Spokane Valley City Council pos. 4
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Ed Pace | 7,120 | 50.65% |
| Gary Schimmels | 6,938 | 49.35% |
* 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 four seats up for contention in the 2013 election. Council Members are paid $750/month and receive healthcare benefits. The term is four years from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2017.
The Candidates
Ed Pace
- Age:
- 77
- City:
- Spokane Valley, Washington
Education: Earned Master of Divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in 2003 and a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Washington University.
Political experience: Incumbent, finishing his first term; ran unsuccessfully for council in 2009.
Work Experience: Pastor of Caring Ministries at Redeemer Lutheran Church. He served for seven years in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1972 in Germany, Vietnam and various bases in the U.S. He had a 27 year career in the electronics industry, including 18 years with Hewlett-Packard in Liberty Lake before being joining the ministry. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Washington University and a Master of Divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. Volunteer with Crosswalk, Union Gospel Mission and Boy Scouts.
Family: Married, wife Thuan. Has four grown children.
Gary Schimmels
- Age:
- 90
- City:
- Spokane Valley , WA
- Occupation:
- Deputy Mayor
Gary Schimmels, 75, owned and operated a local locksmith business from 1998 to 2007. He attended Eastern Washington University prior to serving two years in the Army, and was a construction industry employee/owner/operator from 1964 to 1994. He has served on the City Council since Spokane Valley incorporated in 2003. In the 2009 election Schimmels ran on the “Positive Change” slate with four challengers who unseated the incumbents. He has been selected by his fellow council members to serve as Deputy Mayor. Schimmels has argued against spending down the city’s reserves, but is willing to do so to pay for the Sullivan Bridge replacement and funding two new police officers. He doesn’t favor any tax increases now, but “in future years saying ‘no’ or ‘never’ may not apply or be an option.”
Complete Coverage
Liberty Lake won’t allow marijuana sales at first
Liberty Lake has joined the list of cities imposing moratoriums on recreational marijuana, while Spokane Valley may explore ways to add its own set of restrictions on opening any state-licensed pot shops. The moves follow Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s conclusion earlier this month that the voter-approved law legalizing marijuana in Washington doesn’t prohibit cities and counties from banning pot if they want.
Spokane Valley civic leader Gary Schimmels dies at 75
Gary Schimmels, described by many as one of Spokane Valley’s founding fathers, died unexpectedly Wednesday at his home. A longtime construction worker and locksmith who in later years immersed himself in utility issues, Schimmels was among the city’s first seven council members and would become one of its biggest boosters despite the fact that he’d initially opposed incorporation. He served as deputy mayor until last month following his November re-election defeat.
Former Spokane Valley Deputy Mayor Gary Schimmels dies unexpectedly
Former Spokane Valley Deputy Mayor Gary Schimmels, who lost his council seat in November to an intra-Republican feud, died this morning at his home. He was 75.
Incumbents survive their primary challenges
Washington voters – or at least the relative few that cast ballots in the summer primary – seemed willing to stick with the familiar Tuesday. Turnout was light in most areas, but incumbents seeking to extend their terms in office survived primaries for the Spokane City Council, Spokane Valley City Council and the 7th District state Senate race.