Spokane City Council dist. 3
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Candace Mumm (N) | 5,619 | 55.56% |
| Michael Cannon | 2,780 | 27.49% |
| Curtis Fackler | 1,086 | 10.74% |
| Kelly P. Cruz | 628 | 6.21% |
* 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 one of three council seats up for grabs in November. District three serves the northwest area of Spokane. Pay for this position is $30,000/year with full benefits. It is a four year term.
The Candidates
Candace Mumm
- Party:
- No party
- Age:
- 63
- City:
- Spokane, WA
- Occupation:
- Incumbent city council member, business owner
Her words: "I have always been involved in standing up for neighborhoods. I have been very involved in some of the northside neighborhood improvements … I really enjoy working with neighborhoods, and working at that level."
Her pitch: Mumm says the city council has built momentum on improving roads and sidewalks during her first four-year term, and hopes to continue that momentum for another four years. She points to work on improving the transit options near Spokane Falls Community College, working with the West Hills neighborhood, and securing a commitment from the Washington Legislature to add back a supervision system for property crime offenders in Spokane County, as evidence of her work to address the major issues facing voters in northwest Spokane. In a second term, her priorities would be finding a way to fund additional needed police officers, continuing contract negotiations with the Spokane Police Guild and revitalizing the business center located near Shadle Park High School.
Work experience: Incumbent city councilmember and executive of Smartland, a real estate investment company. Previously worked as a crime reporter and managing editor for KXLY, and as a financial adviser for American Express.
Education: Graduated from Shadle Park High School in 1978. Bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from Pacific Lutheran University in 1982. Earned a master’s degree in business administration from Gonzaga University.
Political experience: Elected to the Spokane City Council in 2013. Previously served on the city’s Plan Commission, the county’s Stormwater Task Force, the state Department of Commerce’s Community Economic Revitalization Board and the Mead School District’s Capital Facilities Bond Task Force. Former vice chair of the Five Mile neighborhood council.
Work experience: Currently the CEO of Smartland, a real estate investment company. Previously worked as a crime reporter and managing editor for KXLY, and as a financial adviser for American Express.
Family: Married.
Neighborhood: Five Mile
Michael Cannon
- Age:
- 47
- City:
- Spokane, Washington
Education: Graduated from Central Valley High School in Spokane in 1995. Earned a degree in business and organizational management from Whitworth University in 2009.
Political Experience: Ran for Spokane City Council in 2013. Chair of Pride Prep Charter School Board 2014-2019. Chairman of the City of Spokane Community, Housing, and Human Services Board from 2012-2015. Member of former Spokane Mayor David Condon’s 2012 transition team.
Work Experience: Worked in finance 1999-2015. Now a sales executive for a payment software company and owns Cobalt Ventures, which invests in real estate.
Family: Not married. Has one son, who graduated from Mead High School in 2020.
Campaign finance: Raised $17,576 as of Sept. 8. Notable donors include Spokane City Councilman Michael Cathcart, developer Harley Douglas, Catholic Charities Vice President Jonathan Mallahan, business owner Robert Meterne, home builder Condron Corey and Avista Director of Government Relations Collins Sprague.
Curtis Fackler
- Age:
- 68
- City:
- Spokane, WA
- Occupation:
- Insurance consultant
Earned bachelor’s degree in marketing from Ohio State University and Master of Business Finance from Golden Gate University.
Kelly P. Cruz
- Age:
- 64
- City:
- Spokane, WA
Why running: The central reason Cruz has jumped into the race is to deal with the property crime and public safety in the community, but he is also motivated by a desire to to provide new leadership in City Hall.
His pitch: Cruz would be transparent and open with the public. If elected, he would institute “Mondays with the Mayor,” a weekly two-hour gathering in the lobby of Ccity Hall during which any resident could bring an issue to the mayor’s attention.
“A lot of people feel threatened and afraid to go to City Hall, and I don’t think that should be the way.”
As Mayor, Cruz pledges to draw a $90,000 salary and donate the remainder to charity.
Education: Graduated from North Central High School in 1978. Completed Spokane Home Builders journeyman carpentry program.
Political experience: Has not held political office. Former chairman of West Central Neighborhood Council, current Chairman of Spokane C.O.P.S. and former chairman of the West Central Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative Coalition.
Work experience: Retired, formerly a carpenter.
Family: Unmarried. Has no children.
Complete Coverage
Spokane Police Guild approves contract with city
A tentative labor contract for the Spokane police union appears dead on arrival in City Council chambers because it fails to embrace the recent voter-approved mandate about investigating officer wrongdoing. At least four of the council’s seven members Friday reiterated pledges all had made earlier to reject any proposed labor contract with the city’s police force that fails to include provisions allowing for the independent oversight added to the City Charter earlier this year by overwhelming vote of Spokane voters.
City Council campaign ads contain false claims
Beware. With money pouring into two Spokane City Council races at a frenzied pace, the campaign material arriving by mail, on the radio, on TV and on the Internet may be misleading or plain wrong.
Doug Clark: Council campaign fortune could be better spent
It takes a lot to shock me after nearly 40 years of journalism. I once had to conduct an interview while standing next to a charred corpse that lay among the scattered wreckage of a plane crash.
Davenport owner Walt Worthy pressed by firefighter union over ads
Davenport Hotel owner Walt Worthy said Tuesday that Spokane firefighters threatened to pull convention and meeting business from his hotel because of negative television ads in two Spokane City Council races this fall. Worthy and the Davenport Hotel were linked to the ads through political contributions.
Spokane City Council gives raises to municipal judges
Three Spokane Municipal Court judges will get a $17,000 salary bump, the City Council decided Monday. The judges had been receiving the lowest pay among all of the state’s municipal judges.
Shawn Vestal: Public shares blame for smear tactics in campaigns
And so we come to another election season when we are asked to consider: Whose interests are “special”? And whose are simple, pure, virtuous and just? Just kidding. We’re not asked to consider it – i.e., think about it – in any way whatsoever. We already know the answer: Our interests are simple, pure, virtuous and just. Theirs are special, and all that that implies.
Appeal in Spokane police officer’s jury win will continue
Spokane City Council members voted Monday to continue appealing a $700,000 jury verdict in favor of a Spokane police officer who was fired after allegations he threatened to kill his wife during a messy divorce six years ago. The council approved a $60,000 increase in its contract with an outside law firm to carry the appeal against Officer Jay Mehring. The Spokane firm, Winston & Cashatt Lawyers, will now have an authorized maximum fee of $105,900.
Smart Bombs: Duck and cover, Spokane
So I’m enjoying the low-key excellence of “CBS Sunday Morning,” when a pungent political ad pierces the calm with noise about … the Spokane City Council race? You mean the PAC-generated ads that were universally panned in state and national races last year have seeped into smaller races for nonpartisan offices? Afraid so.
Center for Justice calls oversight in proposed city, police union contract ‘a travesty’
Public-interest law firm the Center for Justice has seen a copy of the tentative labor contract between Spokane and its police union and called the provisions for oversight of the department “a travesty.” The agreement doesn’t comply with a City Charter amendment requiring the city to give the ombudsman power to independently investigate police wrongdoing, the law firm’s executive director said in a letter Thursday to Spokane Mayor David Condon and Council President Ben Stuckart.
Spokane City Council races escalating with PAC money
Two independent political action committees seeking to influence the outcome of Spokane City Council races this fall have raised more than $100,000 combined in what could be the most expensive council campaign in city history. Reports filed with the Washington Public Disclosure Commission show an escalation in the fundraising competition between the two PACs in recent weeks.
Greenstone disavows ad campaign attacking Mumm, Snyder
The president of Greenstone Corp. has disavowed any connection between his company and a negative television campaign against Spokane City Council candidates Jon Snyder and Candace Mumm. At the same time, business interests funding the ad campaign upped the ante on Monday, adding another $25,500 to the independent television ad buy for a total of $48,700.
Jon Snyder, Candace Mumm target of PAC-funded attack ad
A group of business-backed political action committees has launched a new television attack ad against two candidates for Spokane City Council, marking the opening salvo in what could become the most expensive council races in city history. Councilman Jon Snyder and candidate Candace Mumm, seeking separate seats in this fall’s general election, are targeted by a PAC called Jobs & Prosperity for Spokane, which received funds from three other PACs to help pay for $23,000 in television advertising against them. The ads began appearing on Spokane TV stations last week.
Shawn Vestal: Spokane police oversight will only happen with pressure from you
OK, just for the record. All seven members of the Spokane City Council have supported, in principle, the need for independent, investigatory oversight of the Police Department, and opposed any agreement with the Spokane Police Guild that will preclude that.
Doug Clark: Mayor Condon’s choice remarks bear translation
Spokane Mayor David Condon faced the City Council the other night to deliver his annual “statement of condition and affairs,” speech, also known as the October Mayoral Corn Maze. Being fluent in the ancient language of political doublespeak, I transcribed much of the mayor’s message off an Internet video stream and then (after downing a half-bottle of ibuprofen), I painstakingly transcribed some of the salient parts.
Spokane City Council candidates square off in debates
Two debates filmed Tuesday showcasing candidates for Spokane City Council races had two distinct tones. A debate between Michael Cannon and Candace Mumm, who are vying for a seat representing northwest Spokane, was testy.
Spokane police, mayor reach contract with ombudsman deal
The Spokane mayor’s office and Police Guild last week reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract that changes the way the police ombudsman provides oversight of officer misconduct, but may not go as far as establishing the independence called for by voters in February. At the same time, the Spokane City Council is scheduled to take up a new ordinance to create an independent ombudsman with capability to launch investigations under the authority of a new five-member citizen Ombudsman Commission.
Spokane City Council District 3: Candace Mumm vs. Michael Cannon
If convincing people to contribute to a political campaign is a sign of future success in government, Candace Mumm will be a hit. Mumm has raised more than $70,000, beating all previous fundraising records of City Council candidates and almost doubling her opponent’s fundraising in the race to replace Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin, who has served the maximum two terms allowable by local rules.
Spokane 911 call abusers may face jail time under new ordinance
Stop calling 911 for baking advice. Using the emergency line in Spokane for anything other than to “report a situation that requires prompt service in order to preserve or protect human life or health or property” is now outlawed. Spokane City Council members approved the new ordinance Monday night, and violators could be jailed for up to three months.
District 2 City Council candidates Snyder, Ahern don’t see eye to eye
There’s more than an “h” separating Jon and John. Jon Snyder, 44, is an incumbent Spokane city councilman known for his focus on transportation issues, recently sold outdoor magazine and unsuccessful fight to protect the South Hill’s Fire Station No. 9 from budget cuts.