ELECTION_GUIDE_2026

2 02 6 SP OKANE COU N TY

ELECTION GUIDE Sunday, October 11, 2026

Could a blue wave reach Spokane?

MOLLY QUINN/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

WITH LOCAL VOTE TOTALS UP IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION, TURNOUT COULD BE HIGHER FOR MIDTERMS dent’s party almost alVoter interest in midways loses seats in the term elections typically midterm. lags in Washington, parThat would be true ticularly in years when even if President Donthere is no race for U.S. ald Trump’s poll ratings senator at the top of the weren’t at all-time lows, ballot. which they currently For any one of several are. reasons – or possibly a As Democrats try to JIM combination of them – seize that historic adCAMDEN 2026 might not be such vantage and Republia year. The Nov. 3 gencans try to stave it off eral election may gen- SPOKESMAN or at least minimize erate higher turnout, COLUMNIST it, campaign spending although whether it will for U.S. House races is create a “blue wave” that hitting new records nawashes over Spokane retionally as candidates, mains to be seen. parties and indepenRepublicans hold dent committees dump billions slim majorities in both chambers into campaigns. of Congress, and history suggests GOP numbers off? they could lose control of at least the U.S. House because a presiWashington’s August primary

suggests voters, particularly those supporting Republicans, may be less motivated to cast ballots than those supporting Democrats or third party candidates. Vote totals for Republican candidates in Eastern Washington’s 5th Congressional District primary were down compared to 2022 and 2018, while the number of votes cast for Democrats or independent challengers were up, both in Spokane County and districtwide. The number of ballots cast in the August primary was about equal to those years, which did include U.S. Senate races. Compared to 2014, the last time Washington had a midterm primary without a U.S. Senate race on the ballot, this year’s vote totals were up 33% for Spokane County and 20% districtwide.

SPOKESMAN-REVIEW PHOTO ARCHIVES

Spokane County elections manager Mike McLaughlin in October 2022 rolls the last of 19 carts containing 175,000 ballots from a Penske rental truck into the USPS Mail Entry Unit on Spotted Road in Spokane. Across the state, votes cast for Democratic candidates in congressional races totaled more than 1.14 million ballots – and that doesn’t count the more than 26,000 cast for socialist candidates in Seattle’s 9th Congressional District.

That was almost 79% more than the ballots cast for Republican and conservative independents In the Eastern Washington congressional primary, one-term See BLUE WAVE, 17

T2 • Sunday • October 11, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

INITIATIVES    Ballots will arrive in mailboxes across Washington later this week. That means it's time start studying to avoid last-minute cramming when selecting the candidates who represent you best. Today's annual Spokesman-Review Spokane County Election Guide covers nearly all the races and issues on ballots statewide and in Spokane County, and there's more available online at spokesman. com/elections. Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton said ballots will be mailed to

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR BALLOT voters starting Wednesday. She recommends voting early and using official county ballot drop boxes. Anyone who uses the mail to send a ballot within one week of Election Day should go inside a post office and ask a postal worker to postmark the envelope to ensure it qualifies, Dalton said. Ballots must be dropped in an official ballot drop box by 8 p.m. Nov. 3 or mailed in time for it to be postmarked by Nov. 3 in order for it to be counted. Official county ballot drop boxes are located at:

   • • • • • • • •

All Spokane Public Libraries. All Spokane County Libraries. Liberty Lake Library. Latah, Rockford, Spangle and Waverly town halls. Millwood City Hall. The Spokane County Election's Office, 1033 W. Gardner Ave. CenterPlace Event Center, 2426 N. Discovery Place. Spokane County Courthouse, 1116 W. Broadway Ave.

Parental rights debate makes its way to voters Opponents argue measure could weaken protections for K-12 students By Mitchell Roland

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

OLYMPIA – As students across the state settle into a new school year, Washingtonians will soon weigh in on a three-year policy debate over which student information K-12 schools must disclose to parents and when. Much of the debate centers around what information schools are required to disclose to the parents of students, particularly when the information could put a student at greater risk at home. Gabriel Neuman, government relations manager at the LGBTQ+ and allied Business Association GSBA, said the initiative could take away “protections that young people rely on to navigate the complexities of home and school life” and recalled the support of a school counselor while growing up in an abusive single-parent household. “In a world in which Initiative 001 passes, these conversations would have worsened, rather than alleviated my situation. My mother understood how to use systems to her advantage, and would obtain records of my conversations with my school counselor if she had the ability to do so,” Neuman said. “Had she known I was speaking to others, I would have been placed in much more danger. ” Supporters of Initiative 001 say it is needed to ensure parents can receive important information about their children’s health and safety and stay in the loop about what they are learning in the classroom. “As a parent, I am very involved in my kids’ lives. I want to be involved in my kids’ lives,” said Travis Reep, a father of

four and fifth-grade teacher in the North Thurston School District. “I want to know that when I sit down at the table across from their teacher, that they’re bringing everything to the table that they have.” Opponents argue the initiative is poorly written, could weaken protections in certain scenarios and adds ambiguity on when a parent must be notified that their student is a victim of a crime. “Initiative 001 is opposed by the Washington State PTA. That is the largest organization representing public school parents in our state, with over 80,000 members,” said Jen Estroff, a PTA board member from Puyallup. The current debate on parental rights dates back to 2023, when organizers gathered nearly 450,000 signatures through an initiative to the Legislature, Initiative 2081, which lawmakers opted to pass during the 2024 legislative session rather than sending it to voters for consideration. The decision allowed legislators to amend the law during the 2025 legislative session . Now, Let’s Go Washington, the political action committee that backed the first initiative, is back with a new version that repeals the changes made by the Legislature, which they say is needed to keep parents informed about their children. Hallie Herzberg, a spokesperson for Let’s Go Washington said, “001 essentially just reinstates the protections and provisions for families that were in (Initiative 2081).” If approved, the initiative, which will appear on the ballot as Initiative Measure No. IL26-001, would enshrine a parent’s right to prior notification of medical services offered to their child outside of

emergencies, prior notification of medical services or medications that could affect health insurance costs, and a right to prior notification when the school arranges medical treatments that require follow-up care after school hours. The initiative would repeal several changes adopted by the Legislature, including a prohibition of discrimination of a protected class. Democratic State Rep. Monica Stonier, a teacher in Vancouver who authored the legislation that amended the initial parental initiative, said the original initiative broadly described parents’ rights, many of which were already state law, something lawmakers did not oppose restating. While supporters have made similar arguments this time, Stonier said the new initiative language goes further. The initiative uses language from parental rights law in Louisiana, something opponents argue does not comport with Washington law. Gov. Bob Ferguson, who opposes the initiative, said it could weaken parental rights in some scenarios. “It removes a parent’s rights to be immediately notified when their child is a victim of a crime at school,” Ferguson said. “To me, this is an initiative that is taking away parents’ rights.” Herzberg disputed the claims and said the initiative clarifies that parents must be notified under all scenarios. “I-001 does the opposite,” Herzberg said of the claim the initiative weakens notification requirements. “It is the thing that removes those barriers, the timing and the location piece.” If passed, the legislation would require that parents or guardians received immediate notification if a criminal act is “deemed to have been committed” either to their child or by the child, though the initiative does not specify what stage

crime is “deemed” to have happened. According to the Washington Voter’s Guide, the initiative would remove a specification that parents are entitled to be notified when a crime occurs on school property during school hours. The initiative would remove a right to be immediately notified when a child is alleged to be the victim of physical or sexual abuse, sexual misconduct or assault by a school employee. Reep, who also supported the 2024 initiative, said under the initiative, teachers would still be classified as mandatory reporters, which is someone who is legally required to report known or suspected abuse and neglect. “So as a teacher, if I have concern over abuse or neglect, I still am required to report that,” Reep said. “What this does, though, is it takes away the idea that parents are inherently dangerous. And that’s really the main argument that is being made for people who are opposing this initiative, that parents are inherently dangerous, and that if they have access to their child’s information in school records, somehow a child is going to be abused because parents are inherently dangerous.” Roshelle Cleland, public policy director of the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said she’s concerned that the initiative would result in children not reporting abuse out of fear their teacher would tell their parent. “We know that children are more likely to disclose abuse when they have safe, trusting relationships with adults they can turn to. Sometimes that adult is a parent, and sometimes it’s a teacher, a coach, a counselor or another trusted adult outside of the home,” Cleland said. “For a child that is being abused, knowing that a disclosure could immediately reach the person they are afraid of can be the difference between speaking and staying silent.”

WASHINGTON RESIDENTS TO DECIDE WHETHER TRANSGENDER ATHLETES CAN CONTINUE TO COMPETE IN K-12 GIRLS’ SPORTS

Initiative 628 would require documentation from healthcare provider verifying biological sex By Mitchell Roland

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

OLYMPIA – Washington voters will decide this fall whether transgender athletes can continue to compete in girls’ sports in K-12 schools. An initiative, which will appear on the ballot as Initiative Measure No. IL26-638, would require school districts and nonprofit organizations to “prohibit biologically male students from competing with and against female students” in sports with separate team or individual competitions. To compete, students would be required to submit documents from a healthcare provider verifying “the student’s biological sex (based on) ... reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or normal endogenously produced testosterone levels.” Opponents say it would require physicians to depart from current procedures and force students to undergo invasive genital exams or costly blood or hormone testing to compete. Supporters, however, say the initiative is needed to protect women’s sports and maintain a level playing field for girls in the state. They also say opponents have exaggerated what girls likely would need to prove they are girls as defined by the initiative . Zeke Smith, a member of the No Hate in Washington State executive committee representing the Waters Meet action fund, said the initiative is the most “dramatic example of this type of measure across the country.” “It doesn’t just target the youth they’re trying to impact, but it actually targets all girls and potential sports players,” Smith said. “So it just seems like it’s egregious. It’s not consistent with the values that we have in Washington, where

JOSHUA HART/FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

A small group of protesters gather outside the gates before a trans girl student from East Valley High School raced in the 400-meter dash on May 31 at the State Track and Field Championships at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma. we’re really intentional about creating opportunity for all of our neighbors.” The focus on results in sports, Smith said, also “skews the value of athletics in our society and community,” and that there’s an “overemphasis” on who wins and loses. “I played in team sports when I was younger, and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be where I am now if I didn’t learn how to be a part of a team, how to be a part of a community, how to both win and lose,” Smith said. “Those are all factors that having trans girls compete in girls athletics shouldn’t affect. In fact, it gives opportunity for those young people to learn about those lessons and ideas as well.” Student-athletes in Washington currently can participate in programs “consistent with their gender identity or the gender most consistently expressed,” according to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s handbook. Although there is no official

data, state officials have estimated there are five to 10 transgender athletes out of more than 200,000 students who compete across the state. While supporters in Washington initially gathered enough signatures to send the initiative to the Legislature, lawmakers opted to send it to the November ballot rather than taking action in the 2026 legislative session. Hallie Herzberg, a spokesperson for Let’s Go Washington, the political action committee behind the initiative, said the proposal would mean that “boys are not allowed to compete or participate in” leagues intended for women. “There’s a lot of freedom for the WIAA to determine what works best, but essentially, the only thing the initiative requires is a checkbox to be added back onto the sports physical form that was on the form up until 2019, when it was removed,” Herzberg said. “It would just add a checkbox back

onto that sports physical form that a doctor already fills out that says male or female, and then that will determine which league a student will be able to participate in.” Supporters of the initiative in Washington say it’s about basic fairness. Mead girls track and cross country coach Dori Whitford said she’s watched her athletes change after competing against a transgender athlete. “I watch my girls be different than they were three years ago. All of them,” Whitford said. “Not just my top athletes, the ones that are last place and are now one farther back than they would have been.” In recent months, she has been an opponent of transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports and has rallied support for the state to change its laws. In February, Whitford testified in support of the state ballot measure during a Republican-led listening session in the state capitol. “When people say there are only

a few, what they’re saying is it’s not right, but there’s not enough to make a difference,” Whitford said. “I was brought up in Title IX. I was told that I was important, and I believed it because they made categories for me, and now that’s gone.” A recently retired teacher, Whitford said she taught transgender students during her career, and suggested a third category for transgender athletes to compete in. But she struggles to understand those who disagree with her. “They’re great,” Whitford said of her transgender students. “They just don’t belong in girls’ sports.” While the initiative language states that doctors will leverage “the existing physical examination process,” Dr. Libby Loft, a board-certified family medicine doctor in Spokane, said the statement is “kind of misleading.” “The initiative specifically says we doctors can’t use a birth certificate to be able to attest that a player is a girl; the specific language says we’re only to rely on examinations of reproductive anatomy, genetic or hormone tests,” said Loft, who is opposed to the initiative. “In my 13 years practicing as a family doctor, I’ve never done an invasive pelvic exam as part of a routine sports assessment.” Whitford says an invasive pelvic exam still wouldn’t be necessary. “That’s their argument to put fear in, that’s an absolute lie,” Whitford said. “Here’s what’s gonna happen. Your pediatrician has known you forever. They can put a little check mark in the medical form that says you are born a boy or a girl.” But Loft noted many families don’t have pediatricians they’ve been going to for years. They often use group settings to obtain their physicals, such as a pop-up clinic in a school gymnasium, spaces that could provide little privacy for athletes undergoing examination. “Not every girl has a private family doctor or pediatrician with a trusting long-standing relationship. It’s unrealistic that the invasive examinations being required by I-638 can be performed in those settings without humiliating and traumatizing young girls,” Loft said. “Girls with fewer resources See INITIATIVE 628, 6

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

October 11, 2026 • Sunday • T3

INITIATIVES

‘Millionaires tax’ question heads to ballot Residents to weigh in on decision to strike down state’s first income tax By Mitchell Roland

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

OLYMPIA – Washington state’s refusal to tax personal income has made its tax code an outlier for more than 90 years. With two months until the general election, public employee unions and some of the state’s wealthiest residents have raised millions in campaign contributions in a battle over whether that should continue. Since the Washington Supreme Court ruled that income was property in 1933 and thus needed to be taxed uniformly for all residents, an increasing number of states have adopted personal income taxes to help balance their budgets, and Washington politicians have debated whether to join them. Earlier this year, Democratic lawmakers approved a new 9.9% income tax on annual earnings above $1 million for individual and joint filers. They dubbed it a “millionaires tax.” The new law now faces a challenge on the ballot and, if necessary, in the courtroom before it takes effect in January 2028. The lack of an income tax helped create a fertile business environment that led some of the world’s biggest businesses to put down roots in the state and grow, skeptics of the idea argue. They are also skeptical that the tax won’t be expanded in the future to apply to lower income levels. “I think as tax sources start to hit a saturation point, that putting something like this in place creates the possibility, or the potential, the probability that as other things become problematic to increase taxes, that this will also tend to be adjusted to fit those needs,” State Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, said in an interview. Supporters, however, say it has exacerbated the state’s regressive tax system and burdened those lower on the income spectrum. The state’s fluctuating tax system, they say, has also made it increasingly challenging to fund government programs many residents rely on. “The scaffolding of which our tax system is built on is inherently upside down and unfair. And I would hope everybody

acknowledges that,” State Sen. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, said in an interview. “It just doesn’t work when the wealthiest few are paying only moderately compared to our middle-income families. That just seems inherently unfair, particularly when people are just getting pummeled at the gas tanks and supermarket and for housing costs.” According to data from the Secretary of State’s Office, since the state Supreme Court threw out the state’s income tax, Washingtonians have been asked 10 times whether the state should implement a new tax. Each vote has failed, and when voters were last asked in 2010, only 36% of residents supported the proposal. “When you look at this, it’s kind of unpopular,” Holy said. “And I say that from a dozen initiatives or legislative attempts to establish this since they were successful in 1932.” In August, the Department of Revenue estimated the tax passed this year would bring in $3.1 billion during the first fiscal year it takes effect and $8.3 billion between 2029 and 2031. According to data from the agency, 790 residents from the five legislative districts that represent Spokane County – the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th and 9th – would pay a total of $96.3 million. Riccelli said Thursday he rejects the idea the tax will eventually be expanded to apply to more residents, something neither he nor Gov. Bob Ferguson say they support. “At the end of the day, voters will always have a say,” Riccelli said. “So even if future legislators decided to try and expand it, voters would have their say.” As part of the legislation, lawmakers expanded the Working Families Tax Credit, a rebate for sales taxes paid to lower-income residents, universal free school meals for K-12 students, sales tax exemptions on diapers and over-the-counter medicine, and cuts to small business taxes. The Working Families Tax Credit is a rebate for low-income families of $50 to $1,330 a year meant to reimburse them for sales taxes. “I just see it as something that is establishing an availability that is almost unavoidable that is so attractive that it’s going to be brought down,” Holy said. “And if that happens, what’s the difference between coming down into and taxing people at a much less income than it was initially applied, and just allowing for those deductions now?” While the litigation continues to work through the state’s legal system, and any

decision by the state Supreme Court is likely months or years away, residents will decide this fall whether the tax should remain in place. “Washingtonians are going to be facing an important choice in November regarding the future of the millionaire’s tax,” Ferguson said during a “NO on I-645” event in July. “It’s essentially a choice between moving our state forward, by making life more affordable for Washingtonians and giving 138,000 business owners tax break, or going backwards, rolling back tax breaks for small businesses, and seeing costs go up for Washingtonians.” Technically, the initiative would only repeal the tax itself, not the tax breaks and rebates in the legislation, meaning lawmakers would have to decide if and how they could fund the new and expanded state programs with billions less in revenue. Riccelli noted that only about 200 people will pay the tax in his Spokane District. His constituents want strong schools and are struggling with higher prices and healthcare costs, he said. “I weighed the tax breaks for families and small businesses. Those are all of the things that I took with me to session.” The “no” campaign, which argues the tax should remain in place, has so far raised more than $5 million, according to the Public Disclosure Commission, with the largest donations coming from unions representing public employees. The Washington Federation of State Employees and Washington Education Association have donated $1 million each to the campaign, and the Service Employees International Union has given $1.5 million through three separate contributions. The National Education Association donated more than $436,000 in an effort to keep the tax. Erik Houser, a spokesperson for the “no” campaign, said in a statement the initiative would be “bad for Eastern Washington because it will dramatically cut funding for education, health care, and child care, and put tax breaks for working families and small businesses at risk.” “Hedge fund mogul Brian Heywood wants to cut taxes for the top 1% while raising costs for everyone else in the Spokane area,” Houser said. “Consistent polling data across multiple months continues to show that voters across the state see I-645 for what it is, a giveaway to the very wealthy.” The “yes” campaign, meanwhile has raised a little more than $1.2 million,

Washington’s new income tax is 9.9% on income over $1 million. Someone who makes $2 million will owe almost $100,000. But someone who earns $1 million will owe nothing.

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with Seattle-based venture capital firm Madrona Venture Group contributing $250,000 and Lawrence Hughes, a retired IT-security executive, contributing $250,000. Let’s Go Washington, a Political Action Committee sponsoring all three initiatives on the November ballot, has raised an additional $3.65 million, with Hughes again contributing $250,000 and PAC founder Heywood contributing $605,000. Steve Gordon, principal of Gordon Truck Centers, said in an interview that he’s concerned about what the tax could do for the state’s business climate, and the potential for businesses to leave. “A lot of folks have already moved to Idaho and a lot more are looking to move to Idaho and, I mean, that’s not good for anybody, and at least of which, it’s not good for the employees that work at those businesses,” Gordon said. According to PDC records, Gordon contributed $25,000 to the “yes” campaign and $100,000 to Let’s Go Washington. Gordon Truck Centers also donated $100,000 to the “Yes” campaign. Former Republican Congresswomen Jaime Herrera Beutler, who previously served in the state Legislature, said she remembered the “friction and tension” when lawmakers previously attempted to pass an income tax. “I just remember how motivating it was to people,” Herrera Beutler, who is being paid for her role with the “Yes” campaign, said in an interview Thursday. “Nobody trusts Olympia to put in place an income tax. Nobody trusts what they’re going to do with it.” The legislation, she said, does not have a firm commitment not to lower the income threshold in the future. She also worries about the impact on the state’s business climate. “There were people who really, really wanted it then,” said Herrera Beutler, who added she would not be subject to the new tax. “But they weren’t in positions, I think, to make it happen.”

POSITION 4

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Over 20 local judges and a bipartisan group of local officials

Both Candidates for Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney: Preston McCollam (R) and Danny Tarkenton (I)

Local Law Enforcement Groups: The Spokane Police Guild and Deputy Sherriffs Association

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“EXCEPTIONALLY WELL QUALIFIED” by the Judicial Candidates Evaluation Panel of the Spokane County Bar Association.

(509) 730-5489 | PO Box 30211, Spokane, WA | nicholasulrichforjudge.com Paid for by the Committee to Elect Nicholas Ulrich

T4 • Sunday • October 11, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

COUNTY PROSECUTOR & COMMISSIONERS

Spokane County prosecutor race puts jail in focus McCollam proposes new public safety facility; Tarkenton favors upgrades, community services By Nick Gibson

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The election will provide voters with the first opportunity to choose the next Spokane County prosecutor since the former top attorney left the post over a year ago. State law left the act of replacing Larry Haskell, who retired before the end of his term, up to the Spokane County Republican Party and the county commissioners. Republican Preston McCollam, who led the criminal side of the office under Haskell, took over the helm in September after being unanimously approved by commissioners to serve the remainder of the term. McCollam is asking Spokane County voters to reaffirm the commissioners’ decision, while being challenged on the ballot by an attorney also with some experience in the office. Danny Tarkenton, a recently minted attorney who filed as an independent candidate, came within striking distance of McCollam in the August primary. McCollam topped Tarkenton with 50.6% of the vote, but both advanced to the November election because there were only two candidates. While independent, Tarkenton is building support on the back of the national focus on partisan politics this midterm election. Tarkenton said change is needed in how the role is considered and in how the office carries out its duties. She believes the top job in the office should be considered one that directs policy, and that her educational background in philosophy and psychology will set the office’s focus on meeting individuals in the court system where they are. “No other attorney was willing to run or couldn’t run, and I was just studying, minding my own business,” Tarkenton said. “And then to be super honest, just the murders of Renée Good and Alex Pretti compelled me to step forward because I was concerned for my county’s safety and well-being if that were to come here.” Federal agents fatally shot Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota earlier this year as the Trump administration carried out its “Operation Metro Surge” was carried out. Their deaths sparked national outcry over federal immigration enforcement, and how law enforcement shootings are prosecuted. Tarkenton said she supports a number of progressive causes, but that her decision to file as an independent candidate is a commitment to remain free from partisan influence.

McCollam said he cares deeply about the work, and that he’s committed to protecting Spokane County residents while sustaining an effective and welcoming environment in the office. The region is facing strong headwinds when it comes to addiction, substance abuse and an uptick in smaller charges that deserve prosecution but can get logjammed in a strapped criminal justice system. A new public safety facility would be a needed asset in allowing him to make real change if he’s elected, he said. McCollam said he’s prepared to deal with the challenges facing Spokane County and by extension the office, including budget constraints, political pressures and strains on the judicial system. As examples, he pointed to his advocacy to increase pay to recruit and retain top talent amid a nationwide attorney shortage, and his recent involvement in a countywide effort to bring a new public safety facility to fruition. McCollam carries the endorsement of many of the deputy prosecutors in the office.

Candidates take criticism for party affiliation, lack of experience

The two candidates to take over the Spokane County prosecutor’s office are of the same generation, but McCollam and Tarkenton differ by more than a decade in legal experience. Tarkenton became an attorney in 2025 after attending Gonzaga Law School, and joined the office as a deputy prosecuting attorney the same year. She previously worked as a student intern in the office, allowed to practice under a special certification for those yet to pass the bar known as a Rule 9 license. Tarkenton said she understood her greenness to the profession would be a criticism when she entered the race, but that courtroom experience isn’t necessary to be prosecutor. “It doesn’t even require you to be licensed for three years, which is what’s required to supervise attorneys,” Tarkenton said, defending the special license she was allowed to practice under while an intern. The role should be thought about as a legislative oversight; the chief civil and chief criminal attorneys oversee the legal work while the top prosecutor sets priorities and finds efficiencies, she said. “It used to be kind of a sleeper position, and attorneys are kind of known to be boring, so nobody really paid any attention,” Tarkenton said. “Until now, under this administration. We’re

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Spokane County prosecutor Preston McCollam, Republican

Age: 38 Residence: Spokane Education: Received a high school diploma

DAN PELLE/FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Spokane County prosecuting attorney candidates Danny Tarkenton, left, and Preston McCollam along with SpokesmanReview reporter Nick Gibson, center, address the audience as they participate in a candidate forum on Oct. 4 in Spokane. seeing a lot of examples of what it means to have a lot of experience as a prosecutor, but to not have the values to wield that experience responsibly.” Tarkenton is presenting herself as an opposition candidate to McCollam, which she argues could be at the whims of the Republican Party. McCollam said voters need to value experience this November. He’s led the criminal side of the office for 10 years and knows the county’s issues well. His time spent in Benton County and under Haskell provided different perspectives on how to lead the office and shape his own plans for the office, he said. His plans are his own, and not that of a party or any other special interest group, McCollam said. “Crime doesn’t discriminate, and neither does a good prosecutor,” McCollam said. “I’ve long believed that the prosecuting attorney, these elected county-wide positions, you serve everybody.” Everybody includes those facing charges in the criminal justice system, McCollam said. He would like to increase transparency to provide a better understanding of his office and the larger criminal justice system. He’d also advocate for ways to make engaging in the process more efficient and streamlined, including for defendants. “It shouldn’t be so confusing,” McCollam said. “You should always know where you’re supposed to be. You should always know what you need to do, and then that way too, if you’re not doing it and it’s purposeful, it’s also very easy for me to prove it.”

Priorities, prison cells and public tax dollars

McCollam spent much of the last year involved in regional planning efforts to bring about a new public safety facility that would bolster addiction treatment, support services and jail capacity. The Safe and Healthy Spokane Task Force included private and public stakeholders from a wide range of disciplines. McCollam made the comparison to a hospital in describing what an ideal facility could look

like. “We’re wanting a hospital-size level of care, but we’re doing it through an ambulance in a backfield,” McCollam said. McCollam said he would support asking voters to increase the county sales tax to fund the overhaul, so long as there is language to ensure the funding is narrowly tailored to the public safety effort. Tarkenton said a sales tax increase would be better used to fix up the Spokane County Jail and to fund outsourcing more support services. The current facility does have capacity and safety issues, she said, but those can be addressed by more carefully choosing which crimes to prosecute. Building a newer, larger facility would be like giving a hoarder a larger house, Tarkenton said. At a debate on Oct. 4, she said she was not prepared to give a position on a tax for a new public safety facility. She said current data-keeping practices in the office are lacking and make it hard to identify areas where repeat offenders could be set on a new course, particularly when it comes to misdemeanor offenses. Tarkenton acknowledged simply adding more resources and choosing not to try certain cases would not be enough in and of itself. “That’s where it takes a prosecutor to have that kind of discretion to look to see who needs the help, who wants the help, and somebody who does not.” In turn, McCollam said there are times when criminal proceedings are the catalyst for someone to make a change in their life. McCollam said he would advocate at the state level to reinstitute felony drug charges which he said would improve quality of life in Spokane County and provide additional opportunities to reduce recidivism. “One benefit of having certain drug crimes be a felony is that it provided a mandatory pause in somebody’s addiction cycle,” McCollam said. “But unfortunately, what we’ve done at this point is we’ve removed rock bottom.”

from Pioneer Christian in 2006. Received bachelor’s degree in government, pre-law from Eastern Washington University in 2010. Received law degree from Gonzaga Law School in 2013. Work experience: Rule 9 intern for Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office, Consumer Law Clinic in 2013. Deputy prosecutor within Benton County Prosecutor’s Office from 2013-15. Returned to Spokane County as a deputy prosecutor in 2015. Promoted chief criminal deputy in 2023. Appointed acting prosecuting attorney in 2025. Worked as an adjunct professor for Gonzaga Law from 2016-22, firefighter with U.S. Forest Service from 2006-11, in-resident volunteer with Lakeland Village facility in Medical Lake from 2007-11. Political experience: First run for office after winning appointment to prosecutor last year. Family: Married to Mackenzie McCollam and has four children. Campaign finance: Raised about $111,200 as of Oct. 1, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Contributors include multiple businesses owned or associated with developer Harley Douglass, the Spokane Police Guild Political Action Committee, Republican Spokane County Commissioner Mary Brooks and her husband Randy Brooks, Avista Corp., Spokane attorney Christian Phelps, Republican state Rep. Jenny Graham, Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Sharon Hedlund and Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Emily Herzog.

Danny Tarkenton, independent

Age: 36 Residence: Spokane Education: Graduated from Mead High

School in 2008. Received bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Gonzaga University in 2013. Received bachelor’s degree in psychology from Eastern Washington University in 2021. Received law degree from Gonzaga Law in 2024. Currently pursuing a master’s in forensic psychology from Arizona State University. Work experience: Served in the Army National Guard from 2013 to 2019, spending four years in active service. Admitted to the Washington State Bar in 2025. Previously worked as a Rule 9 intern within the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office in 2024 and briefly as a deputy prosecutor in 2025. Externed with the Washington Attorney General’s Office in 2022. Political experience: First run for office. Family: Married, identified husband only by first name, Mark, citing safety concerns. No children. Campaign finance: Raised about $53,900 as of Oct. 1, according to the PDC, including $15,000 she loaned her campaign. Contributors include Spokane attorney Mun Singh, former Democratic candidate for state House Pam Kohlmeier, Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown, Spokane City Councilwoman Kate Telis, former Democratic candidate for Congress Bajun Mavalwalla and Democratic candidate for state House Luc Jasmin III.

Voters to choose new District 4 commissioner amid data center concerns, budget constraints, partisanship By Nick Gibson

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Southeastern Spokane County voters will elect a new representative in November, with big decisions likely to be upcoming next year by the five-member County Commission. The revelation of prospective large data centers landing in Spokane County is driving more attendees to the commission’s meetings than it’s seen in years. The board also oversees the region’s criminal justice system. Local leaders began working over a year ago on an overhaul effort that likely will need voters’ approval . Money troubles will persist. The commission will need to make budget cuts to close a $30 million deficit ahead of 2027. As the pressures mount, a Republican state representative and an independent social worker each hope to take over the District 4 seat being vacated by Commission Chair Mary Brooks, who opted not to seek re-election. State Rep. Suzanne Schmidt, 63, appeared was the only candidate who filed for the seat in May. The former chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of the Inland Northwest

won the 2022 election to represent Washington’s 4th Legislative District in what was her first bid for office. She was re-elected by a wide margin in 2024. “I really care about Spokane County and the community that I live in, and I know that really we’re at a point where we’re growing, and there’s opportunities, but there’s also challenges with that,” Schmidt said. “One thing that I learned from being in the Legislature was that communities really do want more local control, rather than making legislation at the state level.” Licensed social worker Rachelle Miller said she was recruited to run for the position, and that her interest is focused particularly on the data center issue. Her campaign manager, Petra Hoy, a community advocate of the self-described nonpartisan organization “Be The Change 509 – Eastside Gladiators,” approached Miller after the filing deadline and asked her to get involved, Miller said. “I’ve been a social worker for 30 years and have been solving complex problems for about that long across all levels, micro to macro, and wanted to bring that same experience to this role,” Miller said of her interest in launching a write-in

campaign. Write-in candidates in Washington must secure at least 1% of the primary vote to appear on the November ballot. Miller secured roughly 8% of the turnout.

Data center concerns

Miller’s campaign platform is focused almost entirely on data centers, an issue that’s become a flash point this year in local elections across the country. She’s concerned about what the impacts of a large-load data center could be on Spokane County’s natural resources, and said the existing board failed to properly engage the public as tech companies conveyed interest. “There’s already a lot of concern about impact in other communities and we have a lot of experts in our community that have information about impact on resources such as water, our power and our land, noise pollution, all those things,” Miller said. Any economic development project, data centers included, should not impact county ratepayers, natural resources or local businesses, Schmidt said. “I’m not willing to move forward unless I know that we can do that without causing negative impacts

to our community,” Schmidt said. Miller said she would support an outright ban on data centers if elected. Schmidt noted data centers can bring benefits, at a time the county is looking for additional revenue. Some load data centers have brought significant tax revenue to local governments. When asked her thoughts on the potential tax revenues, Miller responded that she had not heard of any benefits a data center could bring to a community, economic or otherwise.

Budget deficit

Spokane County officials are working to fix a $30 million budget deficit. That will mean more cuts for almost every county office. The stagnation in revenues is an issue that can be addressed, in part, through economic development, Schmidt said. Instead of raising taxes, Schmidt would rather grow the tax base to increase revenue. Doing so will mean advocating at the state level for friendlier regulations to small businesses and housing development to stay competitive with communities in Idaho, she said. Schmidt said short-term tax incentives for developments, like

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

those that made Kendall Yards and Mead Works, can be a good tool to encourage growth. Miller said she did not know enough about the tax incentives available to the commission to provide a comment. She said she would consider raising property taxes to help make up the deficit, particularly if it makes the difference in funding for the county’s responsibilities to public safety and other essential functions. “People are stressed and strained to the max,” Miller said. “But we also have to make sure that we have the resources so that our community has what they See COMMISSION, 5

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

October 11, 2026 • Sunday • T5

COUNTY CLERK & AUDITOR

Partisan concerns, budget constraints take center stage in contest for county clerk By Nick Gibson

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The race for Spokane County clerk features candidates of different parties but a shared belief they can improve the county’s criminal justice and recordkeeping functions. Republican Dave Lucas, 56, and Democrat Elliot Robison, 29, are running to replace four-term incumbent Republican Tim Fitzgerald, who is retiring. Robison is a business intelligence analyst for CHAS Health and holds a math degree. He said his technical background will help the public better understand and make use of the clerk office’s functions, which he described as a “rich, data-filled system.” The clerk’s office is the main public interface for the county’s criminal justice system, processing payments, entering filings and overall ensuring the process runs smoothly. The clerk is responsible for overseeing a variety of confidential and public records, including guardianship documents, will and testaments, and automotive title transfers. “Ingesting all of that complexity and organizing it, and creating tools and systems and workflows that the public have to interface with,” Robison said. “I like being that bridge between complexity and people.” Lucas is the court administrator for Cheney Municipal Court, and served over two decades in the United States Marine Corps before relocating his family from the East Coast. Fitzgerald asked him to consider running for the position last December based on Lucas’ professionalism, experience in the courts and time spent in the Marine Corps overseeing a large team, budget and many responsibilities, he said. It was a “humbling” request to receive, Lucas said, because Fitzgerald is familiar with all of the court professionals in the region. “This is an opportunity to really expand the service that I provide to the community, beyond just supporting the citizens of Cheney, but being able to really support the citizens of the entire county,” Lucas said.

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need in case there’s a fire or an emergency or they need help.” Both candidates agreed Spokane County is in need of a new public safety facility that includes expanded treatment and services to replace the outdated jail. Both are chagrined at the prospect of asking voters to increase the local sales tax to fund it. “The jail right now is really in poor condition; it’s not safe for the employees or the inmates, Miller and so that’s something that I definitely want to be involved in,” Schmidt said. Miller said she would like Schmidt to explore all revenue options, but that it will likely take a combination of streams to bring a facility with wraparound services to fruition. “I’d want to make sure we’re using the strengths of our community to address the needs of our community,” Miller said.

Shared desire to collaborate

At present, there are two Democrats and three Republican commissioners. Brooks, the retiring commissioner, sometimes acted as a swing vote on issues that divided the board. Miller said she’s running as an independent because she is tired of partisan politics. “I have worked across the aisle with Republicans; I have worked with Democrats,” Miller said. Miller made a foray into politics earlier this year in working with state Rep. Rob Chase to advocate for a bill that expanded parental access to special education evaluation reports. The measure was inspired by

A partisan position?

Robison said he would like more young people involved in local government, and his candidacy was spurred by a desire to present an alternative to the Republican in the race. Anyone seeking office as a Republican is worth “giving pause to,” at a time when high-profile members of the GOP are cutting government functions, Robison said. “When Republican operatives are given, in this era, in this administration, control over bureaucracy, they tend to be very disruptive in a very harmful way,” Robison said. Robison said concerns about Lucas bringing a partisan influence over the office also stem from a comment Lucas made at a Spokane County GOP meeting, in which he referred to the city of Spokane and the state of Washington as “not our friends.” Lucas said the comments were made as a resident of the area frustrated by local and state policies on public safety, taxes and the impacts on small businesses. “Anyone who has a family, owns a house, is working two jobs to make ends meet or running a business can see that the city of Spokane and state of Washington are not making it better for them,” Lucas said. If elected, Lucas said his personal political beliefs would not factor into how he runs the office. He does not believe it should be a partisan position. Lucas said he is the candidate with the necessary experience. What Lucas enjoys about his job, and the opportunity for the next step, is ensuring the criminal justice process runs smoothly for everyone, he said. “The same thing comes up with, ‘Well, what if it’s the person who committed the crime versus the victim?’ ” Lucas said. “It doesn’t matter who comes through the window. We’re going to provide the best service for that person that we can.” Though Republicans have dominated most races for countywide offices in the last 16 years, the August primary

Spokane County Clerk candidates Elliot Robison, left, Dave Lucas, right, along with SpokesmanReview reporter Nick Gibson participate in debate Oct. 4. DAN PELLE/ FOR THE S-R

results suggests the clerk race could be close. Lucas topped Robison 52% to 48%. Since there were only two candidates, both advanced to the November election.

A tight budget for a big office

The Spokane County Commission is working to close a $30 million budget deficit ahead of 2027. Lucas said he’s familiar with managing tight budgets and stretching resources from his time in the military. It will take time spent with the staff already in place to identify efficiencies, he said. He worries major changes could cause disruptions downstream that could have negative impacts on how the office serves the public. At the moment, Lucas plans to find ways to expand electronic filing options to ease staff workloads. He would continue to pursue state funding in grants for the office. “It’s very complex how things interrelate within the county functions,” Lucas said. Robison said he’s well-suited for navigating the funding challenges . “My expertise is navigating business constraints, workflows, optimizing those, assessing priorities and how to distribute resources to meet those priorities,” Robison said. He said he would establish clear communication with the public about how budget cuts will affect the office. Solving the budget constraints will take collaboration with the board, and assistance from the public in pushing county commissioners for what they

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Spokane County Commission District 4 Rachelle Miller, independent

Age: 51 Residence: Liberty Lake Education: Attended Gonzaga Prep, completed senior year at

and graduated from Charles Marion Russell High School in Great Falls, Montana, in 1994. Received a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Montana in 1998. Received a master’s of social work at Eastern Washington University in 2000. Work experience: Currently licensed independent clinical social worker with office in Spokane Valley. Former social worker with the state Department of Social and Health Services. Political experience: First bid for office. Family: Married to Ryan Miller. Has two children. Campaign finance: Raised more than $13,100 as of Oct. 1, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Donors include Fuse Washington, former county commissioner candidate Molly Marshall, former Democratic congressional candidate Don Barbieri, Spokane mental health counselor Sonya DeWitt.

Suzanne Schmidt, Republican

Age: 62 Residence: Spokane Valley Education: Graduated from Libby Senior High School in Libby,

Montana, in 1982. Received an associate degree with an emphasis in business administration from Flathead Valley Community College in Libby in 1991, and received an associate degree in applied science with an emphasis on medical assistant/technology from Spokane Community College in June 2003. Work experience: Former president and chief executive officer of the Associated Builders and Contractors Inland Pacific Chapter. Worked as the organization’s workers comp program manager prior to that. Worked as an administrator at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Libby Dam. Political experience: Elected to the state House position representing the 4th Legislative District in 2022, re-elected in 2024. Family: Married to Dean Schmidt. Has three adult children. Campaign finance: Raised about $60,300 as of Oct. 1, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Top donors include the Washington Hospitality Association, Washington Beverage Association, Washington Association of Retailers and the political action committee for the Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors.

her own experience in getting the proper education for her daughter, she said. Gov. Bob Ferguson signed it into law in March. Schmidt said she admired Brooks’ tenure and approach. While a relative newcomer to the state House, she enjoyed success in getting legislation passed. All eight of her bills now

signed into law included a Democrat as a co-sponsor, Schmidt noted. “I’ve really been able to work on things and look at it as, you know, ‘OK, here’s the issue or here’s the problem,’ ” Schmidt said. “ ‘What’s the 80% we agree on and how can we get to where we need to be to move forward for our county or our state?’ ”

need, he said. That could mean tax increases, which the county has been hesitant to explore, he said. “And, you can only cut services so much until you have to start cutting staff,” Robison said. “You can only cut staff so much till you cannot meet mandates.”

Better serving the public

Robison said if he’s elected he’d establish a public-facing platform where criminal justice data is tracked in real time. Spokane County residents would be able to see the breakdown of case types, and follow how long cases take to move through the system. “It’s not that this cannot be derived, and that some of this data isn’t out there, but it’s not accessible to citizens and it’s not readily up to date,” Robison said. In addition to expanding electronic filing, Lucas said he’d like to explore alternative ways to serve the public on their schedule. He suggested a drive-thru clerk’s office location and adjusting the office hours to provide time for those busy during the workday. Lucas said the clerk’s office can be a resource for the public, catching people at what can be vulnerable times in their lives. He directs those in need who he helps at his Cheney office to various community resources, and he said he would like to extend that approach to the entire county. “That really meant a lot to me to be able to give back to the community,” he said.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Spokane County clerk Dave Lucas, Republican

Age: 56 Residence: Spokane Education: Graduated from Colfax High

School in Colfax, California, in 1988. Earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from University of California-Davis followed by a master’s in military studies in 2004. Work experience: Currently the court administrator of Cheney Municipal Court. Served nearly 22 years in the Marine Corps, retired as a lieutenant colonel. Served tours in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Western Pacific. Worked in managerial roles in food service industry. Political experience: Ran unsuccessfully for 3rd Legislative District House seat in 2018. Lost bid for state Senate in 3rd Legislative District in 2020. Family: Married to Laura Lucas. Has two children. Campaign finance: Has raised about $20,800 as of Oct. 1, including nearly $3,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to himself, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Top donors include the political action committee of the Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors and retired Spokane residents Kurt and Barbara Bingham, and attorneys Casey Brandon and Thomas Jarrard.

Elliot Robison, Democrat

Age: 29 Residence: Unincorporated Spokane County resident

Education: Graduated from Lewis

and Clark High School in 2015. Earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver in 2021. Work experience: Employed as a business intelligence analyst for CHAS Health for the last three years. Political experience: First bid for office. Family: In a committed relationship with Emily Stark, no children. Campaign finance: Raised about $28,100 as of Oct. 1, including over a $1,000 in cash and in-kind donations to himself, according to the Public Disclosure Commission. The largest donation came in a $4,000 in-kind donation from the Washington State Democratic Central Committee. Other donors include state representative candidate and gubernatorial representative Luc Jasmin III, Spokane County Commissioner Chris Jordan, Spokane City Council President Betsy Wilkerson and Spokane resident Patricia Dempsey, a Washington State Democratic Party state committee member.

Candidates for county auditor reflect on lessons from building public trust federal government on our local elections and asking a lot of questions about how we can keep SpoSpokane County voters will decide kane County safe, make sure that in less than a month who will be the our local elections aren’t tampered first fresh face in nearly three de- with,” Gee said. cades to take over as county auditor. Gee views the role as an adminisThe upcoming retirement trative one, and acknowledgof Vicky Dalton, who was es that while young, she befirst elected to the role in lieves she has the necessary 1998, leaves a window of opexperience. Her accountportunity at a time when the ing education is something office is under partisan presvoters value and it puts her sure. above her opponent, she said. Spokane City Council- Gee “I can actually apply those man Michael Cathcart, 40, skills and education and a Republican received an things I’ve learned in my caendorsement from Dalton, reer so far to a role that dia Democrat, but faced inrectly impacts people’s lives,” creased scrutiny from fellow Gee said. party members for accepting Cathcart said he’s moved it, as previously reported by on from the division within The Spokesman-Review. his party stirred by his accepPrimaries get contentious, Cathcart tance of Dalton’s endorseCathcart said. He’s focused ment, as well as Spokane City on the race ahead. Council President Betsy Wilkerson. “I’m really looking forward, not He holds the respect of fellow electbackward,” Cathcart said. “I think ed leaders across party lines and has the best remedy, so to speak, to po- long believed in compromise, Cathlitical division is competence, and I cart said. look forward to demonstrating that His experience overseeing city in the office in the months ahead.” operations alongside a board of difCathcart took the lion’s share of fering political stripes prepared him the votes split between him and fel- for the technical duties of serving as low conservative Dale Whitaker in auditor, he said. It also shows he is the August primary, but a Democrat committed to serving all of Spokane came out on top of the three-candi- County, if elected. date contest. “This is really about following and Callie Gee, who co-chairs the Spo- implementing the law,” Cathcart said kane Young Democrats, received the of the auditor role. “And so while majority primary vote, allowing her there is, perhaps, a lot of opinions to cruise on to the general election as to how voting should occur and a and provide Democrats with an op- lot of methodologies out there, that’s portunity to keep hold of the posi- not the decision of the auditor, and tion. it’s not the role of the auditor to deGee, 24, is a recent accounting termine those things.” graduate employed at tax-prepaBuilding public trust ration company Baker Tilly and is Cathcart and Gee agree that invitamong those midterm voters concerned about conservative partisan ing the public in is the best way to influence over local elections and build trust in the role of auditor. Gee said she would like to use her voting by mail. “A lot of people are worried about See AUDITOR, 13 the pressure that’s coming from our

By Nick Gibson

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

T6 • Sunday • October 11, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 3 REPRESENTATIVES

National politics enter state House District 3 rematch Hill, Kiepe map diverging paths to deliver state aid to fire victims THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Republican Tony Kiepe admits attending his party’s convention in Dallas last month may not help him win in Spokane. But he thinks it should. “This whole convention was a reminder of what we stand for and what they stand for. Democrats have no good policies that will help America. All their policies are 100% against Republicans and against Trump,” he said of the Republican midterm convention. This fall, Kiepe will face Democratic Rep. Natasha Hill in a rematch of a race she won by more than 30 percentage points two years ago. Washington’s 3rd Legislative District encompasses almost all of the city of Spokane. It has been the Democratic Party’s sole stronghold east of the Cascades for decades. The district’s historic deep blue hue has not deterred Kiepe from embracing the president. Across the so-called “Trumpalooza” convention weekend, Kiepe’s social media was covered with pictures and video he had taken of Donald Trump and his allies. Part of Washington state’s delegation, Kiepe was on the floor of the convention – at times within 50 feet of Trump. The convention was “exhilarating,” and Trump was “incredibly funny,” he said. Still, Kiepe’s loud attendance at the midterm convention is “not helpful” in his quest to represent Spokane in Olympia, he noted. While Trump might be blamed for increasing costs, Kiepe argues that the real culprit behind Spokane’s unaffordability is the Democrats who have controlled the state. “Our budget has doubled over the past 15 years, $30 billion to $80 billion. We’re spending too much. And that is not Trump’s fault,” he said. Hill said Kiepe’s embrace of Trump is out of step with the voters of Spokane. “My opponent has said he is the token Republican in this race. And so I think you can expect that he’ll just be a talking head for the party agenda, and it’s not really localized or tailored to what we need and what our communities in Eastern Washington and Spokane want,” she said. If re-elected, Hill’s goals in her second term include delivering state aid to those who lost their homes in the Spokane Complex fires and a temporary moratorium on the construction of data centers in Washington. With seatmate Timm Ormsby retiring,

3rd Legislative District, state House Position 1 Natasha Hill, Democrat

Age: 44 Education: Graduated from Rogers High School in 2000. Earned a

bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Washington in 2003. Earned a law degree from the Southwestern School of Law in Los Angeles in 2006. Political experience: Lost race for Congress in 2022. Elected to Hill current seat in state House in 2024. Work experience: Attorney at Natasha L. Hill, P.S., in the Browne’s Addition Neighborhood of Spokane. Adjunct professor at Gonzaga Law School, coaching its civil and human rights moot court teams. Served as interim editor of the Black Lens in 2023 and 2024. Family: Single. Has two children. Campaign finances: Raised about $50,800 as of Oct. 5, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Contributors include Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown, state Rep. Timm Ormsby, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Kaiser Aluminum, Washington Beverage Association Political Action Committee, the Service Employees International Union 775 Quality Care Committee and the Credit Union Legislative Action Fund.

Tony Kiepe, Republican

Age: 64 Education: Attended high school in Memphis, Tennessee. Earned a

Kiepe Natasha Hill.

bachelor’s degree in biology, with minors in chemistry and business, from the University of Memphis, followed by a Master of Business Administration from the same school in 1996. Political experience: Kiepe unsuccessfully sought appointment to the Spokane City Council in 2016 and 2020. He ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 2017 and 2019, and he ran for state House in 2024, losing to

Work experience: Kiepe moved to Spokane in 2000 and worked as director of sales at Hollister-Stier, but he was laid off when Jubilant bought the company. He then owned Rapid Refill, an ink and toner replacement business, before shutting down the business and becoming a healthcare consultant for AristaPoint. He works as an independent healthcare insurance agent. Family: Married to Diane Keipe. They have four children. Campaign finances: Kiepe has pledged not to raise more than $7,000 and is not required to submit contribution information.

WASHINGTON 3RD LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

2

SPOKANE COUNTY

Spokane

N DETAIL AREA

90

2

290

N 27

2 0 M I L ES

2 MILES

MOLLY QUINN/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Source: Washington Redistricting Commission

Hill will be the most senior Democrat from the region in the state House. The designation may put pressure on her to ensure aid is delivered. “We know that we’ve got to be looking to replace what was lost and helping out

are, what the risks are, what THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW it does to our environment, and then once we’re fully inSpokane voters will choose formed as the general public, a new state legislator this fall then we can make a decision in a seat long held by retiring on what we want,” he said. Rep. Timm Ormsby. Jasmin also wants to reThe race pits Gov. Bob Fer- quire data centers to seek apguson’s Eastern Washproval of local officials ington liaison Luc Jasso citizens can object min against Republican to one of the facilities and educator Natalie in their backyard. Poulson. The Repub“I think I know how lican topped a split the 3rd District would field in the primary but vote,” he said. faces an uphill road in Poulson said her the general election of Jasmin top priority on data a traditionally Demcenters is ensuring ocratic seat. The 3rd energy costs do not Legislative District inget passed on to ratecludes most of Spokane payers. She is conwithin its borders. cerned by potential For the past four environmental imyears, Luc Jasmin has pacts but also wants been working for Govs. make sure innovation Jay Inslee and Bob Poulson isn’t stifled. Ferguson. The insider “We are going to role has given him knowledge make sure that Washington to hit the ground running in taxpayers are not paying more Olympia and use his influ- and that our environment’s ence for the benefit of Eastern safe,” she said in an interview Washington, he said. with KHQ. Poulson would bring a difPoulson also has called on ferent perspective to Olympia. Ferguson to freeze the state An early childhood educa- sales tax for victims of the tor, Poulson gained attention Spokane Complex Fires. during the COVID-19 pan“That would sure help our demic when she was fired by families. You think of the tax Spokane Public Schools for re- on building supplies alone. But fusing to wear a mask. Poulson then they have to furnish their said that experience shows entire house all over again. Evshe can make tough decisions. erything is lost,” she told KHQ. As news of a proposed data Jasmin said tax relief for center west of Spokane spread, fire victims is something the regulation of the centers has governor is exploring and he become a contentious issue. plans to push for extensive Jasmin promised to support relief to those affected in the strict regulation if elected. Spokane area. “I don’t think it’s outra“We need support for debris geous to take a pause. I fully removal,” he said. “We need support moratoriums because to make permitting for these we absolutely need to under- families easier. And I do supstand fully what the impacts port sales tax relief as well.”

Liberty Lake

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Contenders for open state seat talk AI, wildfire recovery By Amanda Sullender

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By Amanda Sullender

MEET THE CANDIDATES

families along the way,” she said. “Because for so many, it’s just going to be a long haul. That’s going to be my priority, and I hope to see a lot of bipartisan support.” Kiepe said his support of a theoretical

MEET THE CANDIDATES

3rd Legislative District, state House Position 2 Luc Jasmin III, Democrat

Age: 41 Residence: Spokane Education: Graduated

from Tolman High School in Rhode Island in 2004. Earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Eastern Nazarene College in 2008. Currently studying for a Master of Business Administration at Eastern Washington University.

Political experience:

Ran for Spokane School Board in 2019 and Spokane City Council in 2021.

Work experience:

Currently governor’s liaison under Govs. Jay Inslee and Bob Ferguson since 2022. Has owned the Parkview Early Learning Center in north Spokane since 2014. Co-owner of Jasmin Group accounting and bookkeeping firm since 2020. Previously a short-term substitute at Audubon Elementary School, a kindergarten teacher at the Little Red School House Children Center and a mentorship program employee at Glover and Shaw middle schools prior to 2014. Family: Married to Kaitlyn Chapman and has two children.

Campaign finance:

Raised more than $131,600 as of Monday, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Contributors include Avista Corp., the Washington Association of Realtors, former state Sen. Andy Billig, Spokane City Council President Betsy Wilkerson, former Spokane School Board President Jerrall Haynes, the Washington

State Democratic Central Committee and Teamsters Local Union 117.

Natalie Poulson, Republican

Age: 48 Residence: Spokane Education: Graduated

from University High School. Earned an associate degree from Spokane Community College in 2001, a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and special education from Gonzaga University in 2004. Earned her masters in education from Whitworth University in 2007.

Political experience:

Ran for state representative in the 3rd District in 2022.

Work experience:

Worked as a teacher and special education specialist for 18 years for Spokane Public Schools, until she was escorted from Finch Elementary School in November 2021 for refusing to comply with the state mask mandate. She was the academic director and teacher of Faith Christian Academy between 2022 and 2025. Since 2025 she has been a teacher at private Christian school Equip 210 Spokane. Family: Single, has three children.

Campaign finance:

Raised about $9,800 as of Monday, according to the PDC. Contributors include: Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, former Spokane County Republican Party Chairwoman Cindy Zapotocky, Spokane County Treasurer Mike Volz and Spokane County Republican Party Chairman Rob Linbarger.

aid package would depend on its details. The Republican’s preferred solution is not to provide direct cash payment from state coffers but to repeal state regulation that make s rebuilding more expensive. The state’s Climate Commitment Act would be first on the chopping block. “We need to rebuild under the same regulations when the home was built. Because of the Climate Commitment Act, you can’t rebuild with gas. That is going to cost these homeowners $30,000 to $50,000 more just to get back where they were,” he said. Hill is concerned construction of a data center on Spokane’s West Plains will strain water supplies needed to fight future fires. She hopes to pass a moratorium on the construction of all data centers in the state while they debate permanent regulations. “We need to put a pause on things until we can figure out the best way to move forward,” she said. Kiepe also is concerned by the data center proposal but does not support a moratorium. The state needs to adopt whatever regulatory framework is needed now, so data centers can be safe and bring jobs to the region, he said. “I don’t want them close to our cities. I want them to be self-regulated with the amount of power they use, the amount of clean water. We have to protect our environment, but I disagree with a moratorium. That just kicks the can down the road,” he said. Kiepe believes he can “absolutely win” in November by flipping Democrats disillusioned by the party. The Republican specifically cited the Democratic Party’s support of transgender participation in youth sports as a breaking point for many Democrats in the area with whom he’s spoken. “They don’t support men or boys in girls’ restrooms, and they don’t support men playing girls’ sports. A lot of Democrats are looking for common sense candidates who will stop this nonsense,” he said. If elected, Kiepe would support bills that would require transgender students to use school bathrooms and sports leagues of their sex assigned at birth. “If you’re born a biological male, you should go to the restroom for biological boys until you have your surgery cutting things off. Until then you’re not a full female,” he said. “And you should not play sports against women. It’s not fair for the women. If there’s that many transgenders, we need to have a transgender league.” Hill said the focus on transgender children is bigoted and a distraction from how to keep life in Spokane affordable. “A trans kid is not something that is going to impact people’s ability to keep a roof over their head, stay employed, get health care, feed their families. These are just distractions meant to target vulnerable communities.”

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to begin with are even more likely than affluent girls to be deemed unqualified for sports by not being able to comply with the invasive exams and expensive testing.” The examination would also be ineffective, Loft said. “It’s also not medically possible to tell what chromosomes somebody was born with by just an external quick look at what genitals they have as far as girls go,” Loft said. “So, I’m really not comfortable as a doctor hanging my hat, if I’m being held legally responsible, like I certify this is a girl participating in sports.” Alternative verification methods, such as blood or chromosome testing to prove eligibility, could also be a barrier to entry, Loft said. A routine blood testosterone test can cost $162 if it’s not covered by insurance, while chromosome testing costs $1,310. “The initiative does not say anything about who’s going to pay for hormone tests,” Loft said. “I think it’s very unlikely that insurance companies are going to foot the bill for unnecessary medical testing.” Loft said that while she understands the concern about fairness, the initiative is not the “right mechanism.” “One hundred ten thousand girls should not be subjected to invasive pelvic exams or expensive testing to be able to exclude, you know, a handful of trans girls in the state of Washington,” Loft said. “In addition to that, I don’t think we should be excluding trans girls from sports.” Similar laws are on the books in 27 states, and two additional states enforce similar restrictions. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Idaho law that bans transgender women and girls from participating in sports that align with their sexual orientation. Idaho was the first to pass such legislation in 2020, and it applies to athletics from elementary school through college. The U.S. Supreme Court weighed in this summer when it ruled that state laws barring transgender athletes from participating on girls’ or women’s teams do not violate either the 14th Amendment or Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The ruling followed a challenge to the Idaho law that bans transgender women and girls from participating in sports that align with their sexual gender identity. While the court ruled that states can enforce this type of law, it did not say they are required to do so.

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

October 11, 2026 • Sunday • T7

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 4 REPRESENTATIVES

Two Republicans vie to represent Spokane Valley in Olympia Pham, Maier say data center rules are best left to local entities

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Voters in Spokane Valley will chose between two Republicans for one of their representatives in Olympia. Both candidates for House Position 1 are campaigning on lower taxes and public safety, but differ in their stances on healthcare, state budget shortfalls and assault weapons. Hillary Pham and Trent Maier left the primary election Aug. 4 as the top candidates in the Republican-dominated race, beating Republicans Debra Long and George Wagner. Pham topped the field with 32.8% of the vote, and Maier came in second with 30.8%. Pham says her experience working under state Rep. Rob Chase, R-Spokane Valley, coupled with her experience in the Air Force and her business background, has prepared her to represent the district. She says she wants to focus on nonpartisan issues and work with both parties. She supports Chase’s WinWin Act, which was introduced during the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions and proposes splitting the state into two autonomous zones, with individual bodies of government, that would act as one state for federal elections. The Win-Win Act did not make it past the committee this past session. “I would say it is a great concept in theory,” Pham said. “But I am very pragmatic and realistic, and that is something that would be a very challenging thing.” Candidate Trent Maier previously gave The Spokesman-Review a mixed opinion on the act, saying, “I’m not

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ready to give up on Washington. This is my home, where I’ve built a business and invested in my community. Republicans lost the majority one seat at a time, and I believe we can earn it back one seat at a time.” A former electrical engineer and owner of Trailbreaker Cider, Maier considers himself a “common sense politician.” “I’ve always thought that to me the ideal situation would be that we have politicians that start in the middle and care about the 30% on each side of that, and that those in the fringes maybe shouldn’t be the ones dictating so many things,” he said. The state projects a budget shortfall in the upcoming legislative session, according to previous reporting from The Spokesman-Review. Pham said it’s important lawmakers don’t increase taxes to mend the gap, and instead, social services like welfare should be cut, because community resources, like churches and food pantries, can help people in need. “I would like people to realize that there are programs that should be phased out, so social programs,” she said. “It’s kind of a tough sell because people do utilize the welfare system as a way to help them, and I think there’s a time and place for it.” Maier said it’s unrealistic to expect a freshman legislator to fix the state budget; however, he wants to use his background as a businessman to have conversations with other lawmak-

ers on balancing the budget. “I would like to go into that trying to convince the Legislature to take back the power of the purse, because we don’t have any control with how money is actually getting spent, and I think that’s very important,” he said. Another issue at the forefront of voters’ minds is healthcare. President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act cut money for Medicaid, and an estimated 200,000 Washington residents will lose Apple Health coverage by 2027, The Spokesman-Review previously reported. Maier disagrees with the cuts and plans to become more informed on the Legislature’s role in healthcare should he be elected. “My understanding is what we did at the state level was not necessary, and that could have been a decision made differently,” he said. Pham recommends contacting U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner who voted in favor of the One Big Beautiful Bill with concerns regarding Medicaid cuts. However, she said she struggles with reconciling her wish to protect vulnerable populations, while also making sure the healthcare system isn’t “abused.” “You have to weigh out all the benefits and costs and see if it’s something that’s sustainable,” she said. “Right now, I think because the state is in so much debt and so much out of bal-

Valley candidates with same name are far apart on policy, priorities Chase proposes splitting state in two; Tupper sets sights on healthcare By Emily White

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Candidates for a state House position in Spokane Valley can’t be differentiated by their first names, but their priorities and positions differ widely. Rob Chase, the Republican incumbent, and Democrat Rob Tupper are competing for a seat in the state House of Representatives to represent Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake. Tupper has an uphill battle, as the Republican-leaning district hasn’t elected a Democrat since 1992. Chase won 43% of the vote in the August primary over Tupper’s 41%. The remaining vote went to Republican Bob Curtis, who was eliminated. Chase was first elected as a state representative in 2020. He lost his re-election bid in 2022, but won a seat two years later. He said he’s running to finish what he started – particularly a new concept for an old idea: politically separating Eastern Washington from Puget Sound. Chase also has five to 10 bills he wants to introduce to the House this year. For decades, some conservative legislators in Eastern Washington have called for splitting Washington in two. Chase’s plan would do that in a different way than many earlier proposals by creating two autonomous regions within Washington boundaries, one called the Puget Sound region, the other Columbia. The bill, he said, would divide the state without needing Congressional approval, but it would take a two-thirds vote in the Legislature. The two regions would have regional governors, judges and legislators, but would remain one state for federal elections. See DISTRICT 4 POSITION 2, 12

MEET THE CANDIDATES

4th Legislative District, state House Position 2 Rob Chase, Republican

Age: 72 Education: Graduated from Kellogg High School

in 1972. Graduated from Eastern Washington University in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, operations management. Work experience: Is semiretired and focused on his political career, but has worked as a U.S. Census Bureau enumerator and security guard for Phoenix Protective Corps in Spokane Valley. Worked as an expeditor with Haakon Industries based in Cheney from 2006 to 2007. Held mortgage origination and real estate licenses. Served in U.S. Army Reserves from 1972-1978. Now volunteers with Spokane Fatherhood Initiative. Political experience: Won a seat in the state House of Representatives representing District 4 in the 2024 election. Elected as a state representative in 2020 and lost re-election bid in 2022. Elected Spokane County treasurer in 2010 and 2014. Republican Party Precinct Committee officer. Ran unsuccessfully for state Senate in 2000, U.S. House in 2002, Spokane County commissioner in 2012 and 2018, and Spokane Valley City Council in 2023. Served as Eastern Washington coordinator for Ron Paul for President in 2008 and 2012, and Eastern Washington coordinator for Clint Didier’s 2010 Senate campaign. Family: Married to Chris Chase and has four children. Campaign finance: Raised $19,700 as of Oct. 4, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Contributors include Delta Dental, Washington Beer and Wine Distributors, Kaiser Aluminum and Spokane Valley City Councilwoman Pam Haley.

ance with their budget, that I think Medicaid has been one of the things on the chopping block.” Pham Regarding data centers, Pham thinks regulation should be left to local governments. She says the moratoriMaier ums many local governments passed are wise as the costs and effects are evaluated. Similarly, Maier says local communities are already restricting data centers, and he doesn’t think the state should be too “aggressive.” “I have worked in data centers, and I am not somebody who is trying to jump in the middle of deciding whether that’s right or wrong, but my analysis has been that the communities where they do exist, the sky is still up in the air,” he said. Pham and Maier both describe themselves as prolife, but agree Washington voters are settled on the current regulations and don’t have plans to advocate for changes or restrictions should they be elected to the Legislature. “I feel like that’s settled law in Washington. That’s certainly not a reason I’m running for the Legislature. That’s for sure,” Maier said. Maier says he supports Washington’s current gun laws and regulations, including the ban on assault weapons. He is a gun owner and says he doesn’t see why an everyday citizen would need assault weapons. Pham, however, doesn’t agree with the ban. “I’m a proponent of the Second Amendment right, and I think that we shouldn’t be banning some industries,” she said. “I think there’s enough regulations that prohibit people from doing the wrong thing.”

Mike

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Washington’s 4th Legislative District, state House Position 1 Hillary Pham, Republican

Age: 29 Education: Graduated from University

of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in urban planning. Is currently working on a masters in public administration. Work experience: Pham is an Air Force veteran. She served at Fairchild Air Force Base for five years, working as a healthcare administrator for three years and in financial management for two years. She separated from the military in 2023 and began working as an assistant to state Rep. Rob Chase, who is the incumbent in Position 2 in the 4th District. Political experience: First run for office. Family: Single. Her parents live with her in Liberty Lake. Campaign finance: Raised about $36,400, including $7,000 loan to herself as of Oct. 4, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Contributors include Washington Realtors Political Action Committee, former Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell, former state Rep. Bob McCaslin and state Rep. Rob Chase.

Trent Maier, Republican

Age: 45 Education: Graduated from Michigan

State University with a bachelors degree in electrical engineering in 2003. Following that, he attended culinary school in Seattle. Work experience: Operates a cidery called Trailbreaker Cider in Liberty Lake. Was previously an electrical engineer and developed the cidery from scratch. Political experience: First run for office. Family: Married to Stacie Maier. Campaign finance: Raised about $52,500, including loan of about $4,900 from himself, as of Oct. 4, according to the state Public Facilities District. Contributors include Rockwood Property Management, Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors’ BUILD East Political Action Committee, Avista Utilities, Washington Food Industry Association PAC and Spokesman-Review Publisher William Stacey Cowles.

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Experienced • Impartial • Dedicated For Our Community.

Rob Tupper, Democrat

Age: 64 Education: Has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics

from University of Fairbanks in Alaska and a teaching degree from Whitworth University. Work experience: Retired in 2024 after working several jobs in different career fields, including teaching at Mead High School for four years, working at a call center, and doing industrial work in the refining oil production and fertilizer manufacturing. Political experience: First run for office. Family: Married to Deb Tupper and has four adult children. Campaign finance: Raised about $14,400 as of Oct. 4, including $4,800 in loans from Tupper and the Committee to Elect Rob Tupper, according to the PDC. Contributors include Dr. Bernadine Bank, a Democrat who ran for Congress in 2024.

Mike is endorsed by judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement, court staff, business owners and other members of the community. View a full list of endorsements at

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Paid for by the Committee to Elect Mike Valerien PO Box 6073, Spokane, WA 99217

T8 • Sunday • October 11, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 6 REPRESENTATIVES

Education, housing splits Mead school board member, Democrat running for District 6 House seat Both agree regulations must be made for data centers By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

A field of six candidates contending for a state House seat in Spokane County is down to two. Democrat Michaela Kelso and Republican Alan Nolan emerged as the top two candidates in the August primary for House position 1 in the 6th Legislative District. The seat opened when Rep. Mike Volz decided not to run for re-election to focus on his job as Spokane County treasurer. Both candidates say they are concerned about the affordability of housing but have different ideas on how to address the problem. Kelso, a retired U.S. Army veteran, said the expectation that each family will be able to own a single-family home is a “folly” and building more homes isn’t the solution. “It’s not how we’re going to get out of this crisis,” she said. “We don’t have that much space. It’s shortsighted to just focus on that. We need to build up, not out.” New apartments are being built, but most are expensive and require people to make two to three times the rent in income. She’d like to use incentives to encourage developers to include low-income housing as part of their developments. That also avoids the issue of building large apartment complexes that are only for low-income residents, concentrating people living in poverty in one area. Nolan, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran and co-owner of an interior design and construction firm, said he believes housing could be made more affordable by repealing recent laws that mandate energy efficiency in new buildings. He said the state should revert to the 2018 building codes. “There’s a strong desire to limit energy consumption without regards to cost,” he said. “There’s a significant amount of expense that’s based on that.” He said a recent study showed that around 30%

of the cost of new homes is based on regulations. “In Washington, a large part of that is based on the energy code,” he said. “We’re taking away the ability for builders to build lower cost homes and make a profit.” He said he favors adding second dwellings to existing lots, whether it’s a full-sized home or an accessory dwelling unit. “It’s absolutely making better use of the land,” he said. Kelso said Washington officials set too many requirements on school districts. “That’s a big deal and it’s up to school districts to figure out how to fund them,” she said. “In Washington state, that’s property taxes.” She said too often teachers are told what they can and cannot teach and that it should be up to the professionals to determine what kids should be learning. She does not support Initiative-001, an initiative on the November ballot known as the “Parents’ Bill of Rights.” Kelso said the initiative seems to be based on the premise that teachers are “indoctrinating” students. “I find that a ridiculous thought,” she said. “They do it because they love kids, not because they love indoctrination. What they would really love is to teach without worrying about school supplies. How many of them are paying for them out of their own pocket?” She also does not support Initiative 638, which would ban transgender girls from participating in female school sports. Kelso said she objects to the portion of the initiative that would require all girls signing up to play sports to prove their sex assigned at birth. The initiative says girls must have their “health care provider” verify their sex based on “the student’s reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or normal endogenously produced testosterone levels.” Nolan, who sits on the Mead School District board of directors, said education spending has been growing while educational outcomes have been getting worse. He said parents should be allowed to send their children to charter schools or private schools and have the state pay the schools the funding that would have been allocated to that stu-

MEET THE CANDIDATES

6th Legislative District, state House Position 1 Michaela Kelso, Democrat

Age: 56 Residence: Deer Park Education: Graduated from high school in Oberursel, Germany. She earned

associate degrees in landscape management and small farms production at Spokane Community College. Work experience: Retired from the U.S. Army in 2018 after 23 years of service. Political experience: Ran unsuccessfully for a 6th Legislative District seat in 2022 and 2024. She has served as one of two Democratic Party 6th District state committee members and as a precinct committee officer. Serves on the executive board of the Spokane County Democrats. Family: Married to Alan Kelso. Has two children. Campaign finance: Kelso has pledged not to raise more than $7,000 for her campaign and is therefore not required to report contributions to the PDC, but still has opted to report. Contributors include former Spokane County Democratic Party Chair Naida Spencer and the Spokane Fire Fighters Union Political Action Committee.

Alan Nolan, Republican

Age: 56 Residence: Spokane Education: Graduated from H.H. Dow High School in Midland, Michigan, in 1988

and from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1992. Received a master’s in international relations from Troy State University. Work experience: Retired from the U.S. Air Force. He co-owns an interior design and construction firm with his wife. Political experience: Elected to the Mead School Board in 2023. He’s a member of the state Energy Code Technical Advisory Group and previously served on the State Building Council and the Spokane County Planning Commission. Family: Married to Wendy Nolan. Has three sons. Campaign finance: Raised nearly $39,500 as of Oct. 5, including $6,000 Nolan loaned to his campaign, according to the PDC. Contributors include Mead School Board member Michael Cannon; former Spokane County Republican Party Central Committee member Vitaliy Maksimov; Indian Summer Springs LLC, a property company owned by developer Harley Douglass; and Indian Pointe LCC, another company owned by Douglass; and Avista Corp.

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For the first time since 2018, voters in the 6th Legislative District will send new lawmakers to represent them in the state House of Representatives. Neither incumbent – Reps. Mike Volz and Jenny Graham – opted to run for re-election. In the race to succeed Graham, former Spokane city Councilman Republican Jonathan Bingle and Democrat Julia Payne advanced to the general election during the August primary. Bingle won that contest, winning just over 50% of the vote from the district, while Payne narrowly edged out independent candidate Aaron Croft with nearly 25% to earn second place. This fall, voters will decide on three statewide initiatives that would repeal the state’s newly approved tax on income above $1 million, repeal many of the changes the state Legislature made to the parental rights initiative approved in 2024, and bar transgender athletes from competing in K-12 female sports. Payne said she would vote against all three, which would uphold the income tax and reject the other two initiatives. Bingle, meanwhile, said

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dent if they were attending a public school. “Competition is good in the market,” he said. “I would like to see the option for parents to direct that money. That money is meant for the student, it’s not meant for the public school.” On his website, Nolan writes that he “fought to remove ideology from classrooms” and worked to advance proposals to protect

girls in school sports. He advocates for the passage of Initiative 638. Nolan said he does not support the tax on income over $1 million approved by the Legislature this year. He said he believes the Legislature will eventually try to lower that threshold. Washington voters have previously voted down an income tax and he said he believes the new version, as it’s written, is unconstitu-

Bingle hopes to return to politics in Legislature ‘Workforce educated’ Payne is also seeking seat

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he planned to vote yes for all three initiatives. While Payne always thought she would run for elected office, she didn’t necessarily think it would be this year, and it certainly wouldn’t be for the state Legislature. “My initial assumption was that it would be something smaller,” said Payne, a Democrat. “But with the seat being open, and everything that’s happening and impacting such broad areas of Washington, I just decided that I can have the most impact by going to state.” Payne said she likes to refer to herself as “workforce educated.” “Because at the end of the day, I don’t have a college degree. I’ve simply worked regular jobs. I’ve worked low-income jobs. I’ve worked some slightly better jobs. I’ve worked office jobs. I’ve worked restaurant jobs,” Payne said. “So I know what the average everyday working American and Washingtonian has to face as far as making those bills count.” Bingle said he was motivated to run because he wanted his kids “to want to choose Washington to put down roots.” “I want them to have opportunity. I want them to be safe. I want them to feel confident in raising their kids here, feel like they have a place where they can buy a home and have a good school system and good parks system. Safe, traversable roads,” Bingle said. “And I just, I see Washington heading in the wrong direction on every single one of those. And so if I want my kids to be

here, people like me need to step up and serve to try and make a difference.” If elected, Payne would join what would likely be a Democratic governing trifecta in the state Capitol. At the same time, she would do so representing a consistently conservative district that hasn’t elected a Democrat since 2008. And redistricting has made it lean stronger toward Republicans since then. Still, she says there’s “no doubt” in her mind she could represent her constituents from across the political spectrum. “When I sit down to a family dinner, I am sitting down to a family dinner where I’m the minority, not the majority,” Payne said. “A large majority of my family is Republican, so I live in a world where in order to continue to have civil family conversations, I need to be willing to sit and listen to what they have to say and what they’re concerned about and meet them in the middle, and I actively want to do that.” For his part, Bingle would find himself in a chamber where Democrats hold a near supermajority. A former member of the Spokane City Council, Bingle pointed to passing “a number of meaningful pieces of legislation” while working with his Democratic colleagues. Bingle noted he worked with Councilwoman Karen Stratton in 2023 on the “parks after dark” ordinance, which made it a criminal offense to be in public parks during See DISTRICT 6 POSITION 2, 13

tional because the state Constitution affirms all property must be taxed equally. “The tax burden is already pretty high in this state,” he said. “We do not need another tax.” Kelso said she supports the income tax and believes higher earners should be taxed at a higher amount. “I’m obviously not making a million a year,” she said. “I’m sure 90% of people don’t make a million.

This will not apply to us. They got rich off of us. Let them pay their fair share.” An issue that exploded over the summer is the discussion about data centers wanting to build in Spokane County, proposals that have been met with a large amount of public opposition. Kelso said the facilities are too big and she wonders who would be expected to foot the bill for the new distribution lines to accommodate the vast amounts of power the data centers would need. She said she’s also concerned about the amount of water data centers need. The West Plains, where some of the data centers want to locate, is dealing with PFAS contamination in the water, she said. Kelso said she favors a temporary statewide data center moratorium. “The Legislature needs a chance to provide the basic rules,” she said. “We need to do it the right way. We have to protect the people around them.” Nolan said he understands and supports the concerns people have about the availability and cost of electricity and water. He said he believes data centers should have to go through a “robust” process. “The reason why those exist is because of demand,” he said. “That demand is coming from us.” Eastern Washington is a good area for data centers because there’s cheap power and good water, Nolan said. “There are good reasons to do it in this area.” Local governments should be the ones to decide about data center locations, Nolan said. “I believe in local control,” he said. “No one is going to accept having brownouts, having water shortages.” Kelso said she wants a chance to help make life better for Eastern Washingtonians. “I’m running for office because I want to take care of people,” she said. Nolan said he wants to serve in the Legislature to help reign in ineffective spending. “We’re harming our economy through this taxing and excessive spending,” he said. “My opponent wants to see more of the policies that are driving us toward deficit.”

MEET THE CANDIDATES

6th Legislative District, state House Position 2 Jonathan Bingle, Republican

Age: 39 Residence: Spokane Education: Graduated from Rogers High School in 2005. Political experience: Ran for Spokane mayor in 2019; lost

in the primary. Elected to Spokane City Council in 2021. Lost re-election bid last year. Work experience: Owns Bingle Enterprises, got into the events businesses while an employee at Applebee’s. Later branched out and started his own company. With his wife, Bingle operates Bent Trivia and Bent Events in Spokane. Pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic to work as a contractor. Family: Married to Christina Bingle and has two sons and one daughter. Campaign finance: Raised about $178,500, as of Oct. 5, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Contributors include Spokane Police Political Action Committee, Avista Corp., Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs, NBA Hall of Famer John Stockton, CEO of Pacific Holding Corp. of Washington Jonathan Ferraiuolo, Spokane Fire Fighters Union, Puget Sound Energy, developer Harley C. Douglass, developer Sheldon Jackson.

Julia Payne, Democrat

Age: 45 Residence: Spokane Education: Graduated from Medical Lake High School in

1999, attended classes at Spokane Community College and Spokane Falls Community College. Political experience: First run for office. Work experience: Currently on disability. Previously had office, office administration, fast food and grocery store bakery jobs. Family: Married to Brian Payne, and has child and one foster child. Campaign finance: Raised about $7,400 as of Oct. 5, according to the PDC, including about $700 she loaned her campaign. Contributors include herself and Spokane CityCounty Historic Preservation Specialist Logan Camporeale.

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

October 11, 2026 • Sunday • T9

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS 7 & 9

Independent 7th Legislative CANDIDATES FOR SOUTHEAST WA challenges District, state Senate DISTRICT EXPRESS CONCERN OVER Republican for RURAL HEALTHCARE ACCESS Senate seat in 9th Legislative northeastern WA District, Position 2 MEET THE CANDIDATES

Ronald McCoy, independent

Age: 69 Residence: Chewelah Education: Graduated from Medical

By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Republican Shelly Short earned 56% of the vote in a primary race against two challengers in the race to keep her 7th Legislative District Senate seat but said she’s not taking the results for granted. “I don’t think you can ever be confident. It’s my job to go earn it,” Short said. In the November election, Short is facing indeShort pendent candidate Ronald McCoy, who received 29% of the vote in the primary. Short was elected to the state House in 2008, then was appointed to the Senate in 2017. Short said she would like to see the state focus McCoy more on wildfire policy, particularly in the wake of the Spokane Complex fires. “Fire is something we experience every year,” she said. “I want to make sure the Department of Natural Resources has the money they need.” Short said she backed a bipartisan effort this year to restore $60 million in funding previously cut from DNR. She sponsored a bill to restore the funding, but it did not advance out of committee. Short said she worked with the environmental community and local tribes on a letter that was sent to the Ways and Means Committee chairperson to advocate for restoring the funding. “The bill started the conversation,” she said. “I led that effort in the Senate.” The House of Representatives approved a different bill, which restored the cut funding and funded the restoration by eliminating a tax break on interest that was benefiting large mortgage lenders instead of the small community banks it was designed for, according See NORTHEAST WA, 14

Lake High School. Received GED from Bremerton Community College and associate degree from Spokane Community College in legal administration. Work experience: Served in several leadership roles within the Navy over the course of 20 years, with about four years serving actively. Previously worked for the Rural Resource board of directors and has previously served on the Association of Washington Cities board of directors. Appointed by Gov. Gary Locke in 2001 to serve on the State Building Code Council, where he served for one year. Political experience: Served as Chewelah mayor from 1998 to 2002. Previously ran for state Legislature as a Democrat around 20 years ago. Ran for state House as a Republican in 2024. Served on the Chewelah City Council. Family: Married to Victoria McCoy. They have adopted and raised six children. Campaign finance: Raised about $1,400 as of Friday, including $400 McCoy loaned his campaign, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Contributors include McCoy and Parkway Auto.

Shelly Short, Republican

Age: 64 Residence: Addy Education: Graduated from University

High School in 1980. Attended Spokane Community College 1980-81 and Eastern Washington University 1981-82. Political experience: First elected to House in 2008, appointed to Senate in 2017 to fill open seat and won special election later in 2017 to keep the seat. Reelected to four-year terms twice after that. Work experience: Former congressional aide to U.S. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and George Nethercutt. Former legislative aide to Rep. Joel Kretz. Worked as a paralegal for 10 years. Family: Married to Mitch Short. Has two grown children. Campaign finance: Raised $184,200 as of Friday, according to the PDC. Contributors include: Anheuser Busch, Association of Washington Business Political Action Committee, BNSF Railway, Washington State Fruit Tree Association PAC, Walmart and Chevron Corp.

Judge Larson during his 18 years of service as a trial judge

By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

If longtime state Rep. Joe Schmick can hold on to the support he had in the August primary over his opponent, Democrat Karina Wallace, he should have an easy path to re-election. Despite coming in second by 20 percentage points, Wallace said she received several thousand more votes than she expected. “Primaries are notoriously hard to get people out for,” she said. Schmick, a farmer and small business owner for decades until the family farm was sold recently, has served in the state House since 2007. Wallace, a disabled certified peer support specialist, is new to the area. Schmick Schmick said he believes the state budget has grown too large. “It can be done,” he said of a balanced budget without new taxes. “People need to have political will.” Wallace grew up in VanWallace couver, Washington, but visited Eastern Washington every summer to spend time on the family farm near Ritzville. She moved to the Cheney area a year ago. “I kept looking around waiting for someone to represent me that I could get behind,” she said. “I decided I’d just have to stand up myself.” She said she’s concerned about some of Schmick’s priorities, as well as his low rating from the Washington Labor Council. He voted against bills on easing requirements on middle housing, which includes duplexes and cottage housing, and rent stabilization, she said. Schmick said he’d like to focus on improving access to healthcare, partly by maintaining the district’s critical care hospitals. Located in rural areas, the hospitals have fewer than 25 beds and are more than 35 miles from the next closest hospital. The state is currently finishing a two-year pilot project to have insurance companies give critical-access hospitals a lump sum for mental health services. The pilot appears to See SOUTHEAST WA, 12

ABOUT THE CANDIDATES

Joe Schmick, Republican

Age: 68 Education: Graduated from Colfax

High School. Holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Eastern Washington University. Work experience: Farmer and small business owner for more than 40 years, now retired. Political experience: Has held his seat in the House of Representatives 9th Legislative District since 2007. He previously served on the Washington Barley Commission and the National Barley Improvement Committee in the 1990s. Family: Married to Kim Schmick. Campaign finance: Raised more than $161,600 as of Oct. 5, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Top contributors include Avista Corp., Washington Hospitality Association, Lumen Technology Service Group, Pfizer, CVS Pharmacy, Premera Blue Cross, Washington Medical Political Action Committee, Washington Beer and Wine Distributors.

Karina Wallace, Democrat

Age: 42 Education: Received a GED and earned

a general associate degree from Lower Columbia College. Work experience: Previously had her own business, Rising Above the Trail Trauma Recovery, and worked as a certified nursing assistant. She’s a certified peer support specialist and has volunteered in domestic violence shelters. Currently disabled due to lupus and Sjogren’s syndrome. Political experience: First run for office. Family: Legally separated with six children. Campaign finance: Raised about $1,900 as of Oct. 5, including nearly $700 loan from herself, according to PDC. Contributors include Spokane City Councilman Paul Dillon.

T10 • Sunday • October 11, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5

Where Conroy and Baumgartner stand on 24 issues By Emry Dinman and Orion Donovan-Smith THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Eastern Washington voters have the same choices for Congress they had two years ago. But two years is a long time for domestic, foreign and economic

policies, especially considering the dramatic changes that have occurred in the second Trump administration. Here is a look at the positions, votes, statements and actions of

incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner in his first term as well as the positions of his Democratic challenger Carmela Conroy.

Baumgartner

Conroy

Issue

Michael Baumgartner

Carmela Conroy

Affordability

Points to his vote for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which temporarily eliminated federal tax on tips and extended other expiring tax cuts, and his support for a bipartisan housing bill that is expected to reduce home costs in the future. Supports the Iran war, which has raised the costs of fuel, fertilizer and other goods, but notes that Washington state taxes make gas prices higher in the state.

Argues the Iran war and tariffs and trade wars are significant drivers of cost increases that Congress could unwind. Conroy also supports raising the minimum wage and expanding access to Medicaid to all young people up to the age of 19, which she believes would reduce costs for parents.

One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Helped pass Trump’s signature bill, which extended expiring tax cuts and increased spending on immigration enforcement and the military. The law is projected to add $3.4 trillion over 10 years to the national debt but slow the growth in spending on Medicaid and food assistance by imposing new work requirements, which he called a step in the right direction but not “a silver bullet” to reduce budget deficits.

By and large, Conroy argues the 2025 tax and spending package did major damage to the social safety net and to rural healthcare. She says the law bill ballooned the national deficit, underscoring arguments that welfare cuts were fiscally responsible.

Future of Medicaid

Has called Medicaid “a broken system that costs too much and does not serve the most needy well,” pointing to costs that are projected to keep rising. Helped enact new restrictions that are estimated to reduce Medicaid spending by $911 billion over a decade by removing about 11 million people from coverage.

Conroy supports undoing the cuts to Medicaid, arguing they have added to federal bureaucracy and red tape for those who can’t afford medical coverage. She also believes Medicaid coverage should be expanded to cover all Americans who are 19 and younger.

Tariffs

Has voiced concerns about the economic effects of tariffs but has voted several times against repealing them. Explaining one such vote in February, he said Trump’s taxes on imports from Canada “help America to stem the flow of fentanyl from the Canadian border.”

Conroy believes Congress has surrendered its authority over tariffs to Trump, who has used them in “wildly chaotic ways” that have hurt producers in Eastern Washington. There are issues with countries engaging in unfair trade, but fair trade needs to be built deliberately, not through chaotic, arbitrary decisions by the president.

National debt

Frequently invokes the nation’s debt, which has doubled from $20 trillion to $40 trillion since 2016, but has said reducing budget deficits will have to wait until a future president runs on a platform of fiscal responsibility. Supports Trump’s request to sharply increase military spending and argues Congress should reduce spending on social welfare programs.

Acknowledges that interest payments on the debt are rapidly rising and believes it was irresponsible to approve major corporate tax cuts, particularly those for the AI and data center industries, as well as those permanently extended by the One Big Beautiful Bill. However, she admits that balancing the budget is not a top priority in her first term.

Iran war

A member of the House Foreign Relations Committee, he has been a vocal proponent of war with Iran, whose government he calls a “terrorist regime” that has backed militants who have killed thousands of Americans in Iraq and elsewhere. He has said the war, which Trump began in February, should continue as long as necessary to ensure Iran can’t obtain nuclear weapons.

Conroy has repeatedly argued that the Obama-era agreement to monitor Iran’s nuclear weapons program was working. Trump ended that agreement and that, she says, has plunged the nation into a costly, unnecessary war with no real strategy. After last summer’s air strikes and repeated claims from the White House that Iran’s nuclear capabilities were neutralized, the nation can no longer trust the president when he says the threat has ended.

Military aid to Israel

He is a strong supporter of Israel and voted against cutting U.S. military aid to the country in July. After a weeklong visit to Israel in 2025, he defended the Israeli government’s conduct in the war, saying it was doing “relatively speaking, a good job” in “an extremely difficult situation.”

Conroy’s position has changed drastically from 2024, when she argued withholding military aid could further destabilize the region. Now, Conroy argues that Israel is engaging in human rights violations and is no longer a legitimate ally of the United States, and aid should be withheld.

Cryptocurrency

Helped pass the GENIUS Act to regulate stablecoins, which he called “a good first step,” but said Congress has “really lagged in regulating digital assets.” He also voted for the CLARITY Act, which would have created a regulatory framework largely supported by the cryptocurrency industry but stalled in the Senate. He called cryptocurrency “an ongoing policy issue that needs more work,” balancing consumer protection and security concerns with the need for U.S. banks to be globally competitive.

Called the GENIUS Act “fine as far as it goes,” but believes the industry needs broader regulation – which will be difficult, she argues, while the Trump family personally profits off of cryptocurrencies, such as the controversial $MELANIA memecoin.

Online gambling and prediction markets

Says that while he generally supports free markets, technology has “turbo-charged the growth of prediction markets and online gambling” and government should act to protect the integrity of sports, prevent insider trading and address social harms. He introduced a bill that would ban prediction-market platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi from letting gamblers bet on wildfires. States currently can’t regulate those platforms, and he says Congress should balance states’ rights against concerns about an unworkable patchwork of regulations.

Argued that prediction markets are vulnerable to insider trading, including from people inside government offices, and skirt too many existing regulations and taxes for traditional gambling. Broadly admitted the issue is “not top of mind.”

SAVE Act and election policy

Argues the SAVE America Act would help restore trust in U.S. election systems. He has emphasized the bill’s voter ID requirement and dismissed concerns that its proof-of-citizenship requirement would make it harder for married women and older Americans to vote. Unlike most GOP lawmakers, Baumgartner has publicly said he believes Trump lost the 2020 election.

Conroy believes that mail-in voting is secure and reliable, and argues that Trump’s efforts to mandate nationwide federal election reform are unconstitutional. She argues that requiring a passport or birth certificate to vote is unnecessary and disenfranchises voters who have changed their name, such as married women, or who do not have ready access to these documents.

Cuba and Venezuela

Hailed the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January as “a great step for the security of the American people and the Western Hemisphere,” and has argued it could lead to regime change in Cuba, whose government long depended on Venezuelan oil.

While Conroy agrees there was a “really truly terrible government in Venezuela” and continues to be a problematic regime in Cuba, the former diplomat believes the Trump administration has abandoned diplomacy and adopted a might-makes-right posture, threatening the post-WWII rules-based order that the U.S. created.

Haitians with temporary protected status

Welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision to let the Trump administration end temporary protected status, but he noted that many Haitian immigrants who were living in the country legally filled important roles in healthcare and other industries. He said he hoped the administration would use “common sense” and “enforce the removal of the temporary protection in an orderly and thoughtful fashion.”

Conroy said she could not understand why the administration would revoke temporary protected status for Haitians or other immigrants while conditions in their countries of origin remain perilous. The U.S. Supreme Court decision in June still leaves the door open for Congress to extend the protection, and Conroy would vote to do so.

Legal immigration reform

Said soon after taking office that Congress could tackle immigration reform after the border was secured, and later said Democrat-run states like Washington need to cooperate with the Trump administration’s deportation efforts before bipartisan legislation could pass.

Conroy believes that it has become too expensive and slow to immigrate legally into the United States, whether as a permanent resident or as a seasonal worker. During the second Trump administration, the fear of arbitrary enforcement has further pushed away people who could contribute to the economy, Conroy argues, including international students who help subsidize the tuitions of instate students.

ICE and border security

After initially saying the January killing of Renee Good was a “tragedy” but appeared justified, he later called for a congressional investigation following the killing of a second U.S. citizen, Alex Pretti, by federal immigration agents in Minnesota. The next month, he praised Trump’s decision to replace the Border Patrol commander who had led the Minnesota operation.

Conroy believes that ICE has terrorized local communities and has called for the Department of Homeland Security to be “dismantled and beheaded,” arguing that the agency needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. She has pivoted significantly from two years ago, when she supported additional funding and authority for immigration enforcement; she argues that conduct during the second Trump administration has been unacceptable.

Data centers

Introduced a bill in June aimed at keeping data centers from raising power and water costs, and has said local communities should decide if and how data centers are built in their areas. In a September debate, he said those concerns should be balanced with the benefits of AI and the race with China to develop the technology.

Conroy believes that concerns about the environmental impacts of large-scale data centers are valid and believes local and state governments should decide whether they fit in a community. “Congress should not get involved in that,” she said at a recent debate. She does not believe rapid growth is necessary for America to stay competitive on AI.

Artificial intelligence

As a member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet, he introduced a bill to codify Trump’s executive order to bar states from regulating AI. Amid warnings from AI industry insiders in September that the technology could threaten humanity, Baumgartner said he takes those concerns seriously but doesn’t want regulation to help China surpass the United States in the AI race.

Conroy believes that AI has become so pervasive that consumers cannot avoid it, but believes the primary priority for Congress should be to create rules for privacy, clear labeling of AI-generated content, and liability. Conroy believes the White House is overly involved in picking winners and losers, and does not agree rapid expansion of the industry is necessary for national security or economic dominance.

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

October 11, 2026 • Sunday • T11

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5 Issue

Michael Baumgartner

Carmela Conroy

Access to gender transition for minors

Voted for a bill to ban hormone therapy, puberty blockers, surgery and other gender-transition care for minors. Believes federal funds shouldn’t be used for such procedures whose long-term effects he says are not well understood. “Everyone should be treated with empathy and dignity,” he says, but those interventions “are neither risk-free nor reversible.”

Conroy believes these decisions should be left up entirely to patients, doctors and parents unless there is a “court order that parents were harming their children …” Congress should largely not be involved, and Conroy argues that national bans on access to medical interventions infringe on individual freedom.

Abortion

According to his official website, he supports “each state’s right to determine its own abortion laws,” and he is not among the majority of House Republicans who sponsor the Life at Conception Act, which would ban abortion nationwide.

Supports codifying the rights to abortion previously afforded by Roe v. Wade and overturning the Hyde Amendment, which restricted federal funds, such as Medicaid, from being used to pay for abortion.

Supreme Court

Baumgartner opposes expanding the U.S. Supreme Court or other major institutional reforms, arguing it would erode trust and encourage retaliatory reforms when Congress flips in the future.

Conroy supports expanding the U.S. Supreme Court as part of broader reforms drafted by a hypothetical coalition of sitting judges from diverse backgrounds. She also supports term limits, an actionable code of ethics for justices, and greater transparency for gifts and travel. She believes trust in the court has eroded and reform is necessary to restore that trust.

DOGE and waste, fraud and abuse

Was one of eight Republicans who sponsored a March 2025 bill to protect some of the federal workers who lost their jobs in a mass firing in February 2025, but said at the time the move wasn’t “some specific pushback against Elon Musk,” who led the Department of Government Efficiency project. Has said Medicaid and other federal programs are rife with “waste, fraud and abuse,” and supported efforts to reduce those problems.

Conroy agrees that waste, fraud and abuse are a serious concern and believes the Trump administration undermined that cause by firing inspectors general and judge advocates general, and by cutting funding for the IRS to audit high-income taxpayers. Is more concerned about institutional fraud, such as fraudulent billing by medical providers, than fraud by individuals.

Transgender rights

The congressman told Range Media, “The government’s role in regulating trans individuals’ lives and medical decisions should be limited,” but said federal policy should distinguish between people based on their sex at birth in sports, medicine, prisons and more. He said parents, not schools or states, should make decisions about their children.

Conroy supports the Equality Act, a pending civil rights bill that would explicitly add sexual orientation and gender identity to federal nondiscrimination laws. She argues that Congress’ only role is preventing discrimination by state governments.

College sports

Has taken a leading role in efforts to regulate college sports, including by introducing a bill that would replace the NCAA with a commission whose leader would be appointed by the president. He is also the lead sponsor in the House of the Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan bill that passed the Senate in September and would take a different approach, letting the NCAA regulate athletes’ compensation, transfers and more.

Supports stronger labor protections for student athletes and agrees that the NCAA was abusing athletes through an effective employment monopoly. She believes student athletes should be able to profit off of their name and likeness. However, more broadly, she believes the incumbent has spent too much time focused on college sports, particularly when many of Baumgartner’s bills “have gone absolutely nowhere.”

Trump’s D.C. construction projects

Has defended Trump’s ballroom at the White House, arguing that future presidents will appreciate having a place to host large gatherings. Welcomed the Trump administration restoring urban parks in D.C. by redirecting money from national parks like Yosemite and Yellowstone, as well as the effort to coat the Reflecting Pool with blue paint.

Believes that the Trump administration’s focus on D.C. cultural monuments has been both wasteful and frequently illegal. Pointed to the proposed Triumphal Arch as “aesthetically troubling” and believes the argument it would serve a defense purpose is both a post-hoc excuse and nonsensical. “Who does the administration plan to hunt from an arch over the Arlington Cemetery?”

American history

Has criticized what he calls a “left-wing, woke mindset” focused on negative aspects of U.S. history, arguing that Americans should celebrate their history and cultivate a sense of national pride. Introduced legislation in 2025 to create a memorial to the Mexican-American War, which he believes Americans should celebrate for expanding their country to include California and much of the Southwest.

Believes the Trump administration has gone out of its way to “whitewash our history and elevate European people over others who contributed to America.” Even prior to the current administration, Conroy believes there was too little, not too much, emphasis on the achievements of people from diverse backgrounds and on the harm the nation did to people based on race.

Greenland

Said in January it would be in the United States’ interest to purchase Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark. When he attended the Munich Security Conference a month later, he learned that Trump’s repeated threats to seize the island “were a much bigger deal in Europe than they were back home.”

Argues it “boggles the mind” that the U.S. would threaten a NATO ally’s sovereign territory, particularly given the history of substantive defense agreements between the U.S. and Greenland-Denmark. To the extent she supports the recent agreement struck by the Trump administration, it is primarily because she hopes it will ease tensions Trump inflamed.

Elect Rob Tupper ★ ★ FOR DISTRICT 4 POSITION 2

‘‘

I am committed to treating every constituent with dignity and respect. I will listen before I speak, seek common ground before drawing lines, and measure my work by whether it genuinely serves the people of this community — all of them.

— Rob Tupper

HELP RATIONAL ROB BUILD A BETTER WASHINGTON

Common Sense

Reasoned Representation

★ One Washington State

★ Influence with the majority party

Affordable healthcare

★ People above Profit

No secret Data Center deals

★ Who are they and why did they come to us? Double your voice in Olympia: Write-in for position 1 and Elect:

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LEARN MORE VISIT:

RationalRobLD4.org Thank you for your vote of confidence.

Paid for by the committee to elect Rob Tupper, PO Box 14228, Spokane Valley, WA 99214

★

T12 • Sunday • October 11, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

BALLOT MEASURES

Nine Mile Falls School District seeks two levies to fix failing roof, fund extracurriculars, sports Superintendent hopes for higher turnout after failed April tax ask By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The Nine Mile Falls School District is among several districts that have chosen to put levies on the November ballot instead of in February as has been done in recent years. Superintendent Jeff Baerwald said the district attempted to pass a capital projects levy in April that failed after voter turnout was low. “We had 24% of parents vote,” he said. He, like other superintendents and school boards, hopes to get a higher voter turnout by using the general election ballot. “The typical February election is changing, at least in this region,” he said. The district has placed two tax questions on the November ballot, a replacement programs and operations levy and a capital projects levy. The current operations levy expires at the end of 2027, and the new three-year levy

would collect an estimated $2.10 per $1,000 in assessed home value in 2028, down from the current collection of $2.27 per $1,000 this year. Levy money is used to pay for things the state does not, including more teachers to reduce class sizes, art and music teachers, athletics and other extracurricular activities. The district has broken down what each levy dollar is spent on: 45 cents is for teachers, support staff and other supplemental positions such as counselors and school nurses; 42 cents goes toward extracurricular and enrichment activities; 10 cents is used for maintenance and operations; and the final 3 cents is used for technology. The money brought in by the operations levy accounts for 17% of the district’s budget, Baerwald said. He called the operations levy as the district’s “lifeblood.” “Without that, what we are able to offer kids looks a lot dif-

Nine Mile Falls School District Spokane River W

JONATHAN BRUNT/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Superintendent Jeff Baerwald says Lakeside High School’s roof is failing and needs replacement. ferent,” he said. The proposed six-year capital levy would be a new tax. It would begin in 2027 and collect an estimated 38 cents per $1,000 in assessed home value each year. However, it would be offset by the ending of a 20-year construction bond that will be paid off at the end of this year. Taxpayers are paying 38 cents per $1,000 for that bond. This capital levy request is reduced from the one the district attempted to pass in April, which had an estimated cost of 58 cents per $1,000, Baerwald said. “We just reduced some of the projects,” he said. “Our focus is on replacing the Lakeside High School roof, which is failing.” Lakeside High School was completed in 1990 and originally had a tile roof, Baerwald said. That failed in 2008 under heavy snow and was replaced with an asphalt shingle roof. But that roof started showing signs of deterioration after only 11 years, he said.

Proposed 0.1% sales tax could bring in $750K a year for public safety needs

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The City of Liberty Lake is asking voters for a 0.1% sales tax increase for public safety, which is projected to bring the city an estimated $750,000 in annual revenue. “It is strictly dedicated to public safety,” Liberty Lake Mayor Cris Kaminskas said. “So it would fund things directly related to the Liberty Lake Police Department, whether it’s people, equipment, anything

with regards to the public safety department.” A sizable portion of the money will be used for officer salaries. Formerly, officers were on a single long-term contract negotiated by the Teamsters union, but that ended around four years ago. The officers dropped the union, and now have their own guild. Kaminskas said police salaries have fallen behind, and the city has spent the past four years catching up. “Our public here in Lib-

DISTRICT 4 POSITION 2 Continued from 7

Chase said the legislation would help folks in rural and Eastern Washington who feel their voices go unheard and unrepresented in Olympia. If re-elected, Chase plans to push for the bill to get a public hearing in the next legislative session. He says people on both sides of the state are supporters. “If you believe in representative government, this should be spot on,” Chase said. It would take a constitutional amendment to achieve Chase’s plan, Tupper said. “It’s not practical and it’s never going to happen,” Tupper said. “It sounds to me like a dog whistle to attract votes.” “I understand he wants to split the state in two because he thinks Olympia is evil, but the honest truth is, Olympia is subsidizing us, and if we were to split the state, we’d be the poorest state

Continued from 9

be doing well and Schmick said he’d like to expand the program to all critical access hospitals. Wallace said she wants to protect and expand healthcare, particularly access to doctors specializing in chronic illnesses in rural areas. She also favors something like the CEO pay ratio surtax on businesses in Portland, which charges publicly traded companies

erty Lake is usually very, very well-supportive of our police department,” she said. The council voted 6-0 on March 17 to send the measure to voters. Councilman Dan Dunne said if passed, the measure could support new staff. “That $750,000 ... would reasonably cover at least one and possibly two additional officers, but we look carefully for reference from Chief Damon Simmons about where that money is best spent,” he said.

in the nation.” It’s more important, Tupper said, to restore trust in government by being available and accessible for people in town halls or libraries. “We have a Republican district here, but the winds of progress and the $7 diesel fuel and $5 gasoline is taking its toll on Republican talking points,” he said. Tupper said, if elected, he will focus on maintaining the new state tax on income over $1 million and getting people access to affordable healthcare. He’d be interested in partnering with Whole Washington, which is the largest universal healthcare advocacy organization in the state. He’d also like civics to be taught in the state starting in eighth grade. In 2020, the state Legislature passed a law that requires every high school to have one mandatory civics class for students. “I want to represent the will of the people rather than the wealth of a few people,” Tupper said. If re-elected, Chase said he would focus on lowering taxes for everyone and attracting more businesses to come to the state. Chase opposed the

SOUTHEAST WA an extra surcharge on their Portland business license if the CEO’s pay is more than 100 times the median pay of employees. Schmick said he’s concerned about healthcare funding cuts at the state and federal level. “We have to deal with what is and these are the realities,” he said. “I’m really worried about our critical care hospitals and their viability.”

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income tax on millionaires. “I think the most damaging tax we’ve had is the Climate Commitment Act,” Chase said. Chase supports AI plants and said Washington shouldn’t cut back on building them unless it significantly impacts people who live near the center. Tupper is opposed to data centers. Chase is the only candidate in the race who says climate change is not affected by human activity. He said the state shouldn’t be focused on actions that slow climate change because other countries that have more of an impact on climate change aren’t doing anything and Washington couldn’t make a significant dent in the problem. He’s more concerned about litter and keeping fish alive in local rivers, lakes and the ocean. Tupper said that increasing fossil fuel use contributes to climate change and he believes the state should preserve its forests, revive nuclear energy research, invest in agricultural research and prioritize reducing residential and commercial building energy consumption with carbon credit funds.

Earlier this year one of Schmick’s bills, involving healthcare was signed into law. It allows a registered nurse without an EMT certification to help provide patient care inside an ambulance that is moving a patient from a critical access hospital if no paramedic or EMT certified nurse is available. The law specifies that there still must be a certified EMT in the ambulance. He’s also concerned about the recently approved tax on income of more than $1 million.

Schmick said he and other Republicans tried several times to put limits in the law to limit its ability to eventually tax those making less than $1 million but were shot down by Democrats. “They want to keep their options open to lower that,” he said. Like many Democrats, Wallace said she opposes any expansion of the tax on income below $1 million.“The way they have it written now limits it to those making more than a certain amount,” she said.

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THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

“Unfortunately, it was engineered incorrectly,” he said. “We found out the fasteners they used weren’t long enough. It started popping screws.” The asphalt shingles started popping up, allowing water in, Baerwald said. The problems were discovered too late to force the contractor to replace the roof, so the district has been patching it ever since, he said. A major repair was attempted in 2021, but there are still problems. “We had a pretty major water intrusion in our wood shop and portions of the gym,” Baerwald said. In addition to replacing the high school roof, Baerwald said the district needs to replace a two-classroom portable building at the high school. It was installed in 1996, but it was not put on a concrete slab. The building developed dry rot and has been condemned. It cannot be used and isn’t salvageable, Baerwald said. Right now, the only use for the

He said the community of Liberty Lake is strong on public safety, and thinks the measure will be well-received. “Public safety is well over 50% of the city’s budget. Period,” he said. Councilwoman Linda Ball said city growth, not an uptick in crime, is the main reason behind the funding request. “I do think it’s important that we pass this, just so that we can take some of the pressure off of this public safety,” she said. “It’s our biggest expenditure every year.” Kaminskas also believes the public will perceive the measure positively. She says the community is typically supportive of police officers. “This is one of the first places a lot of them have worked where everybody waves at them with five fingers instead of the middle one,” she said.

Nine Mile Falls

building is for wiring that passes through it and then into the school. “We can’t tear it down because it’s our conduit for internet,” he said. If the capital projects levy is approved, the district will be able to replace the portable building, Baerwald said. The district has been working to find other ways to fund the additional projects that were part of the original levy funding request in April. One of those projects was replacing a failed boiler using a grant, Baerwald said. If both levies are approved, taxpayers will pay an estimated $2.48 per $1,000 in assessed home value beginning in 2028, less than the combined $2.65 per $1,000 they are paying this year. “We’re actually looking to lower the rate,” Baerwald said. “We’ve been really conservative with our expenditures. We’re saying no to things that would be nice to have.”

Spokane schools seeks replacement levy in face of inflation By Megan Howard

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Spokane Public Schools is asking the public to approve a three-year educational programs and operations levy on the November ballot. The levy accounts for about 15% of the district’s operating budget, according to the budget the school board adopted on Aug. 26, and it helps fund academics, services, activities and athletics. Without the levy, the district wouldn’t be able to fund nurses, special education programs, extracurricular activities and other services the state doesn’t deem as essential to basic education, Superintendent Adam Swinyard said. “The state has a definition of basic ed,” he said. “About 75% of our funding comes from the state. The levy is about 15% of our funding, and the state’s definition of basic education isn’t what our community expects from our schools.” The district is asking to collect $107 million for 2028, $111 million for 2029, and $115 million for 2030. The district estimates taxpayers would pay a rate of $2.50 per $1,000 of property assessed, according to county documents. The levy would replace one that will expire at the end of 2027. That current levy is covering $93.3 million of the district’s $627.5 million budget for the 2026-2027 school year. The levy is not funding new or expanded services, he said. It funds “business as usual” programming as inflation raises expenses for gas, food, supplies and insurance. The district cut around 200 positions in response to rising prices, and expects to continue to make staffing cuts even if the levy passes. “We’re just struggling to maintain what we’re offering,” he said. Historically, the district has succeeded in passing levies, Swinyard said. Spokane Public Schools decided to run the levy in the general November election, as opposed to a February election like in years past, to increase civic participation and ensure the whole community can voice their opinion, Swinyard said. “We want everybody participating in those decisions, and we’ve observed that those special elections, we’re seeing lower and lower voter turnout,” he said. Ballot measures, like the educational programs and operations levy, require a pro and con committee under state law. Russell Neff said the school district approached him to head the con committee, as he provides “objective, contrarian views.” He ran for Spokane School Board in 2024, and has been a frequent speaker at its meetings. He believes most district challenges are classroom-related, not budget-related. He said he’s not against the district, just against levies. “I would like to see how the school district would run without always going for a levy,” Neff said. Spokane Public Schools is a “poor school city,” he said, and its taxpayers can’t take much more. The average home value in the district is $333,700, Spokane County Assessor Tom Konis said. The average homeowner would pay about $830 in school levy taxes each year.

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

October 11, 2026 • Sunday • T13

SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVIES

West Valley voters to consider 2 school levies One tax would pay for staff, extracurriculars; another funds construction, building projects By Elena Perry

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

A pair of property tax levies proposed by the West Valley School District would continue to pay for staff, extracurriculars and a collection of construction projects in the district encompassing Millwood and parts of Spokane Valley. The West Valley School District sent to ballots two levies for voter scrutiny in November: renewals of an educational programs and operations levy and a capital levy. Both would start in 2028, after existing levies expire at the end of next year. If approved by voters, the programs and operations levy would collect $32.2 million over its three-year life at an average of $10.7 million per year. The district estimates it would tax property owners at a rate of $2.50 per $1,000 in assessed property value, consistent with 2026 collections and the maximum rate districts can tax under these levies. The capital levy is smaller: collecting property taxes at an estimated rate of

around $1 per thousand in assessed property value, generating $8.5 million over two years. Together, the two levies’ mil rate would be an estimated $3.50 per $1,000 in property value each year. The district projects that owners of a $375,000 home would pay $1,308 annually under both levies. Funding from the educational programs and operations levy pays for day-today school ventures, like all the district’s extracurriculars and some staffing costs. It makes up around 15% of the district’s operating budget. These levies cover much of what the state doesn’t in its funding formula, “filling the gap” in school funding, said Superintendent Kyle Rydell. “Truly, when you really peel back the layer of what that gap is, of course it’s the cool stuff about athletics and activities. It funds 99% of those, which are highly engaging for students,” Rydell said. There’s also the “nonfun” aspects of levy funding, Rydell said, like some salaries for teachers and custo-

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West Valley City School focuses on experiential learning for students in grades six through eight. dians or sick time for classified staff, insurance costs, rising fuel prices and utility expenses. “It’s such an important piece to really provide a well-rounded educational experience for our students,” Rydell said. “I think it truly touches every building, every classroom in our community from that standpoint.” Voters have approved West Valley’s educational programs and operations levy for more than 50 years, Rydell said. The second levy, called a capital levy, would generate taxes to pay for construction projects and technology replacements in the district. The area of largest projected growth in the district,

Pasadena Park Elementary School, already is the district’s highest enrolled elementary school by 100 students on average. Construction at Pasadena Park would expand classroom space at the school, Rydell said. If passed, the district would use levy funding to add a library media room to Pasadena Park, freeing up rooms for classrooms used as library space. They would also renovate the nurses’ office, making it large enough for students in wheelchairs to navigate. “That building continues to be our fullest elementary,” Rydell said. The district replaces some of its technology on a cycle, Rydell said, aiming to update schools’ security

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cameras, door locks and communications systems with some capital funding. The district replaces some 50-70 of its security cameras annually, Rydell said, which are all accessible by the sheriff’s office real-time crime center. Updating cameras with the latest technology means law enforcement can zoom in, move the cameras and improve video clarity, Rydell said. In addition to the administrators’ list of projects, capital levy monies would address general facility needs as they spring up, Rydell said. “You’ve got to redo roofs, you’ve got to redo HVAC, you never know when you have to replace some of the

Despite wary board, Central Valley School District asks voters to support operation levy renewal By Megan Howard

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

For more than 50 years, Central Valley School District voters have supported the educational programs and operations levy. The district is sending the threeyear levy to the ballot for renewal in November, despite some of the school board members’ hesitancy to tax voters. After the Central Valley School Board voted to place the tax on the ballot, they passed a measure barring the district from collecting more than $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property valley for the levy. Although state law already caps the rate to that amount, supporters of the local cap argued that it protects school district residents in case state lawmakers change the state law. “I want to promise our voters that we will not go above $2.50 per $1,000 should the law change and increase the levy lid,” she said. Orebaugh wouldn’t indicate how she intends to vote on the issue on her November ballot, but said she supports the “community having the ability for an informed vote.” The levy would go into effect in 2027 and would collect $48.9 million for 2028 collection, $50.55 million for 2029 collection and $52.4 million for 2030

collection. Taxpayers would pay an estimated $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value, according to county documents. “We’re not necessarily asking for anything new, although the levy is for more money,” Superintendent John Parker said. “It’s roughly about the same amount because the taxpayers vote on the amount, not on the rate itself.” The average home value in the district is $410,000, meaning the average homeowner would pay around $1,025 a year, according to school board work session documents. Typically, Central Valley sends ballot levies to the February ballot, but this year officials opted to send it to the November ballot. “We want to fully take advantage of the voter turnout in November, and we also feel like we need to be amply prepared,” Parker said. “Depending on what the outcome of that is, so that if we have to run it again, we’re way ahead of schedule.” The levy contributes 16.2% of the district’s revenue for the 2026-27 budget. It helps fund programs the state of Washington’s basic education funding doesn’t cover, such as technical education, athletics and extracurriculars, as well as aiding competitive staff compensation, special education, nurses and

safety staff. said. “It pretty much helps us fund Central Valley is aware the everything,” said Shannon John- levy renewal ask is hard given fiston, executive financial officer. nancial hardships many families “It funds a lot of our enrich- are already facing. ment, our electives. It helps us “It was also really important fill the gap between what the for us to know our taxpayers in state funds for our community salaries versus are also getting what we have hit by that same N to pay our staff inflation,” JohnLiberty to be competi- Millwood ston said. Lake tive within this School Board market.” President Steph90 The cost anie Jerdon said Spokane of running a she will vote for Valley school district the replacement CENTRAL has gone up, levy. The school VALLEY 27 similarly to board spent SCHOOL how housetime in its work Palo DISTRICT u hold expenssessions conHwy se . es have gone sidering how to 5 M ILE S up. Insurance protect property rates, food and owners in Cengas are among THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW tral Valley terthe items inritory, she said, creasing in cost and she supports for both families and schools. the proposed levy cap resolution. Even though the total amount Rob Linebarger, the Spokane of money collected through the County Republican Party chair, levy is going up, the rate is stay- said the party stands firm in its ing the same, and the district is fiscal responsibility platform and continuing to cut costs where it resolves for no new taxes for the can as inflation continues, John- next five years. He said school ston said. districts often pay for too many “We’re going to have to con- administrators and need to intinue to reduce, even though the stead focus the budget on teachlevy is asking for a little more. ers and education resources. It’s just inflation is growing way “Lean it up and make it work,” more than what this ask is,” she he said.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Spokane County auditor Michael Cathcart, Republican

Age: 40 Education: Graduated from University

High School. Graduated from Montana State University with a bachelor’s degree in media arts. Political experience: Elected to the Spokane City Council in 2019 and 2023. Serves as chair of the Northeast Public Development Authority, chair of Growth Management Steering Committee of Elected Officials and the Spokane Regional Health District Board. Formerly served as council liaison for the Spokane Park Board, council liaison for the city’s Employees Retirement System, volunteer for the Spokane Lunar New Year Celebration, chair of the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council, member of the city’s In-Fill Housing Steering Committee and a member of the Mayor’s Quality and Affordable Housing Taskforce. Work experience: Spent five years as executive director of Better Spokane, a probusiness organization. Worked as an aide for Michael Baumgartner when he served as a state senator. Former government affairs director for the Spokane Home Builders Association. Family: Married to Vina (Tran) Cathcart. Has a young son and daughter.

Campaign contributions: Has raised about $54,300 as of Oct. 1, including about $2,700 Cathcart loaned to his campaign. Donors include Avista Corp., Goodman Real Estate, the Spokane Association of Realtors and Spokane County Commissioner Mary Brooks.

Callie Gee, Democrat

Age: 24 Education: Graduated from St.

George’s School in 2020. Graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on accounting and finance. Political experience: First run for public office. Work experience: Employed at tax preparation company Baker Tilly since graduation, where she is working to become a certified professional accountant. Family: Single, no children. Campaign finance: Raised about $32,400 as of Oct. 1, including nearly $4,000 in cash donations to herself. Contributors include the Washington state Democratic Central Committee; Dr. Pam Kohlmeier, a candidate for state representative and cardiologist Stephen Thew.

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accounting background to establish a public portal that tracks how public tax dollars are spent by county government, which she said would also help with the county’s budget shortfall. “We’re not gonna have enough resources to do everything that we want to do, but it’s important when we’re dealing with these budget constraints to really look at what the data says about our processes and where the bottlenecks are,” Gee said. On elections, Gee said she would expand observer training sessions beyond the workweek schedule. Cathcart said he would like to establish an email, text message or other notification system to provide more communication between the office and the public on the chain of custody of their

ballots. He’d also push to expand past election audits, reintroduce the privacy flap to the ballot and launch a mobile voter service station to serve more rural areas of the county. That would be in addition to potentially participating in a state pilot program that allows up to 15 different alternatives for signature verification to ensure every ballot is counted, Cathcart said. He suggested an online portal to track county legislation and how tax dollars are put to use . “I’m a staunch advocate when it comes to transparency in government and accessibility in government and that tends to be an issue that crosses all party lines,” Cathcart said. “And I think folks have seen my dedication to that.” Nick Gibson can be reached at 509-459-5039 or by email at nickg@ spokesman.com.

asphalt. You have to do some patching,” Rydell said. “The capital projects levy has really helped us to fill those gaps and not put it on our general fund, which is very nice.” The capital levy would generate taxes over two years, after which the district may propose a bond for major construction in the district. There’s already a long-range facility planning committee assembled to consider what a future bond package may look like, Rydell said. The last time the district sent to voters a bond was in 2024, which failed along with four other school bond measures in the county. Bonds require 60% voter approval and collect more taxes for a longer period of time, usually used by schools for major construction like a new building or renovations. The 2024 bond would have paid for the replacement of Centennial Middle School and a shared campus for West Valley’s City School and Spokane Valley High School. Before 2024, West Valley voters approved a bond in 2003 to construct a new West Valley High School. “It’s really leaning into that facility planning committee and seeking feedback on what could potentially be included in a bond, or the idea of just continuing the capital projects levies to continue the upkeep of our buildings,” Rydell said.

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set hours late at night and early in the morning. Bingle also cited his work alongside the council and Mayor Lisa Brown to ban camping on public property, among other policies. The upcoming legislative session will give state lawmakers a chance to craft the state’s twoyear budget and work on an array of other policy proposals. If elected, Bingle said he would work to “drastically cut and reduce taxes” and would not support additional taxes to close the state’s anticipated budget deficit. “If you look at a state like Arizona, roughly the same size as Washington, our budget is over double what Arizona’s operating budget is,” Bingle said. “And so to me, what that says is, it’s not a revenue problem, it’s a spending problem, right? It’s a prioritization problem.” Payne, meanwhile, said she is hoping to learn as much about “two very specific” issues the state is facing as possible, including the state’s tax structure. She attributed the state’s deficit to decisions made by the federal government, rather than state government. “Our state is facing another shortfall because of the extra burdens that have been placed on our state because of federal laws and decisions that are being made,” Payne said. “And I want to make sure we are updating our tax system as much as we possibly can, so that it’s more realistic and equitable, because right now, the unrealistic amount of that burden falls on people who are already struggling to pay their bills.” Payne said she also wants lawmakers to act on data centers, and cited proposed projects in Spokane County. “Right on the heels of the Spokane Complex fires, I feel like we need to have some serious conversations about how quickly we’re growing in District 6 and ways we can make sure that we do that in a way that isn’t going to cost us later,” Payne said. In the wake of the Spokane Complex fires and other destructive fires in the region, Bingle said he would focus on increased funding for wildfire mitigation and increasing “the seriousness level of arson in the state.” “It seems like every other year we have a massive wildfire. From Medical Lake, now it’s the Old Trails and Autumn Lane, which, you know, the 6th District was just devastated by this last set of fires,” Bingle said. Among the issues the candidates found common ground on are infrastructure improvements in the Indian Trail and Five Mile neighborhoods to ensure residents could safely evacuate in the event of an emergency.

T14 • Sunday • October 11, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVIES

Riverside School District asks voters to renew operations levy Three-year measure funds teachers, counselors, athletics

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By Nina Culver The Riverside School District is one of many local districts shifting its levy renewal request from the usual February ballot to the November election in search of increased voter turnout. “There was a lot of debate about when to go,” Superintendent Ken Russell said. The district is seeking to renew its levy for educational programs and operations, which is set to expire at the end of next year. Taxpayers are currently paying $1.52 per $1,000 in assessed home value, and Russell

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Riverside School District in Chattaroy, Wash., is seeking to renew a threeyear levy that would fund educational programs and operations.

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said the estimated rate for the first year of the threeyear levy is $1.58 per $1,000 in assessed value. “We’ve been running the same levy every three years for decades,” Russell said. “It’s just part of doing education in Washington state.” Overall, the levy accounts for 13% of the district’s annual budget. Levy funds are used to pay for things that the state does not fund, including extra

teachers for reduced class sizes, teachers for Advanced Placement classes, counselors, school nurses and extra paraeducators, Russell said. The levy dollars also cover extracurricular activities such as athletics and classes like music, drama and art. “One hundred percent of athletics is funded by the levy,” he said. “The state funds you for basic education, which is the class-

room, but not all the extras people want.” The levy is the only one the district currently has. It previously had a capital levy to pay for security, technology and HVAC repairs, but it expired and an attempted renewal was turned down by voters last year. Russell said the school board made a decision not to try to get approval for another capital levy right now. “We’ve heard from our

East Valley seeks capital improvements levy to fund building repairs, technology needs

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The East Valley School District is making a third attempt this year to gain support for a tax to improve facilities. But the request on the November ballot is significantly more modest. Instead of a bond to rebuild the district’s middle school and high school, which voters rejected in February and April, school leaders are requesting a two-year levy to update roofs and HVAC systems and pay for other technology, maintenance and security items. The hurdle also is easier for the district. Instead of needing 60% support to pass like the bond, the levy needs a simple majority. “We didn’t get to that 60% threshold on either attempt, so we need to keep the buildings functional while we work on the next steps,” East Valley Superintendent Mandi Rehn said. If it passes, the levy would bring the district $6.8 million for 2027 and $7 million for 2028. The

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levy would collect an estimated 99 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. That would be $446 for a $450,000 property. “East Valley has aging buildings,” Rehn said. “As the buildings are aging, there’s just a lot of things that need to be addressed, like HVAC. We have a lot of roofs that are in bad shape, and security is always our No. 1 concern.” Building maintenance, technology upgrades

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to the text of the bill. Short voted against the bill, which passed the Senate and was signed into law. “It essentially removed a tax incentive,” she said. “That’s why I voted against it. I wanted it funded, but I didn’t like that they did it that way.” Short said the final budget also allows the state to use the Climate Commitment Act to fund wildfire prevention in the future, which is the funding source she favors. “It all goes in the same pot,” she said. “They’ve just got two different ways to fund it.” In this last session, she co-sponsored a bill that would have required home insurers to disclose how risk scores are calculated and give homeowners a chance to address programs. Homeowners should get credit for work they do to help protect their homes from wildfires, Short said. The bill did not advance, and Short said she’d like to bring it forward again. Short opposed the income tax approved this year on people making more than $1 million dollars. She said the state should live within its means and not keep raising taxes. She also said Republicans prepared an alternative budget with fewer expendi-

and other modernization updates typically aren’t funded by money from the state. Instead, Rehn said, the burden for these capital improvements falls on local taxpayers and the school’s general fund. A roof repair and replacement at one of East Valley’s schools was estimated to cost around $6 million, she said, which is most of the funds collected from the first year of the levy.

tures, but it was ignored. “We kept that within available revenue,” she said. Short serves as the Republican floor leader and said she works frequently with Sen. Marcus Riccelli, the Democrat Floor Leader. “I’m conservative, but I also know that it’s important to build relationships where you can agree on things you can agree on,” she said. McCoy, former mayor of Chewelah, describes himself as being conservative and said he’s long wanted to serve on the state level. “I’ve got this drive that I want to help people,” he said. “I’ve had friends on both sides of the aisle.” He compares serving in the Legislature to the customer service work he did in 27 years of working for Safeway, retiring as the swing shift supervisor. “You don’t ask if they’re Republican or Democrat, you just ask, how can I help you?” he said. “I just want to be at the table. I want to be a part of the process.” McCoy said he has Democrats and Republicans working on his campaign. “I like solutions, but the only way to find a solution is to bring everyone to the table and find common ground,” he said. He said he’s concerned about the state of agriculture in the district, partly because he sees younger gen-

The district tried and failed twice this year to pass a $220 million bond, which is typically used for building construction. However, the district has seen success with passing a capital levy, which passed the first time it was introduced in 2018. East Valley used the money to upgrade security at school entry points. That levy expired four years ago. “At that time, you could just walk into a school, and the doors weren’t locked,” Assistant Superintendent Neale Rasmussen said. “That’s how you designed schools. We didn’t have the same security concerns we have today.” The community was supportive of the original levy, and he expects they will show the same support for continued improvements. The Spokane County Republican Party is standing firm on its fiscal responsibility platform, which includes a resolution not supporting any new taxes for the next five years, chair Rob Linebarger said. He said he does sympathize with East Valley School District’s need for funds to improve schools, but stands strong on the party’s platform. The Spokane County Democrats’ platform from 2024 indicates it supports majority votes for education bonds and levies. The party did not respond to a request for comment.

erations not willing to take over family farms. “I’ve seen our district start to dry up,” he said. “It’s all agricultural area, and we need to keep it agricultural area, keep it strong for our ranchers and our orchards.” McCoy said he would work to improve rural healthcare. People in rural areas either have to wait for an appointment or drive an hour or more to see a doctor. “People are struggling, not only financially, but to get doctor appointments,” he said. “I want our rural hospitals back, but I don’t think that’s going to happen overnight.” McCoy said he agrees that the state should not be spending more than it’s bringing in. There are a lot of programs worthy of funding, but not everything can be funded, he said. He does not fully agree with the income tax on income over $1 million that the Legislature passed, McCoy said. “I think they set it too low,” he said. “At least the Democrats came up with something. I wish the Republicans would do that.” McCoy said he considers Short a friend. “Sen. Short has done an amazing job for many years, but I think it’s time for a new set of eyes,” he said. “I really want to be that choice. Am I fighting uphill? Absolutely, but I’ve been fighting uphill my whole life.”

voters that they just can’t afford it,” he said. “We still have a lot of facility needs, but we just feel it’s not the right time.” Instead, the district has been applying for grants and has received several, Russell said. The district has been awarded grants to pay for new ovens and dishwashers in school kitchens as well as some HVAC repairs. “We’re trying to find alternative funding,” he said.

“A lot of it is around HVAC, that’s our major problem.” The district also has been trying to set aside funds for smaller capital projects. Russell said the school board voted last week to spend $500,000 for additional HVAC repairs. Russell said he’s grateful that the community has consistently voted to reapprove the district’s operations levy every three years, which has allowed the district to maintain programs and make improvements. “Because of their support we’ve really been able to up our game academically,” he said. “We are so excited to take Riverside to the next level of excellence. We are so thankful for our longtime community support.”

Two Cheney School District levies on November ballots Measures seek to replace expiring three-year taxes

By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The Cheney School District is seeking voter approval for two replacement levies on the November ballot, one for educational programs and operations and the other a capital levy for technology, security and infrastructure improvements. Both would replace expiring three-year levies. The replacement levies, if approved, would also run for three years, expiring in 2030. “It’s not new taxes,” Superintendent Ben Ferney said. “It’s to continue the programs we have now.” The estimated EP&O levy rate would be $2.10 per $1,000 in assessed home value, well below the $2.50 per $1,000 maximum allowed by state law, Ferney said. “We want to be sensitive to the tax rate in our community,” he said. The district is allowed to collect a certain dollar amount each year of the levy. In this case, the district is asking for $18.45 million in 2028, $19 million in 2029 and $19.55 million in 2030. The cost per thousand is estimated because it can change based on home values. “We’re collecting dollar amounts, not rates,” Ferney said. “So when your assessed value goes up, your rate goes down.” The district’s annual budget is about $105 million, making the EP&O levy nearly 20% of the annual budget, Ferney said. Most school districts, including Cheney, typically spend about 80% of their annual budget on salaries for everyone from teachers to custodians. “People are our programs,” he said. The purpose of the levies is to bridge the gap between what the state funds and what it actually costs to run the schools, Ferney said. “What the state funds is not what it actually costs,” he said. The EP&O levy funds are used to hire extra teachers for smaller class sizes, more counselors, more paraeducators and school resource officers. The levy also funds all athletics, music and extracurricular activities.

Transportation, nutrition services and special education also receive levy funding. “To most people, that is basic education,” Ferney said. The estimated rate of the capital levy is 10 cents per $1,000 in assessed home value in 2028, 15 cents per $1,000 in 2029 and 20 cents per $1,000 in 2030. The money is used for technology, including security cameras and replacement Chromebooks, as well as smaller capital expenses like a new roof, new carpeting or portions of the HVAC systems. “The capital levy is critical to maintain our infrastructure, to keep the schools in good operating condition,” he said. When the two levies are paired with existing bonds that the district is paying off, residents will be paying a combined $3.90 per $1,000 in assessed home value per year compared with the $3.93 per $1,000 they are paying this year, Ferney said. The school board set a goal of remaining under $4 per $1,000, he said. “We’re sensitive to the economy,” Ferney said. The Cheney School District, like several others in the county, decided to move their levies from the traditional February ballot to the November general election. Ferney said the district is hoping to see a higher voter turnout than they usually see in February. “We want people to have a voice on the levies,” he said. The district is also hoping to capitalize on some of the back-to-school excitement, he said. “We start up school in August, and we get the materials out to families when they come in,” he said. “We want to carry that enthusiasm forward.” Information about the levies is available online at cheneysd.org, and Ferney said people are welcome to call the district office if they have questions. Ferney said he’s grateful that voters have been approving the district’s replacement levies for decades. “We are just really, really thankful for our supportive community,” he said.

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

October 11, 2026 • Sunday • T15

DISTRICT COURT JUDGES

RACE FOR LOCAL JUDGE FEATURES GU LAW GRADS By Elen Pahlevanyan

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Spokane County voters will choose between two attorneys with long careers, Gonzaga degrees and ties to Spokane to fill a District Court position on the November ballot. The Spokane County District Court handles 62,000 cases annually, including misdemeanors and gross-demeanor criminal cases, traffic and civil cases, small claims and protection orders. Position 2 has been held by Judge Jeffrey Smith since 2017, who is retiring at the end of the year. The race features two attorneys: Court Commissioner Mike Valerien and Judge Deanna Crull, who in addition to their similar experiences as prosecutors, court commissioners and judges, bring different professional backgrounds and approaches to the bench. Both have many endorsements from local judges, many of whom issued endorsements to both candidates. Among Crull’s endorsers are Superior Court Judge Breean Beggs, Medical Lake Mayor Terri Cooper and Spokane City Councilman Michael Cathcart. Among Valerien’s endorsers are the position’s current incumbent, Smith, as wells as Superior Court Judge Jackie High-Edward, Spokane County Prosecutor Preston McCollam and independent candidate for prosecutor Danny Tarkenton. Both candidates’ campaigns highlight different aspects of judicial work. Prior to his appointment as Spokane Municipal Court commissioner in 2016, Valerien worked as an assistant city prosecutor for the city of Spokane for eight years. The experience involved managing cases all the way through, such as interviewing witnesses, presenting the cases to juries and reviewing police reports. “Eight years as a prosecutor, I came to realize that there are issues in our community that tend to contribute to criminal behavior. And we are not able to prosecute ourselves from these problems, we have to address those issues in some way,” Valerien said. Valerien’s decade-long full-time experience as a court commissioner is the central point to his argument. The position includes handling daily proceedings over misdemeanors, traffic matters, protection orders, first appearances and warrants, and communication with the elected judges. “In those 10 years, I’ve worked with the elected judges, and a lot of what judges have to do actually goes on outside the courtroom,” Valerien said. “I think after 10 years of being at that level of court, I’ve developed enough experience in this area to make me ready for that position.” Crull believes that educating, transparency

and problem-solving should go hand-in-hand for the position. With more than 25 years of experience in the field, her career includes prosecutor and defense attorney, trial and appellate work, felony and homicide cases involving Crull work in tribal courts. Currently, she is serving as a pro tem commissioner of Spokane County Superior Court, pro tem judge at Spokane County District Court and is the president of the Northwest Tribal Court Judges Association. “I think the level of experience I bring is important. I’ve also spent the last seven years on the bench as a pro tem judge,” Crull said. “I always describe it as being a substitute teacher for judges. So I know the range of issues that can come before a District Court judge.” Crull is confident that the roles give her a broader view of what happens to people when they leave the courtroom. “My experience and my temperament – and it’s hard when I say experience because it’s not just 25 years as an attorney, seven years as a judge, it’s the varied experience,” she said. “I think that made me want to say, yes, it’s time to sit on the bench here. I think I have a lot to offer.” Crull said a judge should be a problem solver who values transparency and continuous work with the society. Decisions should be transparent, balanced and equitable while continuing to protect due process, consider the victims, understand what happens to people when they leave the courtroom and maintain community safety, she said. In addition, she said, a judge should individually approach each case by considering several factors while looking into the case, such as a person’s history, the circumstances of an offense, community safety and the possibility of rehabilitation. “So, not only is it due process or applying the law, but you also have to consider victims and their rights here,” she said. Crull said she also would ensure court proceedings are understandable and accessible. While describing an incident that involved interpreters during a protection-order hearing, Crull pointed out that providing an interpreter does not necessarily guarantee people understand the judicial system or the case. Sometimes the interpreters themselves lack the basic knowledge and find it difficult to interpret the judicial system to the public. “I sent the interpreter out in the hallway, had her read word for word the petition. Later, he came back with a written statement and a witness. And it made all the difference. It really did,” she said. “So we need to continue to do better to make sure that access is there for the individuals in district court.” Valerien said teaching, educating and communicating play a significant role in ensuring

MEET THE CANDIDATES

public trust toward the judiciary system. Judges should be open for public feedback and discussion about what they think works and what doesn’t, Valerien said. “Being a teacher is not part Valerien of my judicial philosophy but it is part of the elected leader’s role to educate and engage with the public on what this role is actually about,” he said. “I think they get an overly simplified understanding of how it should work. And so they don’t sometimes understand how complex it is and how interwoven it is with public health and other things like that.” Valerien said his main guideline is simple. “My philosophy is essentially that the Legislature passes the laws and it’s my job to enforce the law as they’ve written it, as long as it complies with the Constitution,” he said. But applying the law does not necessarily mean ignoring the circumstances surrounding the case. The judges should take into consideration the law, the defendant, circumstances and evidence. “In those areas where I have discretion, sentencing or probation or things like that, use that discretion in a way that makes our community better and not worse, theoretically.” Both candidates agreed that the court alone cannot fight against those societal issues but highlighted different ways of responding to them. Crull said the response should start from understanding the individual circumstances of the case, such as human history, circumstances and consequences of the offense and community safety and the possibility of rehabilitation. She supports therapeutic courts and other interventions for people who are appropriate for those programs while emphasizing that rehabilitation does not remove the need for accountability. The court cannot address homelessness or addiction on its own, Crull said. She believes judges must work with other government agencies and community resources while determining whether an individual is appropriate for a therapeutic approach. “I think District Court is there to say you’re not a good candidate for therapeutic approaches, or yes, you are here, let’s see if this works,” she said. Valerien also pointed to the limits of prosecution as a response to broader community problems. His focus, however, is more centered on determining whether interventions actually work. Elen Pahlevanyan worked in The SpokesmanReview newsroom in partnership with Washington State University.

Spokane County District Court Judge Position 2 Deanna Crull

Age: 50 City: Spokane Education: Received her bachelor’s

degree from Gonzaga University in 1997 and her law degree from Gonzaga in 2001. Work experience: Worked as deputy prosecuting attorney in Spokane County in 2006-2007. Owns Action Legal law firm since 2009. Has worked in public defense in Adams County, and Lincoln County. Since 2019, Crull has served as a pro tem judge with Spokane County District Court and, since 2020, as a court commissioner for Airway Heights Municipal Court. Her current judicial roles include positions with the Kalispel, Coeur d’Alene, Nez Perce, Spokane and Wind River tribal courts, as well as Spokane County Superior Court. Political experience: Lost close race for Spokane District Court judge position in 2022. Family: Widowed. Campaign finance: Raised about $23,100 as of Oct. 5, including $7,500 she loaned to her campaign, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Contributors include: herself and attorneys Stephen Graham, Thomas Jarrard and Amy Garvin.

Mike Valerien

Age: 53 City: Spokane Education: Earned a bachelor’s

degree from the University of Nebraska and a law degree from the Gonzaga University School of Law. Work experience: His legal career started in a private practice in Spokane Valley, which involved criminal defense, landlord tenant law and real estate transactions. Worked as an assistant city prosecutor for the city of Spokane for eight years. Has served as a court commissioner for Spokane Municipal Court since 2016. Political experience: First run for office. Family: Married to Jennifer Valerien, no children. Campaign finance: Raised about $34,600, including $7,500 he loaned his campaign, as of Oct. 5, according to the PDC. Contributors include himself, attorney Chris Phelps and attorney Thaddeus O’Sullivan.

JUDICIAL CANDIDATES WEIGH WHETHER AI BELONGS IN COURTROOMS By Amanda Sullender

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

One Spokane County District Court judge candidate will not use artificial intelligence from the bench. His opponent says that is naive. The judicial race is heating up ahead of November because of the issue. Candidates in the District Court Position 4 race are hoping to replace judge Patti Connolly Walker, who is retiring after 25 years on the bench. District Court oversees some criminal misdemeanors and civil issues like small claims, name changes and protection orders. The open race pits Washington Attorney General Office attorney Nicholas Ulrich against Cheney prosecutor Michael R. Addams. Both men also have experience as pro tempore judges who fill in if elected judges are sick or on vacation. AI is increasingly incorporating itself into daily life and the technology has garnered controversies in the courtroom. Lawyers have been sanctioned for allowing AI to hallucinate case law into their briefs. Clients have gone viral for failed attempts to use as an AI avatar as their legal counsel. Debate remains over what is an appropriate use of AI in a courtroom, and if any responsible use is possible. According to Ulrich, no judge should use AI to assist them in their job. “For judges who are making decisions on the merits affecting people’s lives and liberty, AI has no place,” he said. “I want the public to know if I cite a case on my opinion, that’s because I’ve read that case.” As the technology improves, Ulrich is “doubtful” AI will ever be responsible to use AI as a judge. He is most concerned with lawyers and judges using AI, not properly fact-checking,

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Spokane County District Court Judge, Position 4 Michael R. Addams

Age: 45 Education: Received bachelor’s degree from Weber

State University in 2011. Graduated from Gonzaga Law School and received a master’s in business administration from Gonzaga in 2014. Work experience: Served in Air Force from 2001-07. Addams & Associates owner since 2015. City of Cheney prosecutor since 2022. Professor of business law at Eastern Washington University. Has served as pro tempore judge since 2021. Political experience: First run for office. Family: Married to Amber Addams. They have four children. Campaign finance: Has raised nearly $42,000, as of Tuesday, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Contributors include attorney Brandon Casey and the Hainsworth Company.

Nicholas Ulrich

Age: 40 Education: Received degrees in math and physics at

Washington State University in 2009. Graduated from the University of Washington in 2015. Work experience: Served in Americorps 2012-14. Had clerkship in Washington Court of Appeals in 2015-16. Worked as public defender in 2017-18 and within the firm Winston & Cashett Lawyers from 2017-20. Worked within Washington attorney general’s office since 2020. Has served as pro tempore judge since 2021. Political experience: First run for office. Family: Married to Claire Carden. They have two daughters. Campaign finance: Raised about $47,000, as of Tuesday, according to the PDC. Contributors include Spokane County Superior Court Breean Beggs, Spokane County District Court Judge Andrew Biviano and retired state Court of Appeals Judge Kevin Korsmo.

and allowing “hallucinated case law” to affect their decisions. Rival judicial candidate Michael R. Addams called that position “naive.” “If you don’t figure out how to use it, you’re going to fall behind and become outdated because you are blind to technology being used everywhere,” Addams said. The Cheney prosecutor likened Ulrich’s position to judges who refused to adopt computers in the

courtroom. As the internet became essential for communication, those judges struggled to rule on cases involving the technology. Asked for a judge’s responsible use of AI, Addams said he may use it to create outlines for briefs, creating to-do lists and some legal research. “An outline used as a starting point I then fill in – that’s just efficiency,” he said. See DISTRICT COURT, 17

25 years as an attorney, 7 years of judicial experience. GU and GU Law Grad

Rated 'Exceptionally Well Qualified' by the Spokane County Bar Association, Washington Women Lawyers, and the Joint Asian Judicial Evaluations Committee A proven track record of service to the Spokane Community both on and off the bench.

Spokane WA 99223 509-939-6377 votedeannacrull.com © 2026 Paid for by Friends of Deanna Crull for Judge

T16 • Sunday • October 11, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

BALLOT MEASURES

FIRE DISTRICT 11 SAYS EMS LEVY RENEWALS NEEDED TO AVOID REDUCTION IN SERVICES Chief says funds would pay for supplies, equipment for emergency medical calls

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Spokane County Fire District 11, which covers the 70 square miles surrounding the small southern Spokane County town of Rockford, is asking voters to renew a six-year emergency medical services levy on the November ballot. The levy, which would replace an EMS levy expiring this year, is estimated to collect 35 cents per $1,000 in assessed home value. That is well below the maximum of 50 cents per $1,000 allowed by law. Fire Chief Gary Hill said the amount was kept low on purpose, particularly as other taxes are rising. “We try to stay basically

the same every year,” he said. “We don’t want to put members in our district in financial distress.” The district has about two dozen volunteers who respond to calls. Hill said about 80% of them are medical calls, and the EMS levy is used to purchase the medical supplies and equipment needed for those calls. According to an explanatory statement approved by the District 11 Board of Commissioners, the levy “is necessary to maintain an effective level of EMS services, supplies and equipment due to the ever-rising costs of all” and renewing the levy will allow the district to maintain the level of emergency medical services it is currently providing.

Spokane Valley

By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

“The cost of everything has gone up,” Hill said. The district buys in bulk and does everything it can to be financially responsible, he said. Hill said the EMS levy provides an important part of the district’s annual budget, and there would be a significant impact if it is not renewed. “It would put a strain on us financially because we’d have to pull money away from fire expenditures,” he said. Voters have approved the renewal of the EMS levy every six years for quite some time, and Hill said he’s hopeful that they will approve it again in November. It helps that many of the residents in the area know the volunteer firefighters who show

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up at their door when they need help, he said. “They appreciate the response,” he said. “We’re a small community, so we generally know someone when we’re going on a call.”

Spokane County Fire District 12, which serves the southern Spokane County towns of Waverly and Latah and the surrounding area, has a replacement emergency medical services levy on 90 Spokane the November ballot. Valley The proposed sixLiberty year levy, which will Lake replace an expiring levy, would collect 50 Palo N cents per $1,000 in use Hw assessed home value y. 5 MILES through 2032. It is the 27 same levy rate resiCh Vall ap ey dents are currently el Rd paying. . Rockford Attempts made to reach a District 12 official were unsuccessFairfield ful. Funds raised FIRE through the EMS levy DISTRICT can be used to pay for Waverly 12 medical supplies and equipment used by Latah the district’s volunteer firefighters. THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW The district’s Board of Fire Commissioners passed a resolution in July calling the levy “essential and necessary for the protection of the health and life of the residents of the district.” P Vie rair w ie Rd .

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Southeastern Spokane County fire district asks for EMS levy renewal

Fire District 2 pursues levy renewal to fund equipment, supplies Tax would cover cost of increasing prices of diesel and medical supplies By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

SPOKESMAN-REVIEW PHOTO ARCHIVES

Spokane County Fire District 3 firefighter Tori Wright hits a hot spot inside one of the 11 units of Motel Cheney that burned in an early morning blaze Aug. 23, 2022, in Cheney.

Fire District 3 seeks EMS levy to fund more positions near Cheney, Spangle Call volume outpacing current workforce, deputy chief says By Alexandra Duggan THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Spokane County Fire District 3, spanning more than 500 square miles, is seeking a six-year EMS levy on the November ballot to fund positions and medical equipment, including 14 new full-time jobs. The levy would collect $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value and begin in 2027. The district’s current rate is $1.48 per $1,000. Should voters approve the levy, the new rate would be $1.98. “At the end of the day, the biggest issue right now is our run volume, and number of calls is outpacing the workforce’s ability to keep up,” said District 3 Deputy Chief Aaron Bollar. “As the calls go up, there’s going to be more emergencies than the crews are able to handle, and service is going to degrade.” Ideally, the district wants to add more staffing in the Cheney and Spangle areas. Those areas received more than 900 calls in one year, the district’s website says.

kane County Fire District 3 is not an ambulance-onSpokane 90 Valley ly service, but the levy is 2 Spokane applicable to any operaFAFB tion that is medical related. The levy would fund 27 new EMT positions, but Medical 395 Pal ous all of the EMTs would be Lake e Hw 90 y. 195 firefighters. This means Latah they can respond to mediCreek Cheney cal calls, fires, car crashes and other emergencies. 904 The district has gotten pushback, like with most Spangle FIRE levies, from people on Tyler N social media who do not DISTRICT 3 want to pay more in taxes. Bollar said the district 5 MI L E S already has been living Plaza below its means in an attempt to respect taxpayer wishes, but they can no longer sustain that patTHE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW tern. “We don’t want to dig The district has 28 full- district is seeing more into other funds, we want time staff at present. calls, Bollar said. Volun- to be a good steward of Compounding the issue teers have other jobs, and our taxpayer dollars,” he for the district is the cost as call volume increases, of gasoline and diesel, those volunteers are less said. “But we are asking, with prices increasing by likely to have time to re- ‘Do you want to maintain and increase the service 45% as of March, the dis- spond, he added. trict’s website says. The “It’s more than a call a we have, or do you not?’ ” If the levy is not apteam also is wearing out day; we are asking them their engines and trucks to drop everything,” Bol- proved, further cuts to staff would have to be and lost two positions go- lar said. ing into this year because According to the dis- made and service would they couldn’t afford them. trict’s website, around likely suffer, Bollar said. It needs a 60% superRelying on volunteers is 75% of their emergency getting harder when the calls are medical. Spo- majority to pass. Airway Heights

Spokane County Fire District 2, which encompasses 144 square miles in the area of Fairfield, is asking voters to renew a six-year EMS levy to help pay for equipment and supplies used by the all-volunteer district. The EMS levy, which collects 50 cents per $1,000 in assessed home value, has been previously approved by voters and is set to expire at the end of the year. “It is a renewal,” fire Chief Eric Olson said. “We’ve been running this same levy for years and years now. The community has always been super supportive.” The district has its own ambulance, which is often used to transport patients to hospitals in Spokane. “We’re able to provide a lower cost transport,” he said. “We were the first fire district-based transport in Spokane County.” Having their own ambulance can be lifesaving for patients because it means they don’t have to wait for an AMR ambulance to respond from Spokane or Spokane Valley, Olson said. In some instances, an AMR ambulance is called anyway because they can offer a higher level of care and have paramedics. Most District 2 volunteers have EMT training, and there is one paramedic available through a mutual aid agreement who can respond to calls if available, he said. The district works very closely with Fire District 12, Olson said. “We respond borderless with Fire District 12,” he said. One of the issues is the cost of medical equipment and supplies has been rising in recent years, Olson said. The

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recent spike in diesel prices is also concerning because the ambulance is diesel-powered. “We just fill the ambulance as needed,” he said. “That will absolutely have a significant impact on our bottom line.” In a small district with a limited budget, diesel for the ambulance will be one of the costs covered by the levy funds, Olson said. “It’s used for operations,” he said. “Definitely part of that EMS levy will be used for diesel.” A resolution approved by fire district commissioners states the levy is “essential and necessary for the protection of the health and life of the residents of the District.” Olson said the district has been doing what it can to keep costs as low as possible for taxpayers, but needs to be able to replace used medical supplies and equipment. “We’ve really tried to maintain a conservative fiscal situation so we can limit the amount of taxes we ask for,” he said. “We really are trying to be responsible with their funds.” If approved, the EMS levy will run through the end of 2032. Ballots will be mailed in mid-October and must be either postmarked before Nov. 3 or placed in an official ballot drop box, which are located at all libraries in Spokane County, as well as the Rockford and Waverly town halls.

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

October 11, 2026 • Sunday • T17

BALLOT MEASURES / FROM THE FRONT PAGE

FIRE DISTRICT 9 ASKS VOTERS FOR LEVY LID LIFT, BOND By Garrett Cabeza

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

A fire district in Spokane County hit hard by many major fires this year is asking voters for a levy and a bond to upgrade service, vehicles and stations. Spokane County Fire District 9 needs to replace aging fire trucks and relocate its busiest fire station, according to Chief Matthew Vinci. Approval of a levy lid lift and a $70 million bond next month would accomplish those construction projects as well as many other expensive items on the district’s more-than $100 million to-do list. “I say these aren’t niceto-haves,” Vinci said. “These are must-haves for us to deliver this service. We’ve got to deliver high-quality service, and we’ve got to take care of the health and safety of our team.” The 125-square-mile fire district, which covers the area north of Spokane and Spokane Valley, is asking voters Nov. 3 to approve a six-year levy lid lift for the district’s regular fire levy. If approved, the levy rate in 2027 would increase from 65 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to $1.50 per $1,000, the maximum allowed under state law. In the following five years, the district could increase levy revenue by up to 6% annually, but the regular levy rate could not exceed $1.50. Based on a $500,000 assessed property, the increase from $0.65 to $1.50 would be $423 per year, or $35.25 per month. The district has not asked for a voter-approved increase to its regular fire levy in more than 45 years, Vinci said. If the levy lid lift passes, Vinci said the district would reduce its maintenance and

DISTRICT COURT Continued from 15

Addams is not concerned by hallucinated case law. If a judge fact-checks every AI output, those mistakes will never enter their finished product. He also noted popular legal search engines already have incorporated AI tools. Soon it may be difficult for judges to entirely avoid the technology. “Do I use it? Yes. Do I rely on it? No. In many ways it is an amazing technology, but you have got to double-check everything. You can’t just blindly rely on it,” he said. The candidates’ strong stances on opposing sides of the issue underscore two would-be judges with fairly different legal philosophies. Addams promised to be “fair and firm” to those convicted of crimes, while Ulrich said the most important quality he can bring as a judge is “empathy.” A former prosecutor may struggle to prioritize empathy, Ulrich added. “Empathy is incredibly important. And I don’t hear much of that from my opponent,” he said. Addams disputes that characterization. Though he has been contracted as Cheney municipal court’s prosecutor since 2022, his legal experience is “incredibly varied.” He has filled in as a judge for the county Superior Court since 2021 and in the District Court beginning last year. He teaches business law at Eastern Washington University. Outside the law, he has served a combined 24 years in the military between the Air Force and national guard. Addams is also a founding member of the Cheney therapeutic court, where criminals can get addiction treatment and rehabilitation. “That is one of the absolute best parts of my job. Helping people get back on their feet is so important. I’m a prosecutor but I would much rather equip people with the tools to

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Firefighters Matthew Von Steuben, left, and Erik Holm demonstrate the removal of the gurney from a new ambulances Spokane County Fire District 9 purchased.

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operations levy by 20 cents per $1,000, reducing the net increase to $323 per year, or $26.92 per month. The $70 million bond would be repaid over 20 years. The bond would cost taxpayers 39 cents per $1,000, a $196-per-year increase, or $16.34 per month. The levy lid lift requires 50% approval to pass, and the bond needs 60%. Vinci said he knows two propositions are a “big ask,” but the district has a “big need.” He said significant investments are needed for facilities, equipment and trucks, and the longer purchases are delayed, the more expensive they will become. Vinci said 50% of the levy would fund new fire vehicles, which Vinci called the district’s biggest need. “Our fleet is in tough shape,” Vinci said. “We’re putting a lot of tax dollars into keeping trucks on the road. Our ladder truck, specifically, has been in the shop this year more than it’s been in the firehouse.” The levy would fund four new fire engines, four brush trucks, three tender trucks and a ladder truck. An engine costs $1 million, and a ladder truck is $2.5 million. Vinci said the district

succeed while also holding them accountable for their actions,” he said. Addams also believes he is more qualified for the position in District Court. As an attorney in the state attorney general’s office, Ulrich spends much of his time in superior courts throughout the state. Addams has spent his time working in municipal courts dealing with cases similar to those he would see at district court. “My opponent I’m sure is a good attorney at what he does. It has nothing to do with District Court. Being in the AG’s office representing the state, it’s not the same thing as working on day-to-day public safety,” he said. Ulrich has been in that job since 2020 but has also been a substitute judge in both superior and district courts in Spokane County in the past four years. “My experience lends itself somewhat uniquely to this role,” Ulrich said. While the race is nonpartisan, endorsements for each candidate have a pattern. Ulrich is endorsed by Democratic Spokane County Commissioners Amber Waldref and Chris Jordan and other Democratic politicians like state Rep. Timm Ormsby and former state Sen. Andy Billig. His most prominent Republican endorsement comes from Spokane County Prosecutor Preston McCollam. He is also endorsed by outgoing judge Patti Connolly Walker and 11 Spokane County Superior Court judges. Addams political endorsements include only Republicans state Rep. Suzanne Schmidt and former state Sen. Mike Padden. Legal endorsements include Washington Supreme Court candidates Dave Larson and one Spokane County Superior Court judge. The Spokane County Bar Association has rated Ulrich as “exceptionally well qualified” and Addams as “qualified.” Though he was rated lower, Addams noted both candidates received similar scoring, and he scored better on judicial temperament and integrity.

turns to its reserve ladder truck, which he called a “dinosaur,” when its primary one is in the shop. An efficient ladder truck is crucial as the district continues to grow in population, call volumes and high-density housing. The district’s population has increased by 16,000 in the past 25 years, according to previous Spokesman-Review reporting. Vinci said the number of calls the district is responding to has more than doubled since 2014. The district received nearly 4,100 calls for service in 2014 and received almost 9,000 last year. Vinci referenced the fire that District 9 firefighters responded to in early September at a large apartment complex under construction on North Newport Highway and Nevada Street as an example where ladder trucks are needed. Vinci said the blaze was the largest structure fire by square footage in the district’s history. Brush fires wreaked havoc on the district this summer, with at least parts of the area’s four biggest wildfires – Upriver fire and the three Spokane Complex fires – burning within dis-

trict boundaries. Firefighter Robert Gray, a spokesman for the district, said the district averaged a “major fire” every five days from the Upriver fire June 16 to the Spokane Complex fires Aug. 1. “I’ve only been here 18 months, and it’s been the worst fire season,” Vinci said. The Upriver fire tore through Camp Sekani and into a neighborhood north of Spokane Valley, destroying 14 homes and killing one person. Other fires this summer in the wildland-urban interface torched the Beacon Hill area. “That area’s been hit wicked hard,” Vinci said. He said four new, safer and versatile brush trucks that can easily maneuver from a wooded area to a residential neighborhood would help in those wildland-urban interface situations. The levy also would pay to replace firefighting equipment and hire new firefighters. Since he took over as chief last year, Vinci said the district had to take loans out to replace self-contained breathing apparatus and personal protective equipment. “I don’t want to use tax dollars to pay interest,” he said.

BLUE WAVE Continued from 1

Republican incumbent Michael Baumgartner got more than 47% of the vote, which was nearly two and a half times that of Democrat Camela Conroy, who finished second to qualify for the primary. But Conroy was splitting the vote with nine other challengers, including an independent who finished a close third. Republican candidates hadn’t finished the primary with less than half of the total ballots cast in the district since 1992, when they were running against then-House Speaker Tom Foley.

Hot-button ballot issues

Eastern Washington’s race for Congress isn’t the only contest that might give occasional voters an extra incentive to mark their ballots and put them in the mail or a drop box. Three statewide initiatives – to cancel an approved-but-not-yet-collected “millionaires tax”; on a clash between parents’ rights and student privacy at school; and to place restrictions for who’s eligible to compete in girls’ sports – are also on the ballot. Washington has a long history of voting on some form of an income tax, which opponents argue the tax passed last year is because it’s levied on an annual income of more than $1 million. Eleven have been on the ballot, and 10 have failed. The first one, proposed in 1932 at the height of the Depression, passed with 70% of the vote but was later ruled unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court. Since then, other efforts have gone down, sometimes by large margins. This tax, which would raise an estimated $3.5 billion a year by taxing income over $1 million and is scheduled to start being collected in 2029, is being challenged in court. The lawsuit would continue if a majority vote to keep the tax by voting “no” on the initiative. Five seats on the state Supreme Court, which could change the majority on the nine-member court, are also on the Nov. 3 ballot. Although the seats are nonpartisan, Republican groups have endorsed one group of five while Democratic groups are endorsing four of the others and are split on a fifth.

Coattails no. Blue wave maybe?

Presidential election years sometimes have “coattails” that theoretically help candidates of the winning president’s party to be pulled into election with him. Midterm elections don’t have coattails, but they can generate a wave of support for one party or the other.

Bond

The bond would cover infrastructure improvements at the district’s aging fire stations and relocate Station 99, located on North Whitehouse Street just west of the Division Street “Y.” Vinci said Station 99, which fields the most calls of its stations, was a house the district purchased about 20 years ago and was retrofitted as a temporary fire station. Officials are looking for land in the district to build a new three-truck bay station with room for an ambulance. With bond passage, the goal would be to break ground on the new station next year. “This will be our No. 1 focus of our bond,” Vinci said. “Also, our top focus of our bond will be to renovate our existing other four career stations.” The stations would receive replacements to their heating, ventilation and air conditioning, electrical and fire alerting systems. Fitness space would also be added, and roofs would be repaired. Bunk rooms would be converted into single bedrooms. “Our team spends 48 hours and sometimes 72 hours in these stations, so that’s where they live,” Vinci said. “It’s their home away from home, so we’ll be going to single bedrooms.” If the bond passes, the

In 1974, in the wake of Watergate, Democrats gained 49 seats in the U.S. House. The Washington congressional delegation stayed the same at six Democrats and one Republican, but the wave may have helped Democrats pick up five seats in the state House. In 1982, Democrats gained seats in Congress nationally although Republicans picked up the new House seat in suburban King County, but Democrats retook control of the of the state House of Representatives by gaining 10 seats. In 1994, the tables were reversed again and the “contract with America” wave switched the state’s congressional delegation to seven Republicans and two Democrats from the eight Democrats and one Republicans elected two years earlier. Control of the Legislature also flipped as Republicans picked up 28 seats in the House. In 2010, during what was sometimes called the tea party movement, Washington Republicans picked up a seat in the U.S. House, four in the state Senate and seven in the state House. Although the late Tip O’Neill, a former House speaker, once posited that “all politics are local,” that may only be partially true this year because of nationwide inflation, high gasoline prices and the war in Iran. But it’s also true that some of the politics are intensely local.

On the local front

Seven legislative seats spread across three districts within Spokane County are up for election with three of them without an incumbent because of retirements. Five more are on the ballot in parts of the county and included other surrounding counties. All Spokane-area legislative seats tend to be regarded as safe for one party or the other. Democrats have held the seats in the 3rd District, the one that contains only precincts within the Spokane city limits with one exception since the 1930s. The 4th District, which contains the city of Spokane Valley and much of the nearby suburbs, is a Republican stronghold which, with one exception in the 1990s, hasn’t sent a Democrat to Olympia since 1978. The 6th District, covering many precincts in northwest Spokane, the West Plains and some areas to the south and west of the city limits, has only sent one Democrat to the state Senate and two to the House, since the 1940s – and many of the precincts that supported them have since been moved into another district. The 7th, which has parts of north Spokane County included with all or parts of six northeastern counties, hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since the 1970s and to the House since the 1990s. The 9th District, which has some rural parts of south-

goal is to complete these projects over the next six years. “Data shows that take care of your people, they’ll take care of your community,” Vinci said. “You gotta take care of your people first, and we can do better and we hope the public will help us with that.”

New ambulance service

Fire District 9 started operating its own ambulance service July 1, and Vinci said it’s going “excellent.” District 9 ambulances completed 966 transports from the July 1 rollout through Sept. 30, Vinci said. About 85% of those are district residents, who Vinci said will never see a bill. The push to create its own ambulance service was sparked when American Medical Response, which is responsible for 95% of all medical transport in Spokane County, doubled its rates a little more than a year ago, according to previous Spokesman-Review reporting. AMR charges more than $5,200 for basic life support transport for residents in Spokane and Spokane Valley, which have the highest ambulance rates in Washington. The district gets money for the ambulance services through users’ insurance and Washington’s Ground Emergency Medical Transportation program, which supplements payments to publicly owned ambulance providers in the state.

ern Spokane County with other counties to the south and west, is arguably the most Republican of all, having not elected a Democrat to either chamber since before World War II. Even if this is a year of a “blue wave,” Democrats are unlikely to pull off many upsets in local legislative races. One 4th District House races is between two Republicans – possible because of Washington’s top two primary system – and the 6th District Senate race, the two 7th District House races and one 9th District House race have Republican incumbents running unopposed. Despite the long history of Democratic dominance in the 3rd District, however, Republicans fielded candidates against a one-term incumbent and for the open seat.

Not all county seats contested

Most of the county executive positions also are on the ballot in midterm years, but for many of those races Democrats decided to cede those races to Republicans, who already hold most of those positions. County assessor, sheriff and commissioner all have a single Republican candidate, while the race for prosecuting attorney matches Danny Tarkenton, who lists “No Party Preference” against Republican Preston McCollam. The District 4 commissioner’s race has Suzanne Schmidt, a current Republican legislator running against Rachelle Miller, an independent who made it to the general election with a write-in campaign in the primary. Republicans, however, passed on a candidate to challenge incumbent Commissioner Amber Waldref in District 2. Democrats did field a candidate for the county auditor’s position, which they’ve held for 60 years and is currently the only countywide partisan seat Democrats hold. Vicky Dalton is retiring after 27 years and has endorsed the Republican in the race, Spokane city Councilman Michael Cathcart in the race against accountant Callie Gee, the co-chair of the Spokane Young Democrats. Spokane voters also have eight District Court judge positions on the ballot, although only two are contested. Spokane, Cheney, Central Valley, East Valley, West Valley, Nine Mile and Riverside school districts have levies on the ballot, and Liberty Lake is asking voters to approve a one-tenth of 1% sales tax increase to help pay for public safety services. Ballots will be mailed out in mid-October, and will have to be placed in an official ballot drop box or mailed and postmarked by 8 p.m. Nov. 3.

T18 • Sunday • October 11, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

WASHINGTON SUPREME COURT

Differing views shape race for Supreme Court Pos. 1 Melody, Edwards tackle judicial independence, role of state courts

in the workplace, in criminal justice proceedings, in businesses who are being regulated by the Washingtonians will have an government and what rights that opportunity this fall to shape the they have in those circumstances.” state’s court system when they Melody said state courts and cast their ballots. state rights have become increasWhile three seats on the state ingly important “because federal Supreme Court typically come up law has continued to shift.” for election in an election cycle, Edwards, who said he’s hantwo retirements and state dled more than a dozen election laws mean that state Supreme Court casfive seats – a majority of es, said he was promptthe court – will appear on ed to run because there’s the ballot. been a “real decline in the Justice Colleen Melquality of decisions we’re ody, who was appointed seeing coming out of the to the court by Gov. Bob Supreme Court.” Ferguson, is seeking to Melody “As a greater proportion retain her seat and fill the of Supreme Court justices remainder of her term, get to the bench by being which runs through 2028. gubernatorially appointed Melody won the August rather than initially being primary with 52.7% of the elected by the people,” Edvote. She is challenged wards said, “I’m running by Scott Edwards, who to bring back to the court placed second in the pri- Edwards a focus on the rule of law, mary with 29.6% of the deciding cases based on the vote. law and the Constitution, without Although judges are generally regard to the political preferences restricted from discussing legal of individual justices.” cases that could come before them Melody, who had not previousin the future, they can weigh in on ly served on the bench prior to her ones that already have been decid- appointment, noted the court is ed. On one such decision issued strictly an appellate court, making in September that invalidated a previous experience less relevant voter-approved initiative, Melody than in lower courts. The court, and Edwards differ. They also dis- she said, should have members agree on whether Washington’s with a variety of backgrounds. system of appointing and electing “I think it is much more helpful judges creates political pressure to me that I have a broad appellate or influence. experience, including in every apMelody, a Ferris High School peals court in Washington, as well graduate, joined the court on as almost all of the appeals courts Jan. 1 and arrived after an 11-year in the United States, including the career leading the civil rights di- United States Supreme Court,” vision of the Office of the Wash- Melody said. “Because it’s a really ington Attorney General. She is different practice than, you know, endorsed by her eight fellow state adjudicating trial court disputes Supreme Court justices, along and resolving an individual claim with Ferguson, Attorney General before you.” Nick Brown and former Gov. Jay Edwards, like Melody, does Inslee. not have previous judicial expeEdwards is a tax attorney and rience and said he doesn’t know affiliate instructor at the Uni- if judicial experience is “a signifiversity of Washington School of cant factor for the state Supreme Law. Melody said her time on the Court, whose primary role is to bench has confirmed what she un- decide cases that are presented derstood when she accepted the to the court, cases where the facts have been established at a lower appointment. “State law is really the back- court level.” “I think my 30 years’ experience bone of a lot of our rights right now,” Melody said. “We have a as a state and local tax lawyer, and dynamic and challenging docket my more than 20 years’ experithat involves the rights of people ence teaching tax law at the Uni-

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Washington Supreme Court, Position 1

By Mitchell Roland

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Colleen Melody

Age: 44 City: Vashon Island, Washington Education: Graduated from Ferris High School in Spokane. Earned bachelor’s and law degree from the University of Washington.

Work experience: Worked as a trial attorney in the Department of

Justice’s civil rights division in the nation’s capital. Served as the division chief for the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division in the state attorney general’s office. Worked as a law clerk in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit after college. Political experience: Appointed to Washington state Supreme Court in November 2025. Family: Married to Zachary Hoit and has two children. Campaign finance: Raised about $257,500 as of Oct. 3, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Contributors include the Washington Education Association, Washington Federation of State Employees, former Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, attorney Michael Pontarolo, Spokane Superior Court Judge Tony Hazel and Spokane County Superior Court Judge Breean Beggs.

Scott Edwards

Age: 60 City: Bainbridge Island, Washington Education: Earned bachelor’s in economics from Princeton University and law degree from the University of Washington.

Work experience: Worked as attorney at Bogle & Gates from 1996

to 1999, Perkins Coie from 1999 to 2010, Ballard Spahr from 2010 to present. Political experience: First run for office. Family: Married to Christine Edwards. Has three children and a granddaughter. Campaign finance: Raised about 165,000 as of Oct. 3, including $9,900 in loans mostly from himself, according to the PDC. Contributors include Tradewinds Capital Management managing partner Bryant Engebretson, Associated General Contractors of Washington, National Federation of Independent Business Washington Political Action Committee, Joseph P. Gildner Consulting, Collins Homes Inc. and former Republican state Sen. Mike Padden.

versity of Washington law school, have focused me on the principles of statutory interpretation and constitutional analysis that are the most important thing that a candidate for the Supreme Court can bring to that role,” Edwards said. In a 6-3 decision in September, the court ruled that a 2024 voter initiative that barred state and local governments from restricting natural gas was invalid because it violated the single-subject requirement from the state constitution, saying legislation and initiatives must relate to one subject that must also be clearly stated in its title. Melody joined the majority decision written by Chief Justice Debra Stephens.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Washington Supreme Court, Position 3 Jaime Michelle Hawk

Age: 49 Residence: Federal Way, Washington Education: Graduated from high school in Boise. Earned her undergraduate degree in 1999 and her law degree in 2004 from Gonzaga University.

Work experience: Began her legal career with the U.S. Senate Judiciary

Committee in Washington, D.C. Worked in trial litigation as a juvenile public defender in Grant County, and in Spokane as a federal public defender for Eastern Washington and Idaho. Clerked in Yakima for a federal judge and worked in Seattle on civil rights class-action litigation. Worked at the ACLU of Washington as Legal Strategy Director for its Smart Justice campaign in 2015. Appointed to the King County Superior Court by then-Gov. Jay Inslee in July 2022. Previously taught as an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University School of Law. Member of the Washington Supreme Court’s Minority and Justice Commission. Political experience: Appointed to the King County Superior Court in 2022 and subsequently elected. First run for the state Supreme Court. Family: Her longtime partner is state Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti. Campaign finance: Raised about $310,600, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission, as of Oct. 3. Contributors include Pellicciotti, Spokane attorney Rondi Thorpe, the Amalgamated Transit Union, Service Employees International Unions 775 and 1199NW, former U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref and Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown.

David Stevens

Age: 64 Residence: Shelton, Washington Education: Graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Sacramento.

Earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology with an emphasis in race and ethnic relations from the University of Washington, and a law degree from the University of Washington School of Law. Work experience: Served from 1983 to 1989 in the U.S. Navy, including as petty officer second class. Worked as a federal civil-rights investigator for Department of Housing and Urban Development in Seattle. Has worked for more than two decades as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney in state, federal, tribal and international courts. Was a Spokane County deputy prosecutor from 2001 to 2010, handling fraud and property cases as the office’s repeat-offender prosecutor. Later served as a federal prosecutor in Sacramento, a U.S. State Department justice adviser in Afghanistan and a European Union prosecutor in Kosovo, and did criminal defense work, including as public defense director for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Returned to prosecution in Okanogan and Mason counties before his election to the Mason County Superior Court in 2023. Political experience: Ran unsuccessfully for Spokane County prosecutor in 2010. Elected to the Mason County Superior Court in November 2023, defeating an incumbent appointed by then-Gov. Jay Inslee, and re-elected in 2024. First run for the state Supreme Court. Family: Married to Pamela Zierdt. They have five children and 10 grandchildren. Campaign finance: Raised about $62,200, according to the PDC, as of Oct. 3, including about $1,400 Stevens loaned his campaign. Contributors include George Petrie, the executive chairman of Goodman Real Estate in Seattle; the Council of Police Political Support; former Spokane Valley state Sen. Mike Padden; and the Mason County Republican Women’s Club.

Melody said it’s a “serious matter to overturn any law, whether passed by the legislature or by the people.” “And that case was about the single-subject requirement. And because it’s a fairness requirement, that whether it’s legislators voting in the Capitol on a piece of legislation, or individual citizens voting on an initiative, that there be a single subject so that they know what they’re voting on,” Melody said. “And there aren’t hidden or other effects of the law that aren’t disclosed to them at the time of voting.” Edwards said he agreed with the dissent written by Justice Sal Mungia. “The dissent emphasized po-

litical power starting in the hands of the people, and then having reserved to themselves the right of initiative, and the need for the court to grant deference to the people’s exercise of that right of initiative to interpret initiatives in a way that is constitutional, if possible,” Edwards said. Melody said her colleagues in the minority on the court acknowledged there were multiple subjects. “They just thought that some of them were, you know, that they could cut them off. The legal term is sever them,” Melody said. “They thought that some of them were subject to severance, and I disagreed. ” During the race, Edwards, among others, raised questions over a perceived lack of judicial independence due to many of the justices initially being appointed by the governor, rather than winning in an open election. “The fact that six of the nine judges on the Supreme Court got there, not through the electoral process, but by being appointed by the governor, there’s a general concern that, you know, political appointees share the political views of the person appointing you,” Edwards said, Edwards said his concern extends beyond his opponent in his race, but she represents “probably the strongest example of the concern that I have.” Melody said judicial races must “absolutely be nonpartisan” and that “Washington got this right.” “We used to have partisan judicial appointments and races, and we moved away from that, because I think, it’s better for the judiciary to avoid the appearance that this is partisan,” Melody said. “Or that you might have a better chance in the court based on who you are or who you know, because that’s just not true and is not consistent with the law.” During the election cycle, Melody said there’s “no group I won’t talk to, no endorsement that I haven’t sought out.” “Whether it be on either side of the aisle, but also, groups who are focused on particular issues, like crime victims or workers’ rights, or the rights and interests of small businesses,” Melody said. “Because all of those groups need to be heard, and I want everybody to think that I’m somebody who will listen to them, be fair and really take their case seriously.”

Two judges with Spokane ties vie for high court’s Position 3 ic-backed votes with Hawk. Stevens is an underdog in funding and faces an uphill Two superior court judges battle in the general election. with ties to Spokane will face While he won the most votes off in the general election after for the position in the primaadvancing in the primary. ry, he will face the challenge of They will vie for Raquel Mon- capturing the liberal vote. toya-Lewis’ seat after she opted “I’ve always rooted for the not to seek re-election. underdog, whether it’s a vicKing County Superior Court tim when I was a prosecutor, Judge Jaime Hawk worked as a or whether it was somebody federal defender in Spothat was overcharged ... kane and was an adjunct when I was a public delaw professor at Gonzafender,” Stevens said. ga University, where she Stevens brings 10 earned her law degree in years of experience with 2004. more than 200 criminal Mason County Supetrials as a trial attorrior Court Judge David Hawk ney on both sides of the Stevens was a deputy court before being electprosecutor in Spokane ed to Mason County County for about 10 Superior Court in 2023, years, and ran unsucousting the incumbent cessfully for Spokane who had been appointCounty prosecutor in ed by then-Gov. Jay Ins2010 as a Republican. lee. Stevens represented Hawk is endorsed by Gail Gerlach, who was Gov. Bob Ferguson and Stevens acquitted of manslaughSpokane Mayor Lisa ter by a Spokane jury in Brown. She’s also backed by 2014. Gerlach shot and killed a current and retired state Su- man who was stealing his car. preme Court justices, including Hawk has more than 20 years Helen Whitener, Mary Yu and of legal experience, including Charles Johnson, and claims the work as a state and federal pubsupport of more than 100 judg- lic defender and as a civil rights es statewide. Her labor support attorney. She is a King Counincludes the Washington State ty Superior Court judge, has Labor Council, the state teach- taught as an adjunct at Gonzaers union and Service Employ- ga Law, and serves on the state ees International Union 775. Supreme Court’s Minority and Stevens is recommended by Justice Commission. the Washington state and SpoThe judges have different kane County Republican par- judicial philosophies. Stevens ties as well as the Washington describes his as textualist and Council of Police and Sheriffs. originalist, meaning that he inStevens edged out Hawk in terprets laws and the Constituthe primary, earning 35.3% of tion based on fixed, objective the vote compared to Hawk’s meaning at the time they were 33.4%. Mike Diaz, who did not written. advance, earned 31.3% of the “I believe that the courts are vote, splitting the Democrat- inherently conservative, and

By Troy Slack

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

I don’t mean that in a political sense. I mean that it’s not for the courts to lead the way. That’s what the Legislature and the governor do. We just weigh things against the Constitution,” Stevens said. Hawk said she works to strengthen trust and transparency within the courts. “My judicial philosophy is grounded in strengthening public trust and confidence in our courts and faithfully applying the rule of law, so judges decide cases based on our Constitution, our statutes … precedent or case law … not personal views or policy preferences,” Hawk said. The politicization and partisanship of the courts are concerns for both candidates, where both argue that the endorsement system has caused the nonpartisan position to become heavily politicized. Stevens said that Hawk is using the benefits of Democratic endorsements, while claiming nonpartisanship. “It’s hilarious that she puts in her pamphlet statement ... I’m a Democrat, I have been endorsed by Democrats, I was appointed by a Democrat governor ... and then they go around saying it’s nonpartisan,” he said. Hawk’s statement in the state voter guide doesn’t literally say she’s a Democrat, but it does mention she’s backed by Ferguson and is endorsed by “local and county Democratic organizations.” Hawk pointed out that Stevens does the same thing, noting his endorsements and recommendations. “It’s interesting he’s highlighting partisanship, given See POSITION 3, 19

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

October 11, 2026 • Sunday • T19

WASHINGTON SUPREME COURT

Trial, appellate judges battle for open Supreme Court seat en current and three retired state Supreme Court justices, and claims the support of Washington’s Supreme more than 100 judges across Court will have more turn- all 39 counties. Endorseover than at any point in its ments include the Washinghistory this November. ton State Labor Council, the The race between Sean state teachers union and SerO’Donnell and Ian Birk for vice Employees InternationPosition 4 on the al Union 775. court is one of five Birk has practiced open seats that will law for 20 years, decide what kind of starting in 2002. court comes out the He primarily repreother side. sented individuals, In a rare cycle with small businesses and a majority of the court families in insurance on the ballot, Birk and Birk denials, workplace O’Donnell are vying discrimination and to replace Justice consumer protecCharles W. Johnson. tion cases. He says Having held the seat he brings appelsince 1991, Johnson late-specific experihit the mandatory ence in a time when retirement age of 75, the court needs it. leaving it open this “The court is facelection cycle. Only O’Donnell ing an unprecedenttwo candidates filed ed level of turnover. for the position. As an already-experienced O’Donnell, a King County appellate judge, and at this Superior Court judge, has point the only experienced bipartisan backing and is en- appellate judge in the field, dorsed by former Gov. Chris- other than the incumbent tine Gregoire, U.S. Reps. chief justice, I bring the exAdam Smith and Marilyn act experience that the court Strickland, Spokane Mayor needs,” Birk said. Lisa Brown, Commissioner O’Donnell spent over a deof Public Lands Dave Up- cade as a King County prosthegrove and the state Re- ecutor, helping prosecute publican Party. He claims Gary Ridgway, also known the backing of more than 220 as the Green River Killer, bejudicial officers at every level fore becoming a King County of court, along with 15 coun- Superior Court judge in 2013, ty prosecutors and the Se- a post he’s held for nearly 14 attle Times editorial board. years. He says he is tied to a Additionally, O’Donnell is broader, consensus-building backed by the Washington coalition as opposed to a sinCouncil of Police and Sher- gle interest group. iffs, the Washington Farm “Other than the chief jusBureau and the Washington tice, there’s no other candiRetail Association. Ian Birk, a date in the entire field who state Court of Appeals judge, has the operational side of is backed by former Gov. the job down like I do,” he Jay Inslee, Attorney Gener- said. al Nick Brown, Insurance On judicial philosophy, Commissioner Patty Kuder- both candidates prioritized er and U.S. Rep. Pramila Jay- the understandability of the apal. He’s also backed by sev- law to citizens and how it af-

By Troy Slack

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

fects citizens. While explicitly declining a philosophy label, Birk said he has “judicial priorities,” adding that he believes the state constitution is “more important now than it ever has been, at least in my lifetime, given the kind of retrenchment at the federal level.” “It’s really important to me to write at the appellate level opinions that are accessible to ordinary Washingtonians as much as we can make them. The law belongs to the people,” Birk said. O’Donnell said that while dealing with the law is a “routine decision” for him, he realizes that the decisions he makes reach far and wide. “The letter of the law, the constitution, the statutes, prior precedent, is our framework. It’s what’s predictable ... But the spirit of the law is the other side of it, which is how this affects people,” O’Donnell said. While judges are mostly restricted from weighing in on political issues, both candidates believe common challenges are facing the court, the first of which being affordability and access in the civil legal system. O’Donnell floated reviving rules allowing limited license legal technicians to help self-represented litigants. The state stopped issuing licenses for the role as of 2023. A limited license legal technician is a trained, licensed nonlawyer authorized to provide limited legal advice and services in specific family law matters without attorney supervision. “There’s been a crisis of affordability for 40-plus years ... When I was the chief family law judge, what I saw was over 60% of the people who came in before me on the most important issues in

their life ... were not represented,” O’Donnell said. Birk agreed affordability is a challenge facing the court, especially given recent housing legislation and broader cost concerns that prevent people from easily using the courts. “Access to the legal system is really key. It’s what I spent my entire career doing,” Birk said. “So, I mean, if you’re an ordinary Washingtonian and you need access to the courts, I mean, that’s what I did for two decades.” Money and politicization in this cycle’s judicial races were another one of the main concerns of the candidates. O’Donnell said his opponent is “almost exclusively funded by personal injury lawyers.” Birk has raised a significant amount from attorneys, many who specialize in personal injury cases. Sixteen of the 35 attorneys listed on the website of Pfau, Cochran, Vertetis and Amala, a law firm that handles personal injury and other cases, contributed to Birk’s campaign. Of the 16 who gave, a dozen gave at least $2,400 each. Birk rebuts O’Donnell’s criticism of his campaign funders and said he has a diverse support base. “I don’t, as a judicial candidate, know who my donors are. I actually don’t look at my opponent’s donors ,” Birk said. Birk said the amount of money flowing into judicial races this year is unsettling, and a mix of two issues. “I think it is a concerning trend, and I think it is probably also a byproduct of five seats open at the same time ... There’s talk of opportunity, right, because there’s changeover happening ,” he said.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Washington Supreme Court, Position 4 Ian Birk

Age: 47 Residence: Seattle Education: Earned bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Washington.

Work experience: Has served as a Washington

Court of Appeals, Division I, judge since 2022 when he was appointed by then-Gov. Jay Inslee. Retained his seat in election later that year. Worked as a civil litigator from 2002-22, including as a partner at Keller Rohrback. Worked as a law clerk to Justice Susan Owens on the Washington Supreme Court, 2001-02 Political experience: Ran unopposed in election to retain his appeals court bench in 2022. Family: Married to Karena Birk; no children. Campaign finance: Raised about $500,900 as of Oct. 3, according to state Public Disclosure Commission. Contributors, including dozens of attorneys, Michael J. Pontarolo, John R. Connelly II, John F. Connelly, Tom Vertetis and George Ahrend. Other contributors include Washington Federation of State Employees.

Sean O’Donnell

Age: 54 Residence: Seattle Education: Earned bachelor’s degree from

Georgetown University and law degree from Seattle University. Work experience: Served as King County Superior Court judge since 2013, including work as chief criminal judge, chief family law judge and pro tem justice on the state Supreme Court. Worked as a senior deputy prosecutor in the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, 2001-13, including the Green River Task Force. Worked as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill before law school. Political experience: First run for elected office. Family: Married to Shelly O’Donnell and has two children. Campaign finance: Raised about $402,000 as of Oct. 3, including $5,000 he loaned his campaign, according to the PDC. Contributors include the Associated General Contractors political action committee; the National Federation of Independent Business PAC; Chelan County Superior Court Judge Kristin Ferrera; Matt Champagne, CEO of ScreenPal; and Rob Nichols, CEO of the American Bankers Association.

Suggested partisanship a key issue in Position 5 race POSITION 3 Continued from 18

Appointee faces judge looking to remove politics from courts By Mitchell Roland THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The lack of party labels next to judicial candidates on the ballot hasn’t stopped accusations of political influence in races for the state’s top court. With five seats up for grabs, the November ballot include three state Supreme Court members first appointed to their seat by a governor and now seeking re-election. Two candidates, including Justice Theo Angelis, were appointed by Gov. Bob Ferguson in the past year. Angelis is facing Dave Larson, a former municipal court judge who previously ran for a seat on the court four times and lost his most recent bid in a close race in 2024. The winner will serve through January 2029. Although the state Supreme Court was his first judicial appointment, Angelis said he’s “been thinking for about 10 years” about moving to the bench, first actively seeking an appointment as a federal judge and was selected by a bipartisan merit selection panel. That process included an interview at the Trump White House, after which he heard his “ideological priorities” did not align with what the administration was looking for. “I was in the mix there for about six or seven years. And when all those positions were finally filled, I looked around a little bit more and thought about, you know, the Washington Supreme Court is a wonderful court, a fantastic court that has a great docket, really high-quality judges extremely dedicated to the administration of justice and ensuring a real access to justice,” Angelis said. “So that was a natural choice for me to apply.” While on the campaign trail and in previous election cycles, Larson has pitched himself as a candidate with broad support who is working to get politics out of a nonpartisan position. He has received the recommendation of the state Republican Party. He also has the backing of the Forward Party, which was co-founded by former Democratic Presidential candidate Andrew Yang, and the Cascade Party, which was started by

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Washington Supreme Court, Position 5 Theo Angelis

Age: 54 City: Seattle Education: Earned bachelor’s degree from Claremont McKenna College,

master’s from Oxford University, master’s from the London School of Economics and law degree from Yale University. Work experience: Previously worked as a partner at K&L Gates for 26 years, focused on appellate work, intellectual property and general litigation. Political experience: Appointed to Washington state Supreme Court in March. Family: Married to Kim Angelis and has two children. Campaign finance: Raised about $435,600 as of Oct. 3, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Donors include the Washington Education Association, Service Employees International Union 775, Washington Federation of State Employees, University of Chicago Law Professor Lior Strahilevitz, attorney Michael Pontarolo and Spokane County Superior Court Judge Breean Beggs.

Dave Larson

Age: 68 City: Federal Way, Washington Education: Graduated from Federal Way High School. Earned bachelor’s

degree from the University of Puget Sound, earned law degree from Seattle University School of Law. Work experience: Served as judge at Federal Way Municipal Court between 2008 and 2026; presiding judge since 2009. Worked as a civil trial lawyer for 23 years before becoming a judge. Owned a law firm between 1991 and 2001, and a mediation company with 22 contract mediators between 1998 and 2001. Political experience: Elected to Federal Way Municipal Court in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2021. Appointed to Federal Way School Board in 2007 and elected to the position in 2007. Resigned when elected as a judge in 2009. Ran unsuccessfully for Supreme Court in 2000, 2016, 2020 and 2024. Family: Single. Has two adult children and four grandchildren. Campaign finance: Raised about $390,900 as of Oct. 3, according to the PDC. Donors include National Federation of Independent Business Washington Political Action Committee; Council of Police Political Support, Skagit County GOP; Associated General Contractors of Washington’s BUILD PAC; Gail Domingos, founder of Cedar Crest Academy, which includes four private schools in Seattle; former Republican state Sen. Mike Padden; and Spokane Valley City Councilwoman Jessica Yaeger.

Nirvana bass player Krist Novoselic, among others. Larson said he has the support of the president of the NAACP for Washington, Alaska and Oregon area. “So I think I have the ability to bring people together in a way that increases confidence in the courts and in government in general,” Larson said. Still, he thinks judicial decisions are increasingly analyzed through a partisan lens, and said “it’s not supposed to be that way.” “I know some very, very liberal judges and some very, very conservative judges,” Larson said. “But I

would trust them to decide any litigation I was involved in because they understand what it means to be a judge. And I think we have to, in the judiciary, start insisting that we gauge our judicial candidates based on their ability to overcome partisan politics rather than whether they’re kind of endorsed by different political parties in the process.” He’s also proposed a new method of appointing judges he believes would help reduce politicization and increase confidence in the courts. Larson said he’s sensed that Washingtonians have “almost

accepted” that the state Supreme Court has become politicized. Angelis said he disagrees with the idea that politics influence the court’s decisions. “At least in the cases I’ve been a part of, I have not seen that, and I don’t think that you can point to any single justice and say, ‘Oh, I’m sure this is how she or he is going to rule on a particular case,’ ” Angelis said. Angelis was appointed by Ferguson in March to serve the remainder of former Justice Barbara Madsen’s term. The connection between Angelis and Ferguson dates back more than 20 years, when they worked at the same law firm for “about a year and a half.” Angelis said he “did work” for Ferguson’s first campaign for King County Council, and would periodically see him at campaign events. Like Ferguson, Angelis is the father of twins, and after their birth, the Fergusons gifted the Angelis family baby gear. “But other than that, you know, I might go a year or so without talking to the governor,” Angelis said. Despite the connection, Angelis said he has “no trouble ruling for or against any political party based on what I think the facts and the law require.” Angelis said he has a “very strict process” for each case, which includes writing out his potential biases and his emotional reaction to the case. “Because social science research tells us that when you do that, you have a much stronger ability to set aside your biases and emotional reactions and to decide the case on the proper grounds,” Angelis said. “And that’s what I do, and I explain that to people as I go around the state, and that really gives them a lot of comfort. Because it is critical that we are independent.” At the end of last year, Larson retired as a Federal Way Municipal Court judge after nearly 18 years in the role. Before serving as a judge, Larson spent 23 years as a trial lawyer and previously served as a board member and president of the Federal Way School Board. Larson said he’s running because he feels a “sense of duty.” “I think there’s a lot of things happening both inside and outside of the judiciary that cause the public to lose confidence in government,” Larson said. “And I think, in my 18 years of public service as a trial judge, I think I have something to add to the equation; I think I can be somebody that brings calm to the storm.”

my understanding of his background and Republican endorsements,” she said. Stevens does not list any endorsements on his campaign website other than the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs, while Hawk lists “50+ Labor and Democratic Organizations,” along with numerous judges and justices, state executive and legislative elected leaders. Stevens’ main issues he highlighted were court rulemaking and criminal justice rulings. He says the state Supreme Court’s mental health sentencing alternative ruling undercuts mandatory “hard time for armed crime.” “Everybody in Washington state expects that if you use a gun in a crime, that you’re going to do some hard time. Well, we have this thing called the mental health sentencing alternative, and it said that if you have a mental health problem, you wouldn’t have to do time, you’d have to do treatment. And if you mess it up, then you have to do whatever prison time you’re supposed to do,” Stevens said. Hawk focused on court resources and access to justice. She is in favor of court funding, increased juror pay and representation of family-law litigants. “I would say approximately half of litigants don’t have a lawyer. They can’t afford an attorney in court, and it just presents a lot of challenges. And it’s really difficult. Our legal systems are not necessarily designed to navigate without an attorney,” Hawk said.

T20 • Sunday • October 11, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

WASHINGTON SUPREME COURT

CHIEF JUSTICE FACES OPPONENT SEEKING ‘MEANINGFUL CHANGE’ Stephens pledges legal system ‘accessible to everybody’; opponent Bloom says court creates ‘two-tier’ justice

ment, to continuing the work on that in every way we can, both for self-represented litigants and for Debra Stephens was largely people who just need some assisunknown when she was appoint- tance. They need options to make ed to the state Supreme Court in it realistic to get legal help.” 2007, particularly outside Eastern This year, Stephens faces Todd Washington, where the Spokane Bloom, who earned 16% of the native and former Gonzaga Law vote and didn’t advance out of the School professor served on the primary when he sought an open Washington Court of Appeals. seat on the court in 2024. In the “I remember a line in August primary this year, the Seattle Times after I Stephens earned 54.5% of was appointed that said the vote to Bloom’s 27.5%. ‘Debra who?’ ” Stephens The pair differ in judicial recalled in an interview. approach, previous rulings In her nearly two deand what the role of the cades on the court, nowcourt should be. Chief Justice Stephens Stephens “You can only decide the has decided some of the case and controversy bestate’s most high-profile fore you. But in doing so, legal questions. Still, as she you have to take into conseeks to serve another sixsideration how that’s going year term, one of the most to be received, and the type common questions she’s of responses that you’re asked is: “What is your going to get from folks,” job?” Bloom said. “You’re not a Bloom “Judicial elections are policy person, but to think low-information races, that the rulings you make partly because, we don’t have a are done in a vacuum is just a silly constituency. These are nonpar- academic approach that is not in tisan races,” Stephens said. “We touch with reality.” absolutely can’t promise people Bloom said he was motivated to that we will advocate for their in- run again by the “historic nature of terests. In fact, our oath is not to do having five justice positions on the that. It is to be fair and impartial, ballot” and the “potential to really and decide the cases on the facts have some meaningful change in and the law.” the dynamics and tenor of how the Since her appointment by Gov. Supreme Court’s been operating.” Christine Gregoire, Stephens He also expressed broad conhas faced little meaningful chal- cerns about the state’s future. lenge in three campaigns to re“Nationally, we see record low main on the court. During her crime. We see, you know, some most recent bid for re-election in things that are some positive 2020, Stephens ran unopposed trends and everything, positive deand won with 98% of the vote. velopments. We’ve got pretty good In 2014, the last year she faced GDP growth. We’re in a pretty a challenger, Stephens garnered stimulative environment, nation78% of the vote. ally,” Bloom said. “And yet, our This year’s race, Stephens said, largest city in this state is No. 1 in comes at a time of increasing po- office vacancies. We’ve got a busilarization in the country, which ness climate that is inhospitable, it she said is in part a result of “peo- seems like, to development and to ple feeling shut out of systems.” business.” “And the legal system belongs Like national trends, Washingto everybody, and it needs to be ton’s crime rate also is falling. accessible to everybody,” SteA recent report administered phens said. “And so, a thing I really by the Washington Association of want people to know is my com- Sheriffs and Police Chiefs found mitment, and really our commit- that violent offenses in Spokane,

By Mitchell Roland

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Spokane County and Spokane Valley have continued to fall since a brief spike following the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the report, there has been a 13.8% decrease in violent crimes since 2024. Bloom pointed to a September 6-3 decision authored by Stephens overturning a voter-approved initiative that barred state and local governments from restricting natural gas because it violated the state’s single-subject requirement. “We’ve seen this time and again where the court goes out of its way to find a way to uphold things that have been enacted or are favored by one political party, and find a way to shut down or to repudiate the other position,” Bloom said. Bloom said he was “sympathetic” to the dissent written by Justice Sal Mungia, which would have upheld much of the initiative as constitutional, but said he would “reserve judgment” on the case because single-subject challenges may come before the court again. “I certainly think that we need to find a way to respect the will of the voters, at least in a greater degree than we’re seeing today,” Bloom said. Stephens said the recently issued decision was still in a “motion period” but offered a “general backdrop on how we approach these cases.” Single-subject challenges, she said, are the “most common” area of litigation challenging legislation. “These are the protections to make sure that people know what they’re voting on or in the Legislature, legislators know what they’re voting on,” Stephens said. “And also that it covers just one subject.” Stephens said that “nothing in that opinion” questions the “wisdom or the policy choice that was made by the people.” “Nothing prevents that policy from being made,” Stephens said. “It’s just, we’re looking at the subject title, single subject.” Bloom also pointed to the McCleary decision, which found that the state had “failed to meet its

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Washington Supreme Court, Position 7 Debra Stephens

Age: 61 City: Spokane Education: Graduated from

the American Federal of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 28 and many attorneys including John Allison in Spokane, Catherine W. Smith in Seattle, and Steven Fogg in Seattle.

West Valley High School. Earned bachelor’s and law degrees from Gonzaga University. Work experience: Current chief justice and justice since 2008. Previously served as Court of Appeals judge, Eastern Washington. Worked as appellate attorney and as an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University from 1993-2007. Political experience: Appointed to the Orchard Prairie School Board in 1996 and elected to school board in 1997, 1999 and 2003. Appointed judge for the Division III Court of Appeals by Gov. Chris Gregoire in 2007. Appointed to the state Supreme Court by Gregoire in 2008. Elected to her position on the court in 2008, 2014 and 2020. Served as chief justice in 2020. Appointed chief justice again starting in January 2025. Family: Married to Craig Stephens. Two grown children and a granddaughter. Campaign finance: Raised $122,700 as of Oct. 2. Contributors include the Washington Education Association Political Action Committee, the Justice For All PAC,

degree in economics from Simpson College, earned a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the United States Naval War College, earned a law degree and Master of Business Administration from Tulane University. Obtained a master of laws degree from the University of Washington specializing in taxation. Political experience: Ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington’s 6th Congressional District in 2022 and 2016, both times as a Republican. Ran for Washington state Supreme Court in 2024. Family: Married to Katie Bloom. Has two adult children Campaign finance: Raised about $15,100 as of Oct. 2, including about $800 he loaned to his campaign. Contributors include himself and the Jefferson County Republican Committee.

duty” under the constitution “by consistently providing school districts with a level of resources that falls short of the actual costs of the basic education program,” a decision that resulted in the Legislature increasing education funding by billions. Stephens authored the majority opinion. “You can’t argue that it hasn’t put more money into education, because it clearly has. What’s happened to student achievement in that time? Has it corresponded and gone up? I think the answer is no,” Bloom said. In an interview ahead of the August primary, Stephens said she was “very proud to have been able to write that decision.”

“I brought to that writing my experience as having served for over a decade as a school board director, school board chair,” Stephens said. Stephens said the framework of the case was based on a 1978 decision by the court which found the state’s public school funding system was unconstitutional, and that adequate K-12 education funding was an individual right. Among other high-profile decisions, Stephens joined a 7-2 majority that found that the state’s 7% capital gains tax on high-value asset sales constitutional. She also was part of a unanimous decision in 2018 that ruled the death penalty as unconstitutional.

Todd Bloom

Age: 63 City: Tacoma Education: Received a bachelor’s

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