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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.

 

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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.

 

Last updated: 2023-04-05

City of Spokane

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Election Day August 3, 2021
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City Races

Depending on where you live, you may have the below city races on your ballot.

City of Spokane, District #1

Spokane City Council, District #1, Position #2

Naghmana Sherazi photo

Naghmana Sherazi

Website Facebook Endorsements

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Fuse , Sage Leaders , SEIU 775 , Washington Conservation Action , Housing Action Fund , Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Luc Jasmin III photo

Luc Jasmin III

Website Facebook Endorsements (Twitter)

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Fuse , SEIU 775 , SEIU Local 925 , Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Alliance for Gun Responsibility

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

City of Spokane, District #3

Spokane City Council, District #3, Position #2

Lacrecia "Lu" Hill photo

Lacrecia "Lu" Hill

Website Facebook

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Fuse , Pro-Choice Washington , Sage Leaders , SEIU 775 , Housing Action Fund , Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Alliance for Gun Responsibility
Zack Zappone photo

Zack Zappone

Website Facebook Endorsements

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Fuse , SEIU Locals 6, 775, 925, and 1199 , Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Spokane School Board

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below school district races on your ballot.

Spokane School Board, Director, Position #3

Melissa Bedford photo

Melissa Bedford

Website Facebook

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Fuse

Spokane School Board, Director, Position #4

Riley Smith photo

Riley Smith

Website Facebook Endorsements (Twitter)

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Spokane County Young Democrats
Rion Ametu photo

Rion Ametu

Website Facebook Endorsements (Twitter)

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Spokane Education Association

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.

 

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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.

 

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Spokane County, Water District #3

Commissioner, Position #2

Nathan Jeffries photo

Nathan Jeffries

Website Facebook Endorsements

Nathan Jeffries is running for re-election to Spokane County Water, District 3, Position 2. He also serves the community during the day as an EMT and firefighter in Spokane. Since his election in 2017, Jeffries has worked to upgrade pump houses, develop infrastructure replacement plans, increase efficiency by replacing existing water meters with radio read meters, and bring additional water flow capacity to the area. He is endorsed by the LGBTQ Victory Fund as well as Spokane County Water District Commissioner Mary Wissink.

Jeffries faces a challenge from Kevin McMulkin and Bob Cunningham. McMulkin held this position from August 2016 to November 2017 and is a civil engineer and consulting engineer for several water systems. Cunningham does not have a campaign website or strong platform.

Jeffries is the best choice for Spokane County Water District 3, Position 2.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Nathan Jeffries is running for re-election to Spokane County Water, District 3, Position 2. He also serves the community during the day as an EMT and firefighter in Spokane. Since his election in 2017, Jeffries has worked to upgrade pump houses, develop infrastructure replacement plans, increase efficiency by replacing existing water meters with radio read meters, and bring additional water flow capacity to the area. He is endorsed by the LGBTQ Victory Fund as well as Spokane County Water District Commissioner Mary Wissink.

Jeffries faces a challenge from Kevin McMulkin and Bob Cunningham. McMulkin held this position from August 2016 to November 2017 and is a civil engineer and consulting engineer for several water systems. Cunningham does not have a campaign website or strong platform.

Jeffries is the best choice for Spokane County Water District 3, Position 2.

Last updated: 2023-04-05