Naghmana Sherazi
Naghmana Sherazi is running for Spokane City Council, District 1, Position 2. Since immigrating from Pakistan, Sherazi has become very active in the local community.
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Welcome to the Fuse Progressive Voters Guide to the 2021 primary election! The Progressive Voters Guide compiles the information that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. You can learn about our partners and decision-making process here. Please share this guide with your friends and family!
Spokane City Council
Spokane City Council, District #1, Position #2
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Evergreen Future -
Naghmana Sherazi is running for Spokane City Council, District 1, Position 2. Since immigrating from Pakistan, Sherazi has become very active in the local community. She is a member of the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane, Refugee Connections of Spokane, and Greater Spokane Progress.
Sherazi is running to increase representation and investment in Northeast Spokane and to push for stronger police reform. She wants to empower the city's Ombudsman's Office to hold police officers accountable and improve safety for all residents. In addition, she would like to shift some 911 responses to mental health crisis responders instead of armed police officers. Sherazi supports extending the eviction moratorium and would eliminate single-family zoning in the city to increase the number of affordable housing options. In addition, she advocates for using parts of the Northtown Mall as apartments for people experiencing homelessness.Naghmana Sherazi
Naghmana Sherazi is running for Spokane City Council, District 1, Position 2. Since immigrating from Pakistan, Sherazi has become very active in the local community. She is a member of the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane, Refugee Connections of Spokane, and Greater Spokane Progress.
Sherazi is running to increase representation and investment in Northeast Spokane and to push for stronger police reform. She wants to empower the city's Ombudsman's Office to hold police officers accountable and improve safety for all residents. In addition, she would like to shift some 911 responses to mental health crisis responders instead of armed police officers. Sherazi supports extending the eviction moratorium and would eliminate single-family zoning in the city to increase the number of affordable housing options. In addition, she advocates for using parts of the Northtown Mall as apartments for people experiencing homelessness.Endorsed By: Fuse, Sage Leaders, SEIU 775, Washington Conservation Voters, Housing Action Fund , Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIOWebsite: https://www.peoplefornaghmana.com/
Endorsements: https://www.peoplefornaghmana.com/endorsements
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/People4Naghmana/
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Endorsed By: Fuse, Sage Leaders, SEIU 775, Washington Conservation Voters, Housing Action Fund , Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO
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Website: https://www.peoplefornaghmana.com/
Endorsements: https://www.peoplefornaghmana.com/endorsements
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/People4Naghmana/
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Luc Jasmin III is also running for Spokane City Council, Position 2 in District 1. Jasmin is the co-owner of Parkview Early Learning Center and recently served as president of the Washington Child Care Centers Association.
Jasmin's top campaign priorities are expanding affordable child care, supporting small businesses, and expanding affordable housing. He is concerned about displacement and gentrification in Northeast Spokane and wants to improve outreach to renters and reduce barriers to accessing resources for people to stay in their homes. In addition, he supports stronger protections against evictions and wants to change zoning laws to allow for building more affordable multi-family homes.Luc Jasmin III
Luc Jasmin III is also running for Spokane City Council, Position 2 in District 1. Jasmin is the co-owner of Parkview Early Learning Center and recently served as president of the Washington Child Care Centers Association.
Luc Jasmin III
Luc Jasmin III is also running for Spokane City Council, Position 2 in District 1. Jasmin is the co-owner of Parkview Early Learning Center and recently served as president of the Washington Child Care Centers Association.
Jasmin's top campaign priorities are expanding affordable child care, supporting small businesses, and expanding affordable housing. He is concerned about displacement and gentrification in Northeast Spokane and wants to improve outreach to renters and reduce barriers to accessing resources for people to stay in their homes. In addition, he supports stronger protections against evictions and wants to change zoning laws to allow for building more affordable multi-family homes.Endorsed By: Fuse, SEIU 775, SEIU Local 925 , Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Alliance for Gun ResponsibilityWebsite: https://jasmin4spokane.com/
Endorsements: https://jasmin4spokane.com/endorsements/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasmin4spokane
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasmin4spokane
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Endorsed By: Fuse, SEIU 775, SEIU Local 925 , Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Alliance for Gun Responsibility
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Website: https://jasmin4spokane.com/
Endorsements: https://jasmin4spokane.com/endorsements/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasmin4spokane
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasmin4spokane
Other Candidates
Also in this race is Jonathan Bingle, a small business owner running on a more conservative platform. His campaign priorities are focused on helping businesses and supporting the police, instead of looking at investing in community services that would be more effective and keep our community safer.
Spokane City Council, District #3, Position #2
There are two progressive candidates in this race: Lacrecia "Lu" Hill and Zach Zappone. Read below to learn more and find the candidate that best fits your priorities for the Spokane City Council.
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Evergreen Future
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Lacrecia "Lu" Hill is running for Spokane City Council, District 3, Position 2. Hill serves as the board president of Spectrum LGBTQIA2+ Center and represents the center on the Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Coalition board. She is also on the Inland Northwest Business Alliance (INBA) board and Washington state's LGBTQ+ Commission's Economic Development Committee.
Hill's platform is focused on expanding affordable housing, improving public safety, and responsibly managing growth. If elected, Hill would push to expand tenants' rights by making it harder to be evicted, preventing discrimination, and making it easier for tenants to organize together. She believes that Spokane must concentrate the city's rapid growth downtown to prevent further sprawl and improve transit service for city residents. Finally, Hill supports investing more in caseworkers so that armed police officers are not responding to incidents involving mental health crises.Lacrecia "Lu" Hill
Lacrecia "Lu" Hill is running for Spokane City Council, District 3, Position 2. Hill serves as the board president of Spectrum LGBTQIA2+ Center and represents the center on the Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Coalition board.
Lacrecia "Lu" Hill
Lacrecia "Lu" Hill is running for Spokane City Council, District 3, Position 2. Hill serves as the board president of Spectrum LGBTQIA2+ Center and represents the center on the Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Coalition board. She is also on the Inland Northwest Business Alliance (INBA) board and Washington state's LGBTQ+ Commission's Economic Development Committee.
Hill's platform is focused on expanding affordable housing, improving public safety, and responsibly managing growth. If elected, Hill would push to expand tenants' rights by making it harder to be evicted, preventing discrimination, and making it easier for tenants to organize together. She believes that Spokane must concentrate the city's rapid growth downtown to prevent further sprawl and improve transit service for city residents. Finally, Hill supports investing more in caseworkers so that armed police officers are not responding to incidents involving mental health crises.Endorsed By: Fuse, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Sage Leaders, SEIU 775, Housing Action Fund , Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Alliance for Gun Responsibility -
Endorsed By: Fuse, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Sage Leaders, SEIU 775, Housing Action Fund , Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Alliance for Gun Responsibility
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Evergreen Future
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Zack Zappone is also running for Spokane City Council, District 3, Position 2. Zappone is a creator of after-school programs and a former teacher. He previously challenged Republican Rep. Mike Volz in the 6th Legislative District and narrowly lost.
Zappone's campaign priorities include ensuring everyone has the training they need to enter the workforce, a housing-first approach to homelessness, worker protections, and creating a more equitable tax system for lower-income residents. He highlights his experience in logistics through his volunteer work with the Spokane Food Fighters, who are delivering meals during the coronavirus crisis. Like Hill, he supports expanded protections for renters, incentivizing more housing density, and demilitarizing the police.Zack Zappone
Zack Zappone is also running for Spokane City Council, District 3, Position 2. Zappone is a creator of after-school programs and a former teacher. He previously challenged Republican Rep. Mike Volz in the 6th Legislative District and narrowly lost.
Zack Zappone
Zack Zappone is also running for Spokane City Council, District 3, Position 2. Zappone is a creator of after-school programs and a former teacher. He previously challenged Republican Rep. Mike Volz in the 6th Legislative District and narrowly lost.
Zappone's campaign priorities include ensuring everyone has the training they need to enter the workforce, a housing-first approach to homelessness, worker protections, and creating a more equitable tax system for lower-income residents. He highlights his experience in logistics through his volunteer work with the Spokane Food Fighters, who are delivering meals during the coronavirus crisis. Like Hill, he supports expanded protections for renters, incentivizing more housing density, and demilitarizing the police.Endorsed By: Fuse, SEIU Locals 6, 775, 925, and 1199 , Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIOWebsite: https://zackzappone.com/
Endorsements: https://zackzappone.com/endorsements
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voteZackZappone/
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Endorsed By: Fuse, SEIU Locals 6, 775, 925, and 1199 , Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO
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Website: https://zackzappone.com/
Endorsements: https://zackzappone.com/endorsements
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voteZackZappone/
Other Candidates
Also in this race are Mike Lish, Karen Kearney, and Christopher Savage. Lish owns a burger restaurant and lists Republicans Jenny Graham and Mike Volz among his endorsements. Lish does not have a detailed campaign platform but does disagree with the recent shelters brought to downtown Spokane for unhoused people. He is not a progressive choice.
Kearney's platform includes bringing more police officers to the Spokane area. Kearney serves as chair of the Balboa South Indian Trail Neighbor Council and lists helping law enforcement to identify and close a "noted drug house" as one of her accomplishments. She is not a progressive choice.
Savage is a Spokane City employee and board member of Spokane County Meals on Wheels. Savage has previously run for Spokane City Council but he does not have a detailed campaign platform or a secure campaign website as of mid-July.
Also in this race are Mike Lish, Karen Kearney, and Christopher Savage. Lish owns a burger restaurant and lists Republicans Jenny Graham and Mike Volz among his endorsements. Lish does not have a detailed campaign platform but does disagree with the recent shelters brought to downtown Spokane for unhoused people. He is not a progressive choice.
Kearney's platform includes bringing more police officers to the Spokane area. Kearney serves as chair of the Balboa South Indian Trail Neighbor Council and lists helping law enforcement to identify and close a "noted drug house" as one of her accomplishments. She is not a progressive choice.
Savage is a Spokane City employee and board member of Spokane County Meals on Wheels. Savage has previously run for Spokane City Council but he does not have a detailed campaign platform or a secure campaign website as of mid-July.
Spokane School District
Spokane School Board, Director, Position #3
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Educator Melissa Bedford is running for Spokane School Board, Director Position 3. Bedford currently works as an assistant professor at Eastern Washington University and has worked as a public school teacher as well as served in institutional leadership positions. Outside of teaching, Bedford volunteers with after-school programs and local organizations like the Spokane Public Library.
Bedford is running to make education more accessible, equitable, and inclusive. She believes that the pandemic highlighted the existing inequities within the state’s school system. If elected, Bedford wants to work to get broadband internet and other technology to all students, to promote the social and emotional health of students, and to make sure that all students feel welcome in the classroom. She has written about teaching civic engagement in the classroom and wants to bring the voice of an educator to the school board.
Bedford is facing several candidates in this race, including Republican Daryl Geffken, a financial advisor and parent of two children in the district. If elected, Geffken would bring conservative values to the school board including supporting the reactionary, Trump-led conspiracy theory about critical race theory. He also opposes same-sex marriage, inclusive classrooms, and multicultural curriculums.There are five other candidates in this race. Kenneth Cameron is a small business owner who wants to have a voice in the turning point in public education in District 81. Cameron has experience serving on a couple of human and animal rights boards but lacks a notable campaign presence in this race. Jake Leadingham, another challenger, has worked as a tutor. He does not have a working website but aligns with the conservative, conspiracy-driven agenda regarding critical race theory. Karina Hernandez identifies herself as a mother interested in promoting individualized education for Spokane students. She has no campaign website.
The final two candidates, Richard Cangelosi and Andrew Mendez, submitted no information to the Spokane County Voters Guide and have no campaign presence.
In this crowded race, Melissa Bedford is by far the most qualified and progressive choice.Melissa Bedford
Educator Melissa Bedford is running for Spokane School Board, Director Position 3. Bedford currently works as an assistant professor at Eastern Washington University and has worked as a public school teacher as well as served in institutional leadership positions.
Melissa Bedford
Educator Melissa Bedford is running for Spokane School Board, Director Position 3. Bedford currently works as an assistant professor at Eastern Washington University and has worked as a public school teacher as well as served in institutional leadership positions. Outside of teaching, Bedford volunteers with after-school programs and local organizations like the Spokane Public Library.
Bedford is running to make education more accessible, equitable, and inclusive. She believes that the pandemic highlighted the existing inequities within the state’s school system. If elected, Bedford wants to work to get broadband internet and other technology to all students, to promote the social and emotional health of students, and to make sure that all students feel welcome in the classroom. She has written about teaching civic engagement in the classroom and wants to bring the voice of an educator to the school board.
Bedford is facing several candidates in this race, including Republican Daryl Geffken, a financial advisor and parent of two children in the district. If elected, Geffken would bring conservative values to the school board including supporting the reactionary, Trump-led conspiracy theory about critical race theory. He also opposes same-sex marriage, inclusive classrooms, and multicultural curriculums.There are five other candidates in this race. Kenneth Cameron is a small business owner who wants to have a voice in the turning point in public education in District 81. Cameron has experience serving on a couple of human and animal rights boards but lacks a notable campaign presence in this race. Jake Leadingham, another challenger, has worked as a tutor. He does not have a working website but aligns with the conservative, conspiracy-driven agenda regarding critical race theory. Karina Hernandez identifies herself as a mother interested in promoting individualized education for Spokane students. She has no campaign website.
The final two candidates, Richard Cangelosi and Andrew Mendez, submitted no information to the Spokane County Voters Guide and have no campaign presence.
In this crowded race, Melissa Bedford is by far the most qualified and progressive choice.Endorsed By: Fuse -
Endorsed By: Fuse
Spokane School Board, Director, Position #4
There are two good candidates in this race: Riley Smith and Rion Ametu. Read more below to find the candidate who best fits your priorities for the Spokane School Board.
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Riley Smith, an operations coordinator at Feeding Washington, is running for Position 4 on the Spokane School Board. He grew up in Spokane and spent 13 years in the Spokane public school system. Aside from his non-profit work, Smith works as a precinct committee officer and has previously aided a number of progressive campaigns. In his free time, he volunteers with Native Project COVAX Vaccination Clinic and Spokane Food Fighters.
If elected, Smith has two main focuses: expanding student mental health resources and investing in support for alternative career paths like apprenticeships and trade schools. A pre-pandemic study from the Washington State Department of Health showed that nearly 40% of Spokane students struggle with their mental health. As a result, Smith argues that access to mental health resources, services, and support is fundamental to achieving student success and building a stronger school system. Additionally, he believes that skill training for blue-collar jobs would ultimately expand student opportunity and success.Riley Smith
Riley Smith, an operations coordinator at Feeding Washington, is running for Position 4 on the Spokane School Board. He grew up in Spokane and spent 13 years in the Spokane public school system.
Riley Smith
Riley Smith, an operations coordinator at Feeding Washington, is running for Position 4 on the Spokane School Board. He grew up in Spokane and spent 13 years in the Spokane public school system. Aside from his non-profit work, Smith works as a precinct committee officer and has previously aided a number of progressive campaigns. In his free time, he volunteers with Native Project COVAX Vaccination Clinic and Spokane Food Fighters.
If elected, Smith has two main focuses: expanding student mental health resources and investing in support for alternative career paths like apprenticeships and trade schools. A pre-pandemic study from the Washington State Department of Health showed that nearly 40% of Spokane students struggle with their mental health. As a result, Smith argues that access to mental health resources, services, and support is fundamental to achieving student success and building a stronger school system. Additionally, he believes that skill training for blue-collar jobs would ultimately expand student opportunity and success.Endorsed By: Spokane County Young DemocratsWebsite: https://www.electrileysmith.com/
Endorsements: https://www.electrileysmith.com/endorsements
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VoteRileySmith
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vote_RileySmith
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Endorsed By: Spokane County Young Democrats
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Website: https://www.electrileysmith.com/
Endorsements: https://www.electrileysmith.com/endorsements
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VoteRileySmith
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vote_RileySmith
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FedEx delivery driver and Navy veteran Rion Ametu is running to be a voice for students and parents who aren’t well-represented on the board. He is a state committee member of the 6th Legislative District Democratics and previously represented Spokane County in the same role. Previously, Ametu has worked as a sheet metal worker, sales executive, and RV detailer, and ran for state legislature in 2018. He is the parent of a student currently attending a Spokane public school.
With his full-time job and rideshare driving on the side, Ametu has experienced how working-class parents get left out of the conversation when the school board is most responsive to parents who have the time to be loud advocates for their kids. He hopes to bring all voices to the table and make sure everyone is heard. Aside from bringing representation to the board, Ametu is running to ensure mental health care, equity, and opportunity for all students. He is interested in expanding special needs services and supports age-appropriate sexual health education in schools.Rion Ametu
FedEx delivery driver and Navy veteran Rion Ametu is running to be a voice for students and parents who aren’t well-represented on the board. He is a state committee member of the 6th Legislative District Democratics and previously represented Spokane County in the same role.
Rion Ametu
FedEx delivery driver and Navy veteran Rion Ametu is running to be a voice for students and parents who aren’t well-represented on the board. He is a state committee member of the 6th Legislative District Democratics and previously represented Spokane County in the same role. Previously, Ametu has worked as a sheet metal worker, sales executive, and RV detailer, and ran for state legislature in 2018. He is the parent of a student currently attending a Spokane public school.
With his full-time job and rideshare driving on the side, Ametu has experienced how working-class parents get left out of the conversation when the school board is most responsive to parents who have the time to be loud advocates for their kids. He hopes to bring all voices to the table and make sure everyone is heard. Aside from bringing representation to the board, Ametu is running to ensure mental health care, equity, and opportunity for all students. He is interested in expanding special needs services and supports age-appropriate sexual health education in schools.Endorsed By: Spokane Education AssociationWebsite: https://electrionametu.org/
Endorsements: https://electrionametu.org/endorsements/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElectRionAmetu
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rion4thepeople?lang=en
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Endorsed By: Spokane Education Association
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Website: https://electrionametu.org/
Endorsements: https://electrionametu.org/endorsements/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElectRionAmetu
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rion4thepeople?lang=en
Other Candidates
There are three other candidates in this race. Life coach and mother of five Kata Dean is running to bring right-wing policy to the school board. She supports repealing meal programs, daycare support, and multicultural curriculums. Dean would also push for Christian doctrine to be taught alongside evolutionary biology in public schools. She is not only anti-choice and against same-sex marriage, but she believes her views should dictate the policy of the school board.
Educator Culzean Fairley is also running for Director Position 4. Fairley taught middle and high school in Spokane charter schools and works as the director for education programs focused on Spokane’s most under-resourced students. She was a student at Spokane public schools and is running to make sure that all students have the opportunity for success in the district’s schools, especially those from marginalized communities.
Corstian Dehle-Jones is the final challenger in this race. He works at Spokane International Airport with a food service company and has spent the last five years working with UniteHere Local 8 (the hospitality union), assisting on contract negotiations and the hospitality industry temporary shutdown. Though Delhe-Jones has progressive beliefs, he has not shared a detailed platform in this race and does not have a website as of July 13.
There are three other candidates in this race. Life coach and mother of five Kata Dean is running to bring right-wing policy to the school board. She supports repealing meal programs, daycare support, and multicultural curriculums. Dean would also push for Christian doctrine to be taught alongside evolutionary biology in public schools. She is not only anti-choice and against same-sex marriage, but she believes her views should dictate the policy of the school board.
Educator Culzean Fairley is also running for Director Position 4. Fairley taught middle and high school in Spokane charter schools and works as the director for education programs focused on Spokane’s most under-resourced students. She was a student at Spokane public schools and is running to make sure that all students have the opportunity for success in the district’s schools, especially those from marginalized communities.
Corstian Dehle-Jones is the final challenger in this race. He works at Spokane International Airport with a food service company and has spent the last five years working with UniteHere Local 8 (the hospitality union), assisting on contract negotiations and the hospitality industry temporary shutdown. Though Delhe-Jones has progressive beliefs, he has not shared a detailed platform in this race and does not have a website as of July 13.
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There are two progressive candidates in this race: Naghmana Sherazi and Luc Jasmin III. Read below to learn more and find the candidate that best fits your priorities for the Spokane City Council.