City Council, District 2 (South)
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Lori Kinnear | 6,753 | 53.27% |
| LaVerne Biel | 5,925 | 46.73% |
* 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.
The Candidates
Lori Kinnear
- Age:
- 71
- City:
- Spokane, WA
- Occupation:
- Assistant to Spokane City Councilwoman Amber Waldref
Why running: Lori Kinnear is running to continue the work she has begun in her first term as a city councilwoman. That work includes collaborating with the city administration, police and fire departments to lower property crime rates. Kinnear also wants to continue her work promoting historic preservation. Browne’s Addition has applied for a historic district and overlay zone, and Kinnear wants to ensure other neighborhoods have the same opportunity. She is promoting the continued investment by the city in upgrading infrastructure, particularly in residential neighborhoods.
Her pitch: Kinnear says Spokane has come a long way since she first got involved in local politics but that she sees room for more progress to be made. She believes she can help steer the city toward responsible growth in a way that preserves the city’s character while allowing development along main corridors.
Education: Graduated from Palo Alto High School in California in 1971. Earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Nevada-Reno in 1978. Earned associate’s degree in applied science horticulture from South Seattle Community College in 1994.
Political experience: Kinnear worked as a legislative assistant to two former city council members, Amber Waldref and Richard Rush, prior to her election to a first term on the council in 2015.
Work experience: Served as a small-business adviser for Women’s Business Center and is a former manager of the YWCA Opportunity Center teaching job skills to low-income women.
Family: Married.
LaVerne Biel
- Age:
- 71
- City:
- Spokane, WA
- Occupation:
- Business Owner
Her words: “Part of being a CEO is understating that hard discussions need to happen, and they need to happen transparently. Your employees need to know what’s going on. We can’t just keep them in the dark. That also has to happen at City Hall. The citizens need to know what’s going on. There’s less heartache in that.”
Her pitch: A business leader who will bring focus back to City Hall’s mission statement of delivering efficient and effective services.
Notable experience: CEO and owner of Access Unified Networks, which installs voice and data systems for businesses. Served as chairwoman of the East Central Business Association in 2010-2011. Served as president of Associated Builders and Contractors in 2003. Currently works with the East Central Community Organization. Earned a master’s degree in business at age 57. Currently a Board Member for Friendsview Retirement Home.
Education: Graduated from Concord (California) High School in 1970. Earned associate’s degree from Spokane Falls Community College in 2001. Earned bachelor’s degree in management communications from Western Baptist Bible College (now called Corban University) in 2003. Earned master’s degree in business administration from Corban University in 2010.
Neighborhood: South Perry (East Central)
Complete Coverage
Mapping the Vote: Council races suggest conservative/progressive split in city
For more than a generation, Spokane city politics divided mainly on geographic lines. Tuesday’s election suggests those lines may be disappearing and new coalitions are redrawing the electoral maps.
Mapping the Vote: Spokane Council Dist 2
Lori Kinnear has a lead of about 800 votes over LaVerne Biel in Spokane’s City Council District 2 race.
Spokane candidates on the lack of a city planning director
The city has been without a planning director since Scott Chesney was ousted last November.
Does Spokane have a sprawl problem? Spokane candidates speak
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Spokane candidates talk about the city’s spokesmen and spokeswomen
Their answers vary, some say just two, others say it’s up to the mayor.
Truth-testing Spokane City Council candidates
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Candidates speak about Spokane’s lawsuit against agrochemical giant Monsanto
In August, the city of Spokane filed a lawsuit against the international agrochemical giant Monsanto, alleging that the company sold chemicals for decades that it knew were a danger to human and environmental health.
Truths, half truths and other campaign claims, Part 1
Election 2015 edition, on accusations of partisan agendas, cost of bike lanes and Chomsky.
Condon and Lichty on the Mayor Vs. City Council
Condon says things are pretty good. Lichty says not so much.
Spokane candidates on the Mayor Vs. the City Council
Everything’s golden, or This. Means. War.
Nonprofit director Ken Briggs rescued by fellow marathoners on course
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Spokane candidates on their political heroes
Even politicians have heroes.
Editorial: LaVerne Biel the best choice for District 2
Of two worthy candidates, Biel more likely to discourage Spokane City Council involvement in issues that draw attention away from priorities.
The choice is City Hall or business experience in race for South Hill council seat
Behind every Spokane City Council member is a legislative aide. The L.A.’s, as they call themselves, answer phones, handle schedules, do research and run interference for their elected bosses. The work allows an intimate knowledge of City Hall mechanics, a perfect classroom for anyone who may want to join City Council in the future.
Condon and Lichty advance in mayor race
Spokane Mayor David Condon had the best primary election night of his elected life Tuesday, but he acknowledged the lopsided vote wasn’t a cause for unbridled celebration. “We all know what that spread means, don’t we,” he said. “We all know what happened four years ago, but I’m very grateful for the results.”
Condon will face Lichty in November election
Spokane Mayor David Condon had the best primary election night of his elected life tonight in his quest to re-election.
Political balance before Spokane voters
For the past year, the debate at Spokane City Hall often has devolved into two camps, the mayor versus the City Council. Or, more directly, David Condon versus Ben Stuckart. It’s true that Mayor Condon, who hails from Republican circles, doesn’t always agree with the City Council, which has held a left-leaning, veto-proof voting bloc since last summer. And it’s true that at times Condon and Council President Stuckart have entered into public political fisticuffs over issues including how much Condon’s inner circle at City Hall should be paid and an informal handshake deal between Condon and hotelier Walt Worthy to use city funds to pay for environmental cleanup.