Spokane Mayor

Mayor’s mother has died; Woodward will remain out-of-office through weekend

From staff reports

Truth tester: Many claims in Spokane City Council election ads are misleading

Citywide races in Spokane may be drawing the most money and the most negative ads , but City Council candidates also are facing a deluge of attacks.

Mayor Woodward takes leave of absence to be with dying mother

Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward has taken a leave of absence to be with her dying mother, according to a Thursday morning press release.

Truth testing: Negative ads color Spokane mayor, City Council President races

Local elections in Spokane have gone negative.

Another $6.1 million of COVID-relief funds will be used on beleaguered Trent homeless shelter

Another $6.1 million of federal COVID-relief funds will be spent to operate the city-run Trent Avenue homeless shelter for at least part of 2024.

Stone threatens legal action if anti-Woodward attack ad over Trent shelter isn’t pulled off the air

At least one Spokane news station has pulled an election season attack ad criticizing Mayor Nadine Woodward and the city-run Trent Avenue homeless shelter in response to a legal threat from a political ally of the mayor named in the TV spot.

Spokane Good Government Alliance wielding unprecedented fundraising to support Woodward and other candidates

Amid an unprecedented amount of money flooding into Spokane elections this year, one group stands alone: the Spokane Good Government Alliance.

Spokane City Council condemns hate crimes after string of anti-LGBTQ+ vandalism

The Spokane City Council voted unanimously Monday to condemn bigoted groups and hate crimes in the wake of a recent string of targeted vandalism of LGBTQ+ symbols and organizations.

Spokane mayoral debate: Woodward says she’s brought strong leadership; Brown argues city needs new direction

A debate for mayor of Spokane Wednesday night covered a range of topics, including the pressing issues of homelessness and the city’s budget deficit .

The Spokesman-Review to host mayoral, City Council president candidate debates Wednesday

From staff reports

Support for police takes centerstage in race for Spokane City Council president

Outside of the Spokane mayoral race, no local election on the November ballot has attracted as much attention and cash as has the contest for Spokane City Council president.

Homelessness, safety and spending: Who will voters choose to lead Spokane for the next four years?

There is little doubt what Spokane candidates for mayor think the top issue is in the mind of city voters.

Spokane’s largest homeless shelter still doesn’t have permanent bathrooms. It likely never will.

More than a year after the city’s largest homeless shelter opened, the facility still does not have permanent bathrooms, showers or laundry facilities.

Woodward’s preliminary 2024 Spokane budget tries to fill $20 million hole. Is it enough?

Faced with a projected $20 million hole in the 2024 budget and little time to fill it, Mayor Nadine Woodward’s administration has released a preliminary proposal to shore up the city’s finances with a hiring freeze, increased property taxes, cut positions in the fire department and pulling from a traffic infrastructure fund to pay for police.

Spokane Mayoral and City Council President Debate 2023

Spokane joins effort to overturn landmark homeless rights case Martin v. Boise

Spokane has joined 20 other cities, counties and organizations asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overrule a consequential 2018 decision that seriously limited the ability of governments in the West to criminalize homelessness.

Cathcart, Shaw vie to represent northeast Spokane on the City Council

The race to represent northeast Spokane pits a conservative incumbent campaigning as a steward of the taxpayer’s wallet against a progressive former neighborhood chair who wants to invest in better social programs and implement stronger renter protections.

Dillon and Treloar, running to represent south Spokane in City Hall, offer starkly different visions

The race to represent south Spokane pits a local activist and vocal critic of Mayor Nadine Woodward who wants to build on the progressive work of the current City Council against a children’s advocate and former educator who thinks the council needs to do more to fight for a cleaner, safer city.

Zappone calls for independent investigation into handling of former City Administrator

Spokane City Councilman Zack Zappone is asking the city to launch an independent investigation into allegations against former City Administrator Johnnie Perkins and whether the mayoral administration mishandled early warning signs of his alleged improper behavior .