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Mark Bitz is running for Central Valley School Board Director, District 5. He is a retired educator and engineer who was recognized as Educator of the Year in 2023.
With his experience in both business and education, Bitz hopes to ensure strong schools, skilled graduates, and a collaborative community. He is also prioritizing fiscal responsibility, ensuring that schools remain safe and well-maintained. As a 40-year resident of Liberty Lake, he wants to leverage his local relationships to bring people together and ensure the district doesn't get dragged into partisan political fights.
Given Mark Bitz's extensive experience in the Central Valley School District, we recommend voting for him for Central Valley School Board Director, District 5.
Last updated: 2025-06-27
Mark Bitz is running for Central Valley School Board Director, District 5. He is a retired educator and engineer who was recognized as Educator of the Year in 2023.
With his experience in both business and education, Bitz hopes to ensure strong schools, skilled graduates, and a collaborative community. He is also prioritizing fiscal responsibility, ensuring that schools remain safe and well-maintained. As a 40-year resident of Liberty Lake, he wants to leverage his local relationships to bring people together and ensure the district doesn't get dragged into partisan political fights.
Given Mark Bitz's extensive experience in the Central Valley School District, we recommend voting for him for Central Valley School Board Director, District 5.
Mark Bitz is running for Central Valley School Board Director, District 5. He is a retired educator and engineer who was recognized as Educator of the Year in 2023.
With his experience in both business and education, Bitz hopes to ensure strong schools, skilled graduates, and a collaborative community. He is also prioritizing fiscal responsibility, ensuring that schools remain safe and well-maintained. As a 40-year resident of Liberty Lake, he wants to leverage his local relationships to bring people together and ensure the district doesn't get dragged into partisan political fights.
Given Mark Bitz's extensive experience in the Central Valley School District, we recommend voting for him for Central Valley School Board Director, District 5.
Kristopher "Kris" Pockell is running for Spokane Valley City Council, Position 1. He is a software engineering manager and has founded a tech company, as well as having run unsuccessfully for various political positions in the past. In 2015, Pockell ran as a Libertarian for a Spokane Valley Fire Department commissioner seat. He also ran for the State House to represent Legislative District 4 with no party preference.
In his current campaign for city council, Pockell is running on a more moderate platform that emphasizes public safety, economic development, and infrastructure. He is supportive of the police force, bringing business to the city, and promoting connectivity, but does not suggest any specific policy proposals.
Mike Kelly is also running for Position 1. Kelly is a local business owner and a former member of the Spokane Valley City Planning Commission. He spent most of his career in real estate-related work, after an early conviction and incarceration for drug-selling-related offenses. He attributes his early sentence to a life of renewed purpose, accountability, and commitment to building an ethical life. Kelly previously ran as a Republican to represent Legislative District 4 in the state Senate.
Kelly is currently running a conservative campaign to "protect Valley freedoms, grow Valley businesses, and reject Spokane failures." His website offers no policy proposals or concrete actions. Like other far-right candidates across the country, Kelly is campaigning to remove public curricula that teach accurate American history and multiculturalism.
Lisa Miller is the final candidate running for Position 1. Miller previously served on the city council for the Valley Village neighborhood of Los Angeles. She serves on the Spokane County Board of Equalization as well as the Spokane Valley Homeless Housing Task Force since 2023.
As of late June, Miller does not have a campaign website published. She also said that public safety and ensuring a full staff of police officers is her top priority. Furthermore, Miller said police officers need to be adequately equipped to handle cybercrimes as they are on the rise. Aside from public safety, her other campaign goals are not available.
With two moderate-to-conservative candidates and one underdeveloped campaign, this race has no good choices. We recommend writing in a progressive candidate of your choice.
Kristopher "Kris" Pockell is running for Spokane Valley City Council, Position 1. He is a software engineering manager and has founded a tech company, as well as having run unsuccessfully for various political positions in the past. In 2015, Pockell ran as a Libertarian for a Spokane Valley Fire Department commissioner seat. He also ran for the State House to represent Legislative District 4 with no party preference.
In his current campaign for city council, Pockell is running on a more moderate platform that emphasizes public safety, economic development, and infrastructure. He is supportive of the police force, bringing business to the city, and promoting connectivity, but does not suggest any specific policy proposals.
Mike Kelly is also running for Position 1. Kelly is a local business owner and a former member of the Spokane Valley City Planning Commission. He spent most of his career in real estate-related work, after an early conviction and incarceration for drug-selling-related offenses. He attributes his early sentence to a life of renewed purpose, accountability, and commitment to building an ethical life. Kelly previously ran as a Republican to represent Legislative District 4 in the state Senate.
Kelly is currently running a conservative campaign to "protect Valley freedoms, grow Valley businesses, and reject Spokane failures." His website offers no policy proposals or concrete actions. Like other far-right candidates across the country, Kelly is campaigning to remove public curricula that teach accurate American history and multiculturalism.
Lisa Miller is the final candidate running for Position 1. Miller previously served on the city council for the Valley Village neighborhood of Los Angeles. She serves on the Spokane County Board of Equalization as well as the Spokane Valley Homeless Housing Task Force since 2023.
As of late June, Miller does not have a campaign website published. She also said that public safety and ensuring a full staff of police officers is her top priority. Furthermore, Miller said police officers need to be adequately equipped to handle cybercrimes as they are on the rise. Aside from public safety, her other campaign goals are not available.
With two moderate-to-conservative candidates and one underdeveloped campaign, this race has no good choices. We recommend writing in a progressive candidate of your choice.
Mark Bitz is running for Central Valley School Board Director, District 5. He is a retired educator and engineer who was recognized as Educator of the Year in 2023.
With his experience in both business and education, Bitz hopes to ensure strong schools, skilled graduates, and a collaborative community. He is also prioritizing fiscal responsibility, ensuring that schools remain safe and well-maintained. As a 40-year resident of Liberty Lake, he wants to leverage his local relationships to bring people together and ensure the district doesn't get dragged into partisan political fights.
Given Mark Bitz's extensive experience in the Central Valley School District, we recommend voting for him for Central Valley School Board Director, District 5.
Last updated: 2025-06-27
Mark Bitz is running for Central Valley School Board Director, District 5. He is a retired educator and engineer who was recognized as Educator of the Year in 2023.
With his experience in both business and education, Bitz hopes to ensure strong schools, skilled graduates, and a collaborative community. He is also prioritizing fiscal responsibility, ensuring that schools remain safe and well-maintained. As a 40-year resident of Liberty Lake, he wants to leverage his local relationships to bring people together and ensure the district doesn't get dragged into partisan political fights.
Given Mark Bitz's extensive experience in the Central Valley School District, we recommend voting for him for Central Valley School Board Director, District 5.
Mark Bitz is running for Central Valley School Board Director, District 5. He is a retired educator and engineer who was recognized as Educator of the Year in 2023.
With his experience in both business and education, Bitz hopes to ensure strong schools, skilled graduates, and a collaborative community. He is also prioritizing fiscal responsibility, ensuring that schools remain safe and well-maintained. As a 40-year resident of Liberty Lake, he wants to leverage his local relationships to bring people together and ensure the district doesn't get dragged into partisan political fights.
Given Mark Bitz's extensive experience in the Central Valley School District, we recommend voting for him for Central Valley School Board Director, District 5.
Last updated: 2025-06-27
Endorsed By: Spokane Regional Labor Council
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Other Candidates
Spokane County GOP Chair Rob Linebarger is running again for Central Valley School Board Director, District 5. He first ran in 2021, then joined forces with Pam Orebaugh after losing in the primary. While Linebarger does not have a current campaign website, his past ultra-conservative stances, such as opposing mask mandates and calling the COVID-19 pandemic a "big phony hoax," indicate that he is not fit to be a school board director.
Conservative Pam Orebaugh is running for re-election for Central Valley School Board Director, District 5. She is a conservative who was a part of the 2020 campaign to oppose comprehensive sexual and emotional health education in Washington schools. She is experienced in helping with conservative campaigns and collecting signatures for Referendum 90, according to The Spokesman-Review.
Despite being a registered nurse, Orebaugh opposed any mask mandates. In her current campaign, she argues for parents having the right to opt their children out of any curriculum they disagree with. Additionally, she encouraged a stronger police presence in schools, but made no mention of the disproportionate impact that policing in schools has on students of color. Furthermore, she co-penned a letter expressing concern over the WIAA's allowance of transgender youth participation in girls' sports.
Mark Bitz is the clear choice from District 5.
Last updated: 2025-07-08
Spokane County GOP Chair Rob Linebarger is running again for Central Valley School Board Director, District 5. He first ran in 2021, then joined forces with Pam Orebaugh after losing in the primary. While Linebarger does not have a current campaign website, his past ultra-conservative stances, such as opposing mask mandates and calling the COVID-19 pandemic a "big phony hoax," indicate that he is not fit to be a school board director.
Conservative Pam Orebaugh is running for re-election for Central Valley School Board Director, District 5. She is a conservative who was a part of the 2020 campaign to oppose comprehensive sexual and emotional health education in Washington schools. She is experienced in helping with conservative campaigns and collecting signatures for Referendum 90, according to The Spokesman-Review.
Despite being a registered nurse, Orebaugh opposed any mask mandates. In her current campaign, she argues for parents having the right to opt their children out of any curriculum they disagree with. Additionally, she encouraged a stronger police presence in schools, but made no mention of the disproportionate impact that policing in schools has on students of color. Furthermore, she co-penned a letter expressing concern over the WIAA's allowance of transgender youth participation in girls' sports.
Mark Bitz is the clear choice from District 5.
Last updated: 2025-07-08
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