Spokane County Commissioner, District 3
Election 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% |
* 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 office is part of a three-member board that serves as the executive of county operations. Commissioners decide on budgets, land use, staffing, county utilities and other matters.
District 3 includes southwest and west Spokane County and portions of the city of Spokane, including parts of the South Hill and North Side. Only voters in the district vote in the primary election. The office appears on the countywide ballot in the general election.
The Candidates
Al French
- Party:
- G.O.P. Party
- Age:
- 73
- City:
- Spokane, Washington
Education: Graduated from Western High School in Las Vegas. Earned bachelor's in architecture and minored in business finance at the University of Idaho.
Political experience: Has served three four-year terms and one two-year term as a Spokane County commissioner. Served two terms on the Spokane City Council from 2002 to 2009. Served as the Nevada-Lidgerwood Neighborhood Council president from 1995 to 2001.
Work experience: Served in the Marine Corps from 1969 to 1972. Worked as an officer candidate school instructor in Quantico, Virginia. Has been an architect and developer in Spokane since 1977. Spent much of his career designing retail buildings.
Family: Married to Rosalie French. Has a daughter and a grandson.
Fundraising: Has raised nearly $195,000 as of Oct. 2, 2024, including a $5,000 loan to himself and more than $20,000 he’s given himself via in-kind contributions, according to the Washington Public Disclosure Commission. Prominent donors include a long list of contractors, home builders and political action committees representing the development industry. French also has donations from Highline Grain Growers; Avista Corporation CEO Dennis Vermillion; former Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward; Spokane Valley City Councilman Rod Higgins; Spokane Valley Mayor Pam Haley; former Spokane Valley Mayor Diana Wilhite; state Rep. Leonard Christian; Daniel Kuney, brother-in-law of Commissioner Mary Kuney; and longtime conservative candidate contributor Duane Alton, who owned Alton’s Tires until 2008.
Mary Lou Johnson
- 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.
Bonnie Mager
- Party:
- Independent
- Age:
- 73
- City:
- Spokane, WA
Education: Associate degree in fashion design, Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, 1972.
Work experience: Neighborhood Alliance of Spokane County, co-founder and executive director, 2000 to 2006; Washington Environmental Council, Eastern Washington regional coordinator, 1994 to 2002; Citizens for Clean Air, executive director, 1990 to 1994; food broker, 1988 to 1990.
Political Experience: Spokane County Solid Waste Advisory Committee, Spokane Regional Health District board, Spokane Transit Authority board.
Family: Married, three adult children.
Complete 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.
Election 2014: Experience at issue in county treasurer race
The candidates fighting for the job of Spokane County treasurer agree on one thing: The post should go to someone who understands investments and government finance. They differ, of course, on why they believe their opponent is less qualified for the job.
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.
Finance experience an issue in county treasurer race
Current Spokane County Treasurer Rob Chase learned one lesson in defeating his predecessor, Skip Chilberg, in the 2010 election. “For sure, I’m campaigning. I’m raising money,” said Chase, the 60-year-old self-described constitutionalist who’s facing a primary challenge from two Spokane accountants, Mary Kuney and Amy Biviano.
Airway Heights mayor, others protest county’s fight against casino
A group supporting a proposed Spokane tribal casino and resort rallied in front of the Spokane County Courthouse on Tuesday decrying the spending by county commissioners to fight the project. Ed Clark, part of the consulting team working to advance the casino project, said the Spokane Tribe Economic Project would bring 5,000 jobs and $450 million in investment to the region.
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.
Spokane County Commission seat likely three-way fight
Former Democratic County Commissioner Bonnie Mager is seeking a rematch with the Republican who unseated her in 2010, only this time she is running as an independent. Mager lost in a close race to Commissioner Al French for the District 3 seat on the Spokane County Board of Commissioners. French beat Mager by 2,700 votes out of 173,000 that were cast.
Shawn Vestal: Commissioner’s records request adds fuel to flare-up over planning
Public records laws are important tools for citizens to use in the battle against government secrecy and power. Anyone who has ever used them is familiar with occasional stonewalling and foot-dragging from public officials – just as they are familiar with the occasional harassing, burdensome requests to agencies from gadflies and journalists.
Marijuana growers in county will need 8 acres, for now
Spokane County commissioners may have thrown a wrench into the plans of some would-be marijuana growers hoping to set up in rural areas. An interim zoning ordinance approved Monday says anyone growing recreational marijuana will have to be on at least 8 acres, with plenty of space between the fields or buildings and the property lines.
Spokane closes loophole for contested developments
In a bid to curb unwanted sprawl, Spokane city leaders Monday imposed new prohibitions on extending water and sewer service to potentially contested developments outside city limits until any legal challenges are resolved. The 4-2 vote capped a marathon evening of public testimony pitting developers and business boosters against environmental activists, planners and fiscal conservatives. Councilmen Mike Allen and Mike Fagan opposed it.
Aerospace jobs coming to Spokane County, commissioner says
Economic growth in Spokane County may be ready to take off with the expansion of the aerospace industry, county Commissioner Al French said Friday. Spokane is on the verge of attracting two new aerospace employers while two other companies are expanding operations, French said during an annual State of the County address to community and business leaders gathered at CenterPlace Regional Events Center.