponents of the “Positive Change” group.
Council members are paid $750 a month and are eligible for city health insurance benefits as well as a $45 per month phone allowance. Council members serve four-year terms.
Position 2
• Dean Grafos, 68, real estate broker.
First elected to the council in 2009 to finish the term of a council member who resigned, Grafos has been one of the strongest pro-business, anti-SARP voices on the council and is seeking his first full term. Grafos’ platform focuses on responsible budgets, the importance of public safety and “common sense” leadership. Grafos owns a self-storage business.
• John Carroll, 66, commercial cleaning.
A member of the Spokane Valley Planning Commission, Carroll owns ServiceMaster Commercial Cleaning. He supported SARP and promises to work with the business community to create an economic development council. He also contends the current council members focus too much on the present rather than planning for the future.
• Arne Woodard, 58, owner of Woodard Properties and Investment.
Appointed in April to fill an unexpired term on the City Council, after spending a year on the city Planning Commission, Woodard is the president and owner of Woodard Properties and Investment. He favors only enough zoning to protect health and safety, “as minimal as we can get.” He also favors trimming any spending not associated with public safety or infrastructure.
• Dee Dee Loberg, 47, homemaker.
Loberg describes herself as someone who would bring a different voice to the council. She served on the transition committee when the city first incorporated and was just elected to the Washington state PTA board of directors. She disagrees with Woodard’s minimalist zoning philosophy and says the city needs to find a “sustainable” way to fund street preservation projects.
• Chuck Hafner, 79, retired educator.
Appointed to the City Council in May to fill a vacant seat and now seeking election to a full term, Hafner is a former superintendent, teacher and principal in Central Valley and Mead schools. He also was general manager of Appleway Equipment and Leasing, owned by Spokane Valley businessman Jack Pring, from 1996 to 1998. He was the behind-the-scenes architect of the 2009 “Positive Change” movement and says the city’s top priorities should be focusing on its budget and making things easier for small business.
• Orvella Kendall, 62, former truck driver and recent college graduate.
A write-in candidate who missed the filing deadline to run for office, Kendall has registered with the county elections office but won’t appear on the ballot. She recently graduated from Carrington College’s pharmacy technician program. She used to work as a long-haul trucker with her husband. She said she favors keeping Sprague as one-way and wants to focus on bringing in jobs.
• Ben Wick, 29, IT system administrator at Goodrich Corp.
Wick previously ran for City Council in 2003 and has applied for vacant council seats three times. He wants the city to develop a long-term plan now that SARP has been eliminated and to work with businesses on economic development issues.
• Marilyn Cline, 66, community volunteer.
Cline, who recently resigned her volunteer position with Central Valley SCOPE to take a position on the countywide SCOPE board of directors, is focusing on public safety issues and the city’s budget. Questions recently arose over her compliance with licensing and other requirements for a home-based salon business, but Cline insists she’s done nothing improper.
This upscale suburb in eastern Spokane County is still enduring growing pains. Although considered by many to be a bedroom community to nearby Spokane, the city of 7,620 people has attracted an enviable commercial base and is facing internal debate over proposals for a city manager form of government rather than the current strong mayor system.
The two candidates for Liberty Lake mayor include a former mayor and a current City Council member. Josh Beckett has been serving on the council since his election two years ago. Steve Peterson was the city’s first mayor from 2001 to 2007.
The four-year position pays $750 a month. The position could change if voters pass Proposition 1, a measure that would replace the mayor/council form of government with a council/manager form. The mayor’s position would be replaced by a city manager and the mayor’s position would become another council seat.
• Josh Beckett, 33, works for Benefitfocus, a software company that provides software for health benefits and management. He represents the city on the Spokane Transit Authority board and is a current city councilman.
• Steve Peterson, 61, was the first mayor of Liberty Lake from 2001-2007. He spent 35 years in pharmaceutical, commercial and retail sales, served on the Eastern Washington Association of Mayors, the Spokane County 911 board, the Liberty Lake Library Foundation and other committees. He is also in the Kiwanis.
“(I will) provide proven leadership to facilitate efficient utilization of our resources, maintain low taxes, realistic spending and needed investment in capital improvements,” Peterson said.
The only contested City Council race this year features two political newcomers, Keith Kopelson and Shane Brickner, both of whom have lived in the community for more than seven years. Council members are paid $250 per month and serve a term of four years.
• Keith Kopelson, 46, has worked in management positions with the May Company, Ann Taylor, J.C. Penney and Shopko. He most recently started a local janitorial company, security guard company and online business directory. He has served in various positions for the Rotary Club, Boy Scouts and the Liberty Lake Merchants Association.
“I publicly make the promise, if elected, to prudently research all issues before the council prior to making a vote and make the best decision for the community as possible,” he said. “I will ensure that city resources are not wasted and used first and foremost to improve the city and to benefit both the public and business residents of Liberty Lake in an equitable manner.”
• Shane Brickner, 36, is in pharmaceutical sales.
“I would like to help in thinking of new ideas to help the budget, find new ideas for programs in the city for our kids to be active, and to be a support system to our local businesses, civil service and overall community,” he said.
This small burg nestled along the Spokane River has two contested races. Drawing the greatest concern this year has been the town’s budget after residents rallied to help raise money to keep the local wading pool open when council members voted to close it to save money. Council members earn $40 per meeting.
• Brian Ellingson, 45, has served on the Millwood council since 2008. He works as a lead foreman at the Central Pre-Mix gravel pit on Sullivan Road. He joined the council because he wanted more focus on the city’s code enforcement, making sure problem properties got cleaned up. The city needs to do more work on its budget and “tighten the purse strings” and wants to continue to focus on code enforcement to “keep things looking good.”
• Mike Ellis, 53, is a former auto mechanic. He is concerned with traffic problems near his home and the city’s response to them. He said he will “bring a community point of view” to the council and that he wants to “protect the safety of our town.”
• Glenn Bailey, 77, is a retired Central Valley elementary school principal. He has served on the council since 1991 and has also served on the Spokane Valley Church of the Nazarene board of directors. His focus is on preserving the city’s services in the face of ongoing budget challenges and prepare for the future at the same time.
• David Kopp did not respond to inquiries for information about his candidacy.
Appointed City Councilman Graeme Webster must defeat veteran challenger Tim Gainer to keep his Position 7 seat, while incumbent Bob Stockton is challenged by Kathleen Warren, who is making her second run for the council, for the Position 5 seat. Council members are paid about $300 per month.
• Bob Stockton, 62, says he is seeking a third four-year term to help the city cope with the sour economy. He has been an associate professor in Eastern Washington University’s dental hygiene program. Stockton holds degrees in psychology, pharmacy and dental science. He cites his political experience.
• Kathleen Warren, 53, ran unsuccessfully for a council position in 2009. She has been the office manager of the EWU American Indian Studies Program since July 2005 and has served in the Army National Guard. Warren has lived in Cheney three times, returning in 2008. She believes the city’s most important issue is new Spokane Transit Authority routes that aren’t working well.
• Graeme Webster, 67, was appointed to the council after running unsuccessfully in 2009. Previously, he served a year on the city Planning Commission. Now retired, Webster moved to Cheney in 1990 as an Army recruiter. He had been a Marine Corps sergeant, and earned an associate degree in history and political science. He wants to improve city finances by seeking grants and other outside funding.
• Tim Gainer, 48, ran unsuccessfully for council positions in 2005 and 2007. He moved to Cheney in 1979, graduated from Cheney High School in 1981 and has been employed by Davis Communications since 1982. Gainer cites his business experience, and says he wants strong ties with EWU and business growth. He promises to help businesses cope with regulations.
This city on the West Plains has three contested races for City Council seats this year. Council members are paid $500 per month.
• Barron Williamson, 34, the challenger, is a project manager for RailWorks Track Systems. He promises to encourage growth and reduce the burden of rising water and sewer rates. He moved to Airway Heights in 2006, has been on the Planning Commission since 2007 and ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 2009.
• Charlotte Lawrence, 41, is the incumbent and works for Travelers Insurance. She promises to promote unity, pave streets on the city’s south side and continue support for the Spokane Tribe Economic Project. She has lived in the city “mostly” since 1984, and has been on the council since October 2006.
• Doyle Inman, 61, is a retired Air National Guard senior master sergeant who promises to promote business growth if elected to the position being vacated by Matt Pederson. He has lived in the city since 1991. This is his first bid for public office.
• Michael States, 42, didn’t respond to a request for information. He told the county Elections Office he wants to ensure sound financial management, “proper levels of support services,” “controlled growth,” and that “citizens have a strong voice in our community.”
• John Holloway, 82, is the incumbent. He provided no information to The Spokesman-Review or the county Elections Office. A 37-year resident, he used to be the city’s public works director. Holloway worked for the city for 18 years after retiring from Air Force as a noncommissioned officer.
• Dave Malet, 55, told the county Elections Office he wants to lure businesses and jobs while improving streets and older parks. A political newcomer, Malet is a city employee in the Parks Department. He also has been a real estate broker and a pet store owner.
Voters will decide two contested races for City Council seats. One pits civic activist Kent Reitmeier against incumbent Howard Jorgenson. In the other, incumbent John Paikuli faces former Councilwoman Laura Parsons. Council members are paid $200 per month.
• Kent Reitmeier, 48, graduated from Medical Lake High School and has lived in the Medical Lake area most of his life. He is a state pesticide applicator and co-founded the Medical Lake Baseball Boosters. Reitmeier wants to attract businesses with park events and improvements such as streetlights. He thinks city officials should stop being “obsequious.”
• Howard Jorgenson, 72, didn’t respond to requests for information. He is a retired Eastern State Hospital equipment operator who was president of the Washington Federation of State Employees for more than 20 years. Jorgenson had served six years on the City Council in 1997 when he was tapped for newly elected Gov. Gary Locke’s transition team. He rejoined the council in 2004 with a three-vote victory.
• John Paikuli, 41, didn’t respond to a Spokesman-Review request for information. He unseated an incumbent councilman in 2007. A graduate of Medical Lake High School, Paikuli went on to coach numerous wrestling and Little League baseball teams and to own his own insurance agency – Paikuli & Associates – in Medical Lake.
• Laura Parsons, 50, served two terms on the council before stepping down in 2005. The 23-year resident ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2009. She has a bachelor’s degree in applied psychology and a master’s in public administration from Eastern Washington University, and is a school bus driver and a foster parent. Parsons wants budget cuts, including staff attrition, before considering tax or utility rate increases.
Located south of Spokane Valley, the small town of Fairfield has one contested council race this fall. Council members earn $1,200 a year and serve four-year terms.
• George Davidson, 73, is a retired farmer and truck driver. He’s lived in Fairfield for two years and is running for council because “I have the time.” He believes the town should be “beautified” and should focus on sidewalks, trees and other things related to its appearance.
• Karrie Stewart did not respond to inquiries for information about her candidacy.
This southern Spokane County town has one contested race this year: incumbent Toby Trower faces challenger Rebecca Johnson.
Spangle, incorporated in 1888, has a population of about 280 residents. The position of council member pays $25 a month and members serve for four years.
• Rebecca Johnson is a registered nurse who works at Fairchild Air Force Base. This is the first time she has run for office.
Her community service includes Habitat for Humanity, the Crisis Nursery and the Salvation Army. She attended Liberty High School and has family in the area.
“I believe I can bring a fresh look at Spangle strengths and what the community wants to improve on,” she said. “Additionally, I will do my utmost to represent all the people of Spangle.”
• Toby Trower, 36, has lived in Spangle for 11 years and works as a truck driver.
“I initially ran for councilman for the sake of contribution to the common good,” he said. “With four years on the council behind me, I would still consider serving whole-heartedly, in the capacity I have, continuing offering of insight and upholding responsibilities of town management.”
The small town of Waverly, with a population of 117, typically has trouble attracting candidates but this year has two contested races. Incumbents typically serve long terms and the challengers this year are a husband and wife duo. Council members serve a four-year term.
• Larry Killstrom, the challenger, told the Spokane County Elections Office that he is a former Marine who has worked in a variety of industries, including security, salmon fishing and construction. He said it is important for small-town residents to participate. He said “winning is not as important as participating.”
• Evie Heinevetter is a longtime council incumbent. She did not respond to inquiries about her candidacy.
• Tabitha Gale, 37, has served on the council for about three years and “just wanted to be a part of my community.” She said she wants to participate in making decisions and help make Waverly a better community.
• Breeanna Killstrom, 33, told the Spokane County Elections Office she has work experience in security and sheet metal fabrication. She said she believes “it is important to be involved in your local community.”
School Boards
Two educators are facing off for a seat on the Spokane school board. Board members serve six-year terms and can earn up to $4,800 per year.
• Deana Brower, 41, is taking her second run at a chance to be elected to Spokane Public Schools board. Endorsed by the Spokane Education Association, Brower ran against current board member Jeff Bierman last year and lost in the primary.
The former high school teacher has two children in Spokane public schools. She is a member of the Chase Youth Commission, member of the board of directors at YWCA and chairwoman of Citizens for Spokane Schools. She is also a member of the district’s Middle School Advisory Committee.
If elected, she said, she knows the biggest challenge the board faces is balancing the budget. “Cuts have to be made; where and how much to cut needs to reflect a strategic plan by our district to provide strong educational experiences which prepare all students for life beyond high school,” Brower said.
Brower also believes “all stakeholders in our community (parents, educators, business members, etc.) must participate collaboratively as the success of our district depends on it.”
Brower’s largest campaign contributor is the Washington Education Association, the labor union representing more than 82,000 educators and staff in K-12 and higher education. The organization has donated $800.
• Sally Fullmer, 55, is a professional musician and private piano teacher. The mother of three has volunteered in Spokane public schools since 1999. She is the founding member of Neighbors 4 Neighborhoods and current chairwoman of the Comstock Neighborhood Council.
Fullmer was at the forefront of last fall’s Jefferson Elementary School controversy. She favored keeping Jefferson at its current east-side location because of worries about losing green space – Hart Field – increased traffic in the neighborhood and the potential for decreased property values.
Fullmer is currently a member of a group, Hart Field Preservation Organization, that’s filed a lawsuit against the district for its decision to move the school.
The former educator promises to ask “tough questions.” Fullmer believes: “Board meetings spent praising administrative officials (and vice-versa) don’t do anything for students. School board directors are the only elected officials in the bureaucracy. Let’s start by replacing them, and then tie administrators’ jobs and salaries to student outcomes.”
More than half of Fullmer’s campaign contributions are from Duane Alton. He has donated $3,850. Alton is a key member of Citizens for Responsible Taxation, which has run anti-levy and bond campaigns in several Spokane-area school districts, including Mead and East Valley.
Two candidates are vying for an open seat in this rural school district that stretches into a portion of Spokane County. The job pays $50 a meeting.
• Bill McBride, 75, attended Eastern Washington University and worked in sales and regional management for Carrier Air Conditioning. He currently works as a day care assistant and school bus driver.
• Jeffrey Jurgensen, 43, has bachelor’s degrees in finance and construction management from Washington State University. A professional construction estimator, he is a former Stevens County Library District trustee.
Voters will decide three contested races for school board seats, which pay $50 a meeting.
• Paul Lewis, 68, is a retired Spokane Community College accounting instructor and department chairman. He previously served on the Loon Lake school board.
• Jeff Whittle, 45, is a Yoke’s grocery manager with a bachelor’s degree in business management. The incumbent, he was elected in 2009 after service on district committees.
Position 4
• Keith Reilly is a retired teacher with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. A 31-year resident, he has served as a Deer Park councilman and mayor, Stevens County Fire District 1 commissioner and Stevens County Rural Library District trustee.
• Carri Breckner, 36, the incumbent, owns a beauty salon. She was elected in 2008 and has three children in Deer Park schools.
• Marie Layman, 51, is co-owner of Nobleman’s Plumbing. She is a high school graduate with some college and studied American Sign Language. A 19-year resident, she is married with three children.
• Eric Keller, 41, the incumbent, is a state Department of Natural Resources forester. He was appointed, then elected in 2007 and has been board president for three years.
Voters will decide two contested races, including two challengers seeking an open seat being vacated by Fred Springer, in this rural district that includes a portion of Spokane County. The position pays $30 a meeting.
• Brad Ray, 31, is service manager for Matrical Bioscience in Spokane.
• Kathy Eastman, 52, the incumbent, has served one term and works for the state Department of Social and Health Services.
• Dawn Bennett, 45, manages the Traders Express convenience store in Davenport.
• David Sprecher, 35, is a mechanical engineer. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He is a graduate of Reardan-Edwall High School and a 32-year district resident. He is married with three children.
There is one contested seat in Fire District 9, which stretches over 122 square miles north of the city of Spokane. Commissioners are paid $104 per meeting and serve six-year terms.
• Thomas McGarry, 52, is an attorney. He believes quality fire services attract businesses and reduce insurance rates. He wants to make sure taxpayer money is well spent, with the goal of “providing the highest level of fire and emergency services effectively and efficiently.”
• Robert Strasburg, 70, is a retired small business owner and currently serves as a district commissioner. He said he has worked to be a “good steward of your tax dollars” and said the district has a “reasonable tax rate” and a good insurance rating.
There is one contested race in Spokane County Fire District 13, which serves the area around Newman Lake. The district is building a new fire station, and in recent years has bought a fireboat, hired a full-time chief and increased training. Commissioners are paid $104 per meeting and serve a six-year term.
• Clayton Andersen Sr., 62, has been an attorney in Idaho for 34 years and has lived in Newman Lake for 20 years. He has been a commissioner with the district since 1999 and has also worked as a firefighter. He wants to increase services for residents while being a “watchdog” on the use of taxpayer money.
• Kathleen Small, 61, is district manager for Pasadena Park Irrigation and sits on the board of Moab Irrigation. Small was previously the fire district’s secretary, but in recent years has become a critic of some of the commissioners. She wants to improve support for volunteer firefighters, which she believes will help attract new volunteers.
The small town of Rockford, located south of Spokane Valley, has only one contested council position this fall. Council members are paid $20 per meeting and serve four-year terms.
The Position 3 candidates are Steve Christman and incumbent Clinton Stevenson. Neither responded to inquiries about their candidacies.