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Welcome to Fuse Progressive Voters Guide to the 2023 Washington general 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. Please share this guide with your friends and family and remember to return your ballot by November 7!
Spokane County Ballot Measures
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below ballot measures on your ballot.
Spokane Measure 1 proposes to raise the sales and use tax by $1.7 billion over the next 30 years to pay for an expensive new downtown jail.
This measure would add a sales and use tax of 2 cents per $10 dollars spent in Spokane County through 2054. Despite this massive price tag, county commissioners who proposed Measure 1 have not outlined specific plans for how the money would be spent. In addition, the current county commission failed to implement any of the policies for reducing jail crowding that were recommended by their own Justice Task Force before proposing the construction of a big new jail. In fact, a national expert hired by the county to analyze the region's future needs found that a new jail is not needed and would be the most expensive option.
Criminal legal experts and civil rights leaders agree that the county should instead pursue commonsense reforms that save money and are proven to reduce crime, like affordable housing and mental health and addiction services. We should fund more of these solutions that will reduce crime at a fraction of the cost.
Spokane residents deserve proven, cost-effective approaches to public safety, not $1.7 billion boondoggles that lack accountability to taxpayers. Vote No on Spokane Measure 1.
Last updated: 2023-10-18
Spokane Measure 1 proposes to raise the sales and use tax by $1.7 billion over the next 30 years to pay for an expensive new downtown jail.
This measure would add a sales and use tax of 2 cents per $10 dollars spent in Spokane County through 2054. Despite this massive price tag, county commissioners who proposed Measure 1 have not outlined specific plans for how the money would be spent. In addition, the current county commission failed to implement any of the policies for reducing jail crowding that were recommended by their own Justice Task Force before proposing the construction of a big new jail. In fact, a national expert hired by the county to analyze the region's future needs found that a new jail is not needed and would be the most expensive option.
Criminal legal experts and civil rights leaders agree that the county should instead pursue commonsense reforms that save money and are proven to reduce crime, like affordable housing and mental health and addiction services. We should fund more of these solutions that will reduce crime at a fraction of the cost.
Spokane residents deserve proven, cost-effective approaches to public safety, not $1.7 billion boondoggles that lack accountability to taxpayers. Vote No on Spokane Measure 1.
Last updated: 2023-10-18
Spokane School Board
Mike Wiser is a healthcare consultant and the current president of Spokane Public Schools' Board of Directors, where he has served since 2017. Wiser was born in Spokane, where he worked as a chief strategy officer at CHAS Heath, a nonprofit community health center. Wiser also spent some time as a stay-at-home father to his two kids, during which he founded Spokane Dads, a social group for kids and dads.
Wiser is running for re-election to Position 5 to keep class sizes small, recover from the pandemic in a responsible way, and reform unjust discipline practices. Before Wiser's time as a director, Spokane Public Schools had the highest numbers in the state for students being restrained or isolated in padded rooms. The district has now banned these outdated practices that harmed students, particularly students of color and students with disabilities.
Wiser also approved redrawing school zone boundaries and adding new schools to keep class sizes small enough for all students to get support from their teachers. Because of the concerns over the socioeconomic divisions between schools, Wiser also held back his full support for the new plans until he ensured that there were options such as magnet schools to serve disadvantaged kids.
Wiser faces a challenge from Ericka Lalka, a real estate investor and committeewoman for the Republican party. If elected, she would reduce the funding that our schools need to help teachers and kids thrive, as evidenced by her fearmongering that our school budgets are "spiraling out of control". Lalka also would support armed security in schools, though we know allowing people with guns to police our schools will only make them worse places for learning. Lalka additionally would deprive kids of basic sex education, making STIs and unplanned pregnancies more likely. Wiser, in contrast, wants to keep campus officers unarmed to keep our kids safe, and supports the current comprehensive sex education that will keep kids healthy.
Wiser is fighting to make Spokane's public schools amazing places for every kid to learn, regardless of their race, income, or disability needs. Because of his seven years of dedication to our teachers and students, Mike Wiser has earned your vote for Position 5.
Last updated: 2023-10-12
Mike Wiser is a healthcare consultant and the current president of Spokane Public Schools' Board of Directors, where he has served since 2017. Wiser was born in Spokane, where he worked as a chief strategy officer at CHAS Heath, a nonprofit community health center. Wiser also spent some time as a stay-at-home father to his two kids, during which he founded Spokane Dads, a social group for kids and dads.
Wiser is running for re-election to Position 5 to keep class sizes small, recover from the pandemic in a responsible way, and reform unjust discipline practices. Before Wiser's time as a director, Spokane Public Schools had the highest numbers in the state for students being restrained or isolated in padded rooms. The district has now banned these outdated practices that harmed students, particularly students of color and students with disabilities.
Wiser also approved redrawing school zone boundaries and adding new schools to keep class sizes small enough for all students to get support from their teachers. Because of the concerns over the socioeconomic divisions between schools, Wiser also held back his full support for the new plans until he ensured that there were options such as magnet schools to serve disadvantaged kids.
Wiser faces a challenge from Ericka Lalka, a real estate investor and committeewoman for the Republican party. If elected, she would reduce the funding that our schools need to help teachers and kids thrive, as evidenced by her fearmongering that our school budgets are "spiraling out of control". Lalka also would support armed security in schools, though we know allowing people with guns to police our schools will only make them worse places for learning. Lalka additionally would deprive kids of basic sex education, making STIs and unplanned pregnancies more likely. Wiser, in contrast, wants to keep campus officers unarmed to keep our kids safe, and supports the current comprehensive sex education that will keep kids healthy.
Wiser is fighting to make Spokane's public schools amazing places for every kid to learn, regardless of their race, income, or disability needs. Because of his seven years of dedication to our teachers and students, Mike Wiser has earned your vote for Position 5.
Last updated: 2023-10-12
Endorsed By: Washington Education Association
Mike Wiser is a healthcare consultant and the current president of Spokane Public Schools' Board of Directors, where he has served since 2017. Wiser was born in Spokane, where he worked as a chief strategy officer at CHAS Heath, a nonprofit community health center. Wiser also spent some time as a stay-at-home father to his two kids, during which he founded Spokane Dads, a social group for kids and dads.
Wiser is running for re-election to Position 5 to keep class sizes small, recover from the pandemic in a responsible way, and reform unjust discipline practices. Before Wiser's time as a director, Spokane Public Schools had the highest numbers in the state for students being restrained or isolated in padded rooms. The district has now banned these outdated practices that harmed students, particularly students of color and students with disabilities.
Wiser also approved redrawing school zone boundaries and adding new schools to keep class sizes small enough for all students to get support from their teachers. Because of the concerns over the socioeconomic divisions between schools, Wiser also held back his full support for the new plans until he ensured that there were options such as magnet schools to serve disadvantaged kids.
Wiser faces a challenge from Ericka Lalka, a real estate investor and committeewoman for the Republican party. If elected, she would reduce the funding that our schools need to help teachers and kids thrive, as evidenced by her fearmongering that our school budgets are "spiraling out of control". Lalka also would support armed security in schools, though we know allowing people with guns to police our schools will only make them worse places for learning. Lalka additionally would deprive kids of basic sex education, making STIs and unplanned pregnancies more likely. Wiser, in contrast, wants to keep campus officers unarmed to keep our kids safe, and supports the current comprehensive sex education that will keep kids healthy.
Wiser is fighting to make Spokane's public schools amazing places for every kid to learn, regardless of their race, income, or disability needs. Because of his seven years of dedication to our teachers and students, Mike Wiser has earned your vote for Position 5.
Last updated: 2023-10-12
Endorsed By: Washington Education Association