Mary Lou Johnson
A candidate for Spokane County Commissioner, District 3, Spokane County in the 2014 Washington Primary Election, Aug. 5
Party: Democratic
Age: 77
City: Spokane, WA
MARY LOU JOHNSON
Education: University of Minnesota, bachelor’s in nursing, 1969; University of Colorado, master’s in community health and nursing, 1970; Gonzaga University, law degree, 1992.
Work experience: Attorney in U.S. District Court, 1993 to 2011; clerk in Court of Appeals, 1992 to 1993; community health nurse and educator, 1971 to 1989; taught at Intercollegiate Center for Nursing Education; family nurse practitioner.
Political experience: Smart Justice campaign for criminal justice reform.
Family: Married, two children.
Contact information
Race Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Al French (G) | 10,559 | 36.85% |
| Mary Lou Johnson (D) | 10,324 | 36.03% |
| Bonnie Mager (I) | 7,774 | 27.13% |
Related Coverage
Spokane County Commission candidates at odds over urban growth boundary
The future of a neighborhood in north Spokane County has become one of the most debated topics in this year’s race for County Commission. Al French and his fellow Republican Commissioner Todd Mielke say expanding the urban growth boundary to include the area along U.S. Highway 2 is necessary to protect the Little Spokane River from sewage runoff seeping from aging septic tanks. The extension of the growth boundary, a designation that enables governments to extend services such as sewer lines, would solve a problem before it gets out of control, they said.
Candidates say county commission race about leadership style
The candidates locked in a tight race for the Spokane County Commission say November’s vote is a decision between two distinct leadership styles. Democrat Mary Lou Johnson, making her first attempt at elected office, paints incumbent Republican Al French as a divisive politician unwilling to compromise. French calls Johnson’s promise to create a collaborative approach on the commission a way to bog down decision making, frustrating job growth and leading to wishy-washy outcomes.
Two Spokane County incumbents face strong challenges
Two incumbent Republicans in the Spokane County Courthouse appear to be facing tough challenges from Democratic opponents. GOP County Commissioner Al French was virtually tied with Democratic challenger Mary Lou Johnson, with each scoring 36 percent of the vote in the county’s initial returns Tuesday night for the District 3 seat.
Democrats face dilemma in Spokane County commissioner race
Democrats face a dilemma in next month’s primary election for Spokane County commissioner. That’s because among the candidates they can choose are a Democrat and a high-profile former Democrat who chose to run as an independent.
Growth is key in Spokane County commission race
Republican Spokane County Commissioner Al French is facing a potential rerun of 2010, when he ousted Democrat Bonnie Mager in a close race. This time, Mager has shed her Democratic Party affiliation, choosing to run as an independent.
Q&A: County commission candidates French, Mager and Johnson
County commissioner questions All three candidates for county commissioner were asked the same questions on key issues. Here are their answers.
Smart Justice activist Johnson enters Spokane County commissioner race
A leader in the movement to reform criminal justice said she would bring her expertise to the Spokane County Board of Commissioners if voters choose her over two other candidates for the District 3 commissioner seat this year. Mary Lou Johnson, a Democrat and a member of the Smart Justice coalition in Spokane, formally announced her candidacy Thursday at a gathering of supporters.