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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spokane County Commissioner, District 1

Election Results

Candidate Votes Pct
Candace Mumm (D) 10,346 40.33%
Josh Kerns (R) 8,026 31.29%
Nancy McLaughlin (R) 7,281 28.38%

* 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

See candidate’s stances on different issues in the issues grid

The Candidates

Candace Mumm

Party:
Democratic
Age:
63
City:
Spokane, WA
Occupation:
Incumbent city council member, business owner

Her words: "I have always been involved in standing up for neighborhoods. I have been very involved in some of the northside neighborhood improvements … I really enjoy working with neighborhoods, and working at that level."

Her pitch: Mumm says the city council has built momentum on improving roads and sidewalks during her first four-year term, and hopes to continue that momentum for another four years. She points to work on improving the transit options near Spokane Falls Community College, working with the West Hills neighborhood, and securing a commitment from the Washington Legislature to add back a supervision system for property crime offenders in Spokane County, as evidence of her work to address the major issues facing voters in northwest Spokane. In a second term, her priorities would be finding a way to fund additional needed police officers, continuing contract negotiations with the Spokane Police Guild and revitalizing the business center located near Shadle Park High School. 

Work experience: Incumbent city councilmember and executive of Smartland, a real estate investment company. Previously worked as a crime reporter and managing editor for KXLY, and as a financial adviser for American Express.

Education: Graduated from Shadle Park High School in 1978. Bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from Pacific Lutheran University in 1982. Earned a master’s degree in business administration from Gonzaga University.

Political experience: Elected to the Spokane City Council in 2013. Previously served on the city’s Plan Commission, the county’s Stormwater Task Force, the state Department of Commerce’s Community Economic Revitalization Board and the Mead School District’s Capital Facilities Bond Task Force. Former vice chair of the Five Mile neighborhood council. 

Work experience: Currently the CEO of Smartland, a real estate investment company. Previously worked as a crime reporter and managing editor for KXLY, and as a financial adviser for American Express.

Family: Married. 

Neighborhood: Five Mile

Josh Kerns

Party:
Republican
Age:
39
City:
Mead, Washington

Education: Graduated from Mount Spokane High School in 2003. Earned associate degree from Spokane Community College in 2004 and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Whitworth University in 2006 and 2008.

Political experience: Elected Spokane County commissioner in 2016. Served six years as a legislative aide for state Rep. Jeff Holy and former state Rep. John Ahern. Previously served as a delegate to precinct caucuses and county and state Republican conventions. Has worked on Republican campaigns since 2008.

Work experience: Owns a small marketing company, River Marketing, with his wife. Previously worked as a server at Red Robin and a banker for U.S. Bank.

Family: Married to Nichole Kerns. Has two children.

Campaign finance: Has raised nearly $41,000 as of Sept. 9, 2022. Notable donors include Avista, numerous builders and political action groups that represent developers, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ congressional campaign fund, Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell, Spokane Valley City Council members Rod Higgins and Arne Woodard, the Washington Association of Realtors, 4th Legislative District Sen. Mike Padden, 4th Legislative District representatives Rob Chase and Bob McCaslin and Spokane County Republican Party Chairman Brian Steele.

Nancy McLaughlin

Party:
Republican
Age:
66
City:
Spokane Valley, WA

Education: Valedictorian of Nampa High School, Class of 1976; attended Boise State University for one semester.

Political experience: Served two terms on the Spokane City Council, winning elections in 2005 and 2009. Appointed to the Spokane County Commission in February; previously served as a precinct committee officer. Former president of the Association of Washington Cities. Former president of Parent-Teacher Organization at Madison Elementary.

Work experience: Founded D-MAC Construction, a kitchen and bath remodeling company, with her husband in 1980 and still runs the business; worked for Treasure Valley Woodworking, her parents’ cabinet business; served as an administrative assistant for a plant breeder in Nampa, Idaho, and for a doctor in Spokane. 

Family: Married, three children

Complete Coverage

Ad watch: Josh Kerns makes dubious claims about Candace Mumm

For the second time in his run for Spokane County commissioner, Josh Kerns’ campaign has distributed a mailer containing some dubious claims about an opponent.

Voters get distinct choice in race for open county seat

Either way voters choose, the candidate who replaces Spokane County Commissioner Nancy McLaughlin will bring a markedly different political ideology.

Mumm, Kerns face off in debate for McLaughlin’s Spokane County Commission seat

The two candidates vying to replace Spokane County Commissioner Nancy McLaughlin squared off in a debate Thursday afternoon at the Spokane Club.

City Council OKs deal with GSI to continue business development, federal lobbying

The Spokane City Council signed a short-term deal Monday with Greater Spokane Inc. for business development services, following a monthlong delay on a contract extension. The contract requires GSI to solicit input from area companies about Spokane’s business climate and seeks to end conflicts of interest in joint federal lobbying efforts.

Spokane County Commissioner McLaughlin, who lost primary, won’t endorse Mumm or Kerns

Republican Nancy McLaughlin, who is now a lame duck on the Spokane County Commission, said Thursday she has “no respect” for the campaign tactics of her GOP rival, Josh Kerns, who beat her by three percentage points in this week’s primary.

Mumm to advance in commission race; McLaughlin trailing Kerns

Republican incumbent Nancy McLaughlin is trailing opponent Josh Kerns in her bid to retain her seat on the Spokane County Commission. Democratic City Councilwoman Candace Mumm will advance to the general election for that seat.

Nancy McLaughlin takes issue with claims made in challenger Josh Kerns’ mailer

Spokane County Commissioner Nancy McLaughlin took issue this week with a mailer sent by challenger Josh Kerns.

Three vie for seat on Spokane County Commission

Two challengers are vying for a chance to unseat Commissioner Nancy McLaughlin in the August primary elections.

Editorial: McLaughlin and Mumm for County Commission

Mumm and McLaughlin are more experienced and pragmatic than Kerns. We would like to see them advance to the general election.

Spokane County, neighborhood groups sign sweeping settlement in land-use disputes

Spokane County agreed it will not expand the area where urban growth can occur for at least nine years without meeting certain benchmarks, while controversial boundaries drawn in 2013 will remain largely in place. The compromise marks the end of nearly a decade of legal wrangling, both sides said.

Council aide Rush fired following complaints

Richard Rush, a former Spokane City Council member, was fired from his position as aide to Councilwoman Candace Mumm after two women complained that he made them feel uncomfortable.

Spokane City Council maintains ability to ask voters for transit sales tax

For the third time in six months, Spokane Mayor David Condon vetoed an ordinance passed by a wide margin on the City Council, only to see it overridden by similar vote totals. The latest veto override dealt with an ordinance that allowed the city to use tax dollars to fund public transportation, circumnavigating the Spokane Transit Authority in case its board decided against putting a transit measure on an upcoming ballot.

Gender could be more important majority in city, county government

For the first time since the territorial government was led by Glovers and Cannons and Comstocks, a majority of women hold seats on the Spokane City Council. Also for the first time, two women occupy the majority of the three county commission seats. It’s a 6-4 local government majority.

Spokane City Councilwoman Candace Mumm files to run for county commission

Candace Mumm will seek to be the first Democrat since John Roskelley in 2004 to represent the northern portion of Spokane County on the commission.

O’Quinn touts lean management savings at State of Spokane County address

Spokane County Commissioner Shelly O’Quinn said the county is saving between $1 million and $1.4 million annually as a result of lean management strategies implemented in the past few years at an address Friday in front of Greater Spokane Inc.

Nancy McLaughlin chosen as new Spokane County commissioner

Former Spokane City Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin was chosen Monday to replace outgoing Spokane County Commissioner Todd Mielke.

Spokane County Commissioners to interview potential Mielke replacements Monday

The three candidates vying to replace Todd Mielke on the Spokane County Commission will field questions from Mielke’s former colleagues Monday morning.

Sunday Spin: Given the chance, Mumm would have defended leave ordinance

Friction between Spokane lawmaker and Spokane City Council.

Spokane GOP picks McLaughlin, Kerns and Baxter to replace Mielke

Todd Mielke’s seat on the Spokane County Commission will go to either two political veterans or an up-and-comer with wide support among state legislators.

Washington lawmakers consider bills to standardize sick leave, minimum wage

OLYMPIA – Senate considers proposals to standardize leave, minimum wage.