County Commissioner, Dist. 2
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Daryl Romeyn (D) | 12,706 | 40.42% |
| Shelly O’Quinn (R) | 11,245 | 35.77% |
| Rob Chase (R) | 7,483 | 23.81% |
* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.
About The Race
This is a race to replace Spokane County Commissioner Mark Richard, who decided against seeking a third term. The two candidates with the most votes in the primary election will advance to the Nov. 6 general election. Spokane County commissioners serve four-year terms and are paid $93,000 a year plus healthcare and other benefits.
The Candidates
Shelly O'Quinn
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 49
- City:
- Spokane, WA
Education: Graduated from Central Valley High School. Earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Whitworth University and a master’s in business administration from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California.
Political experience: Elected to the Spokane County Commission in 2012. Ran unsuccessfully for state House of Representatives in 2010.
Work experience: Worked for Greater Spokane Inc., Habitat for Humanity and the Inland Northwest Community Foundation in Spokane. Led the George Nethercutt Foundation as executive director. Worked with World Vision developing small businesses in Honduras. Directed a mission for First United Methodist Church in Stuart, Florida.
Family: Divorced. Has two children.
Rob Chase
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 71
Education: Graduated from Kellogg High School in 1972. Graduated from Eastern Washington University in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, operations management.
Work experience: Is semiretired, but has worked as a U.S. Census Bureau enumerator and security guard for Phoenix Protective Corps in Spokane Valley. Worked as an expeditor with Haakon Industries based in Cheney from 2006 to 2007. Held mortgage origination and real estate licenses. Served in U.S. Army Reserves from 1972-78. Now volunteers with Spokane Fatherhood Initiative.
Political experience: Elected as a state representative in 2020. Served one term and lost his re-election bid in 2022. Elected Spokane County treasurer in 2010 and 2014. Republican Party precinct committee officer. Ran unsuccessfully for state Senate in 2000, U.S. House in 2002 and Spokane County Commissioner in 2012 and 2018. Served as Eastern Washington coordinator for Ron Paul for President in 2008 and 2012 and Eastern Washington coordinator for Clint Didier’s 2010 Senate campaign.
Family: Married to Chris Chase and has four children.
Campaign contributions: Has raised $6,725 as of July 2. Notable donors include outgoing state Sen. Mike Padden, Spokane Valley Mayor Pam Haley, Spokane Valley Councilman Rod Higgins, the Idaho Free Enterprise Institute and Duane Alton, a prolific donor to conservative politicians and causes who founded Alton’s Tires.
Complete Coverage
Doug Clark: Nov. 7 the only cure for electionitis
Thought I was coming down with the flu at first. Dull headache. Depression. Irritability …
O’Quinn, a GSI director, says she has right skills to be commissioner
Shelly O’Quinn wants to make a difference, she says. So she’s running as a Republican for an open seat on the Spokane Board of County Commissioners. At 37, O’Quinn believes her job experience and education qualify her.
Romeyn campaign focused on small business, public land
Former television newsman Daryl Romeyn is making a second run at elective office this fall in a race for an open seat on the Spokane County Board of Commissioners. Romeyn, a Democrat, is facing Republican Shelly O’Quinn, also in her second attempt to win an election.
Matt Shea to seek third term in state House
Spokane Valley Republican Matt Shea will seek a third term in the state House of Representatives, not the open seat on the Spokane County Board of Commissioners. Shea had been mentioned as a possible contender for the commission seat after two-term incumbent Mark Richard announced last week he would not run for re-election. Wednesday morning, however, Shea scheduled a formal kickoff for a House re-election campaign for Tuesday evening at Felts Field.
Democrats see opportunity in 5th District
A former dean of Gonzaga University Law School is among the Democrats considering a campaign against Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers next year. Dan Morrissey, who served as dean from 2001-’04 and now teaches corporate law at the school, said he is exploring his prospects for a race and expects to decide by next month.