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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Candidates begin quest for area offices

Monday’s opening day of candidate filing for the 2013 election brought at least one contested primary in a race for the District 3 seat on the Spokane City Council.

Candace Mumm, Michael Cannon and Kelly P. Cruz will compete in the Aug. 9 primary election along with other primary contests.

Candidates are filing for offices in municipal, judicial and local district offices through Friday.

The full race for District 3 on the Spokane council has been expected because incumbent Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin is unable to seek a third term under the city’s two-term limit.

Mumm, 51, who has been involved in the Five Mile Prairie Neighborhood Council, has served on the Spokane Plan Commission. She runs a housing firm. She is a Shadle Park High School graduate and a former television news journalist.

Cannon, 35, serves as chair of the city’s Community, Housing & Human Services Board. He sat on Mayor David Condon’s transition team. He owns a small franchise business and works in banking as a manager for large public sector accounts.

Cruz, 53, a carpenter, is former chair of the West Central Neighborhood Council and a graduate of North Central High School.

In the other Spokane City Council races, incumbent Councilwoman Amber Waldref filed Monday for re-election to her District 1 seat. Waldref, 36, is a neighborhood advocate with extensive involvement in environmental and community issues.

In District 2, incumbent Councilman Jon Snyder is being challenged by former GOP state representative John Ahern.

Snyder, 44, a graduate of Lewis and Clark High School, is founder and owner of Out There Monthly magazine.

Ahern, 78, owns a copier and copier supply business. He has lived in Spokane since 1962 and served 10 years in the Washington Legislature.

In Spokane Valley, four candidates filed for three positions on the City Council.

Incumbent Councilman Gary Schimmels is being challenged by Ed Pace for the Position 4 seat. Schimmels, 74, serves as deputy mayor and is former owner of a locksmith business.

Pace, 66, worked in the electronics industry and is pastor of caring ministries at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Spokane Valley.

Other candidates filing on Monday are Chuck Hafner for the Position 5 seat and Bill Bates for the Position 7 seat.

Hafner, 81, the incumbent, is a retired school administrator, consultant and businessman. He was initially appointed and then elected in 2011 to replace the late Councilman Bob McCaslin.

Bates, 74, is seeking a position being vacated by Mayor Tom Towey, his half-brother. He is a longtime Spokane Valley resident who retired as a Rosauers vice president in 1987. He served on the city planning commission.

Towey was named mayor and Schimmels named deputy mayor by their council colleagues.

In Spokane, three municipal court judge positions are on the ballot. Incumbent Judge Tracy Staab filed for re-election on Monday.

Also on the ballot this year are elected positions in other cities and towns as well as school, fire and special district boards. A total of 142 offices are up for election this year. More than 40 candidates filed on Monday either in person at the county elections office or online.