Council District No. 3
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Karen J. Stratton (N) | 3,771 | 42.33% |
| Evan Verduin | 2,881 | 32.34% |
| Kelly P. Cruz | 1,167 | 13.10% |
| Dave White (R) | 1,090 | 12.23% |
* 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 district encompasses northeast Spokane. The two candidates with the most votes will advance to the Nov. 3 general election. Only voters within the district will cast ballots in the race.
The Candidates
Karen J. Stratton
- Party:
- No party
- Age:
- 65
- City:
- Spokane, WA
- Occupation:
- Incumbent councilwoman
Her words: "My father used to say, if you really want to know what people think and what people want, you need to go to them. And I believe that. To me, the vibrancy and the pulse of the city is in the neighborhoods."
Her pitch: Stratton says more work needs to be done to improve the quality of life in the northwest neighborhoods, particularly West Central. The former Spokane city clerk says she'll continue to advocate on behalf of municipal employees, efforts that have often put her at odds with Mayor David Condon's office. She defended the city's approach to providing services for the homeless in her four years on the Spokane City Council, but said she'd advocate for more partnerships in the community between city social workers, educators, mental health care providers and others to provide more and longer-term services for those living on the streets.
Education: Graduated from Marycliff High School in 1977. Earned bachelor’s degree in communications and general studies from Eastern Washington University in 1989.
Work experience: Worked at Washington State University Spokane and the Community Colleges of Spokane. Served as a clerk in the city clerk's office.
Political experience: Incumbent councilwoman. Appointed to complete term of Steve Salvatori. Former aide to Mayors Jim West and Mary Verner in 2014. Former legislative aide in the Washington state House.
Family: Married. One adult son. Her mother, Lois Stratton, was a legislator in Olympia as a Democrat from 1979 to 1993, and her father, Alan Stratton, was a member of the Spokane City Council from 1965 to 1975.
Neighborhood: Audubon-Downriver
Evan Verduin
- Age:
- 41
- City:
- Spokane, WA
- Occupation:
- Architect
His words: “A super majority in any form of government, especially a legislative body, is less open to compromise and more likely to advance partisan agendas, the end result being the citizens of Spokane lose. We need more balance on our council and not partisan agendas being passed by super majorities to grow the size of government.”
His pitch: A young, fresh voice who doesn’t subscribe to the polarized nature of politics, and who will focus on encouraging development closer to the city’s core and easing burdens facing developers attempting to renovate old buildings.
Notable experience: Architect, owns a design firm. Vice president of the city’s Plan Commission.
Education: Graduated from Northwest Christian High School in 2002. Earned bachelor’s degree in architectural studies from Washington State University in 2007. Earned master’s degree in architecture from Washington State University in 2009.
Neighborhood: Five Mile
Kelly P. Cruz
- Age:
- 64
- City:
- Spokane, WA
Why running: The central reason Cruz has jumped into the race is to deal with the property crime and public safety in the community, but he is also motivated by a desire to to provide new leadership in City Hall.
His pitch: Cruz would be transparent and open with the public. If elected, he would institute “Mondays with the Mayor,” a weekly two-hour gathering in the lobby of Ccity Hall during which any resident could bring an issue to the mayor’s attention.
“A lot of people feel threatened and afraid to go to City Hall, and I don’t think that should be the way.”
As Mayor, Cruz pledges to draw a $90,000 salary and donate the remainder to charity.
Education: Graduated from North Central High School in 1978. Completed Spokane Home Builders journeyman carpentry program.
Political experience: Has not held political office. Former chairman of West Central Neighborhood Council, current Chairman of Spokane C.O.P.S. and former chairman of the West Central Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative Coalition.
Work experience: Retired, formerly a carpenter.
Family: Unmarried. Has no children.
Dave White
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 71
- City:
- Spokane, WA
- Occupation:
- County public works inspector
His pitch: A principled conservative focused on street and utility work, and public safety, who will help right the overreach of the current City Council.
His words: “I’m a very strict constitutionalist, both the U.S. Constitution and the Washington state Constitution. Here in Washington, our constitution is a work of art. It is a well-designed document that will work for us well if we pay attention to it.”
Neighborhood: North Hill
Day job: Spokane County public works inspector
Notable experience: Public works inspector for Spokane County utilities department since 1999. Formerly an inspector for Spokane County engineering department, starting in 1991. Former owner-operator tractor-trailer driver. Served in U.S. Navy during Vietnam War. Republican Party precinct committee officer, district leader on Republican Party executive board.
Education: Graduated from Medical Lake High School in 1970. Earned associate degree in applied science from Spokane Community College in 1977.
Complete Coverage
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
Yes. No. Depends who you ask, like we just did for you.
Candidate fact check: Has crime really fallen under the Condon administration?
With three days to vote, the wave of campaign literature continues unabated. But how true are the claims made by these mailers and door-hangers?
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.
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.
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.
Spokane candidates on their political heroes
Even politicians have heroes.
Editorial: Verduin would restore balance to City Council
Architect Evan Verduin will be better advocate for small business concerns.
In race for Spokane City Council, Stratton and Verduin say they’re not proxies for Stuckart and Condon
Incumbent Spokane Councilwoman Karen Stratton is backed the council president. Her opponent, Evan Verduin, is supported by the mayor.
Paid sick leave vote put on hold
A proposal to require employers to give their workers paid sick leave won’t be considered by city leaders until after they approve city spending for next year – after the November election. City Council President Ben Stuckart said some council members had hoped to vote later this month on a plan that would require businesses to offer their workers one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. That amounts to three days a year for full-time workers.
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.”
Spokane primary results: Condon, Fagan, Stratton on top
Spokane Mayor David Condon finished easily in first, and community activist Shar Lichty a comfortable second in the city primary. Incumbents Mike Fagan and Karen Stratton topped the field in their respective council races.
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.
Spokane City Council wants people to stop saying “Bridge to Hookerville”
The decision came during the weekly open forum portion of Monday’s council meeting after civic gadfly George McGrath used the term — again — to describe the planned pedestrian bridge spanning a wide rail corridor to link the north and south ends of the growing University District. The southern side of the district includes a stretch of East Sprag
Female council members take on women’s pay, hiring at City Hall
A woman makes $11,614 less than a man, on average, at Spokane City Hall. Females represent nearly half the city’s population, but they hold just a quarter of positions in city government. About 90 percent of clerical and secretarial positions at the city are held by women. These imbalances have drawn the latest promise for change from the Spokane City Council.
Spokane council holds off booting Fagan from health board
A crowd of vaccination opponents hoping to dissuade the Spokane City Council from kicking Councilman Mike Fagan off the county health board erupted into shouts of “coward” when a chance to publicly testify was denied them Thursday afternoon. The shout, which first came from Fagan, was aimed at Council President Ben Stuckart during a meeting in a stifling City Hall basement room that has low capacity and poor visibility because of giant pillars that block sightlines. Many attendees had to stand.
City Council takes step back from removing Fagan from health board
About 50 people packed the City Council briefing center on Thursday to hear the council’s discussion regarding a letter to Councilman Mike Fagan asking him to “clarify” his recent questioning the safety of vaccination and linking recent infectious disease outbreaks are linked to illegal immigration.