School Board, District 3
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Henry C. Browne Jr. | 2,141 | 60.63% |
| Patrick Rushing | 1,390 | 39.37% |
* 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
Henry C. Browne Jr.
- Age:
- 63
- City:
- Airway Heights, WA
Education: Graduated from the College of West Africa in 1976. Earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Liberia and a master’s of accounting from the University of Phoenix.
Political experience: Browne has served on the Cheney School Board since he was appointed in December 2012. He was elected to his seat in 2015 and served as president of the board from 2015 to 2018.
Work experience: Has worked for the Washington State Department of Corrections for more than 15 years at Airway Heights Corrections Center, most recently as the prison’s business manager. Browne is also an assistant pastor and an adjunct instructor at Park University at Fairchild Air Force Base.
Family: Married to Al-Satta Browne. They have three grown children and three children at home. Two children attend schools in Cheney.
His pitch: Browne said he has a proven record of service with almost seven years as a school board member under his belt. He also served as president when the board passed a bond for an elementary school and high school expansion. He sees the need for more schools in the district and worked on the purchase agreement to build an elementary school in Airway Heights. He said he is proud of the fact the school district did not have to lay off any teachers before the school year.
His words: “Just look at my record. I’m prepared to continue to do what I can do advance and improve our district.”
Patrick Rushing
- Age:
- 67
- City:
- Airway Heights, WA
His words: Didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.
His pitch: Didn’t respond to mulitple requests for comment. In the Spokane County Elections voter guide Rushing said he’s running because he wants the district to pay more attention to the City of Airway Heights. He would like to see the school board put more emphasis on “the growing educational needs of Airway Heights’ students.”
Notable experience: Rushing served 16 years on the Airway Heights City Council, six of those as mayor. He resigned in August after posting controversial material on his Facebook page. Rushing also resigned earlier this year from his job as a school bus driver for the Medical Lake School District after he faced a hit-and-run charge in relation to a crash. The charge was dimissed after the district’s insurance company paid for the damage to the other car.
Education: Went to college at Thomas Edison State College, according to his profile on the county elections website.
Complete Coverage
Election preview: Airway Heights mayor who resigned running for Cheney School Board
Henry Browne is an incumbent Cheney school board member and a Liberian refugee. His opponent, Patrick Rushing, is the former mayor of Airway Heights who recently resigned his position after posting racist comments on Facebook.
Doug Clark: Rushing out the door helps clear the air
All your questions answered about Spokane-area skulduggery. Q: With so many fires burning, have you ever seen our air this bad?
Embattled Airway Heights Mayor Patrick Rushing resigns
The embattled mayor of Airway Heights has submitted his resignation following a public furor in July regarding comments he made about President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama that were considered racist. Patrick Rushing did not acknowledge the controversy in a news release issued Monday by the city.
Airway Heights mayor resigning after uproar over Obama comments
The embattled mayor of Airway Heights has submitted his resignation following a public furor in July regarding comments he made about President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama that were considered racist.
Spin Control: Wrongdoing, not offensive words, is basis for a recall
OLYMPIA – As Airway Heights Mayor Patrick Rushing continues to suffer the slings and arrows from outrageous comment, it’s not uncommon for a supporter to call or write the paper and echo hizzoner’s challenge to his challengers. That is, if the voters don’t like what he wrote, they can recall him. Actually, no.
Sunday Spin: Recalling for stupidity not really an option
OLYMPIA – As Airway Heights Mayor Patrick Rushing continues to suffer the slings and arrows from outrageous comment, it’s not uncommon for a supporter to call or write the paper and echo of hizzoner’s challenge to his challengers. That is, if the voters don’t like what he wrote, they can recall him. Actually, no…
State Dems circulate petition for Rushing to resign
The state Democratic Party has an online petition calling for the Airway Heights mayor to resign over Obama comments.
Shawn Vestal: Newsmakers self-identify however they please
So: Patrick Rushing isn’t a racist. And Rachel Dolezal is black. That’s how they identify, at least.
Airway Heights mayor faces strict sanctions at tonight’s council meeting
The Airway Heights city council will vote on a resolution tonight that could severely limit Mayor Patrick Rushing’s role. They’re also asking that he forfeit his $2,000 a month salary.
Airway Heights mayor rejects calls to resign over online comments
The Airway Heights mayor is refusing to resign after posting comments last week to his personal Facebook page that City Council members say are racist. Mayor Patrick Rushing, who compared President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama to monkeys, said he did not realize his comments were racist.
Airway Heights Council asks mayor to resign following Facebook post
The Airway Heights City Council has asked Mayor Patrick Rushing to resign after he allegedly posted racist comments to his personal Facebook page. However, Rushing is refusing to resign, claiming that he didn’t realize his comments were racist.
Airway Heights mayor downplays ‘minor’ school bus accident
Airway Heights Mayor Patrick Rushing suspects politics are behind increased interest in a noninjury crash involving a school bus he drove in January. “You know the saying, ‘Hold your friends close and your enemies closer’; I take that to heart,” Rushing said Thursday.
Airway Heights mayor says bus incident tied to politics
Airway Heights Mayor Patrick Rushing said Thursday he believes political opponents are behind efforts to play up what he called a “minor vehicle accident’ that took place in January while he was driving a Medical Lake School District bus.