Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Andy Dunau

A candidate for Spokane City Council, south council district, City of Spokane in the 2017 Washington General Election, Nov. 7

Party: No party

Age: 65

Occupation: President and founder of Dunau Associates, a consulting firm

His words: "My perspective is that, we're - as a nation and locally - our politics has drifted both farther to the left and farther to the right. My campaign is about trying to recapture the middle, where we can build consensus and find common ground and get things done."

His pitch: Dunau believes he offers a centrist approach to a City Council race that includes opponents with strong political persuasions, despite the office being nonpartisan. The 28-year resident of Spokane points to his years of service on the Spokane Park Board, particularly his time as overseer of the park system's finances, as experience in making difficult decisions with public dollars that will serve him well at City Hall. Dunau says he would return the council's focus to "basic services," including fixing streets and tamping down crime. 

Education: Attended high school in Bethesda, Maryland. Earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Grinnell College, a private liberal arts school in Iowa, in 1981. Earned a master's degree in public administration from New York University in Manhattan, 1986.

Political experience: First run for office. Served on Spokane Park Board from 2011-2016.

Work experience: Founder and president of Dunau Associates, a communications consulting firm that has operated in Spokane for 28 years after Dunau moved from Los Angeles.Executive director of the Spokane River Forum, a nonprofit promoting the health of the river system.

Family: Lives with partner. Has three children.

Neighborhood: Rockwood

Contact information

Race Results

Candidate Votes Pct
Breean L. Beggs (N) 10,434 57.97%
Andy Dunau (N) 7,565 42.03%

Details & headlines

Related Coverage

Spokane City Council races cost candidates, supporters more than $400,000 in 2017

Final reports filed with the Washington Public Disclosure Commission show November’s contests for three seats on the Spokane City Council cost a total of nearly $420,000, based on the amount spent by the candidates themselves and groups supporting or opposing them. That’s slightly less than the $458,000 that was spent in 2013, but a 10 percent bump over the amount spent two years ago.

Breean Beggs, Kate Burke, Candace Mumm coast to victories in Spokane City Council races

Early ballot returns indicate the Spokane City Council will retain its progressive-leaning majority, as voters gave comfortable leads to a slate of candidates endorsed by Ben Stuckart in what became a costly and sometimes bitter campaign in the final few weeks.

Fundraising, outside spending reach historic highs in Spokane City Council races

For the first time in at least a decade, spending by outside groups in this year’s City Council races reached all corners of the city. Through Friday, more than $372,000 had been raised for the three of the contests that will be decided next week, with 1 in 4 of those dollars coming from a group working independently of the candidates.

Editorial: Dunau would bring balance to council

Andy Dunau is the rare Spokane City Council candidate who is genuinely moderate. On top of that, he has no desire to pursue issues beyond the scope of the position.

Oil trains at forefront of Spokane City Council race between Breean Beggs and Andy Dunau

Breean Beggs squares off against Andy Dunau in a contest for one of the most liberal-leaning areas of town. Dunau casts himself as a centrist, and says Beggs’ support of a rail initiative fining coal and oil trains is evidence the council doesn’t reflect the values of the city. Beggs says he’s concerned about safety and has worked to improve relationships at City Hall.

Beggs and Mumm post strong showings in Spokane City Council primaries, Burke and Benn face off in northeast

The two incumbents on the primary ballots for Spokane City Council earned the majority of votes counted Tuesday in their districts. Kate Burke will square off against Tim Benn in northeast Spokane.

Three challenge Breean Beggs for Spokane City Council seat representing South Hill

Challengers seeking Breean Beggs’ appointed seat on the Spokane City Council criticize policies he’s floated on oil and coal trains and ways to pay for more police, but the 44-year-old attorney says that’s just part of the work he’s doing for the city and dismisses labels.

Editorial: Beggs, Dunau should advance in council race

Breann Beggs has achieved important accomplishments, though we worry about his political activism. Andy Dunau, who is supported by former council members Mike Allen and Steve Salvatori, evinces a thoughtful, pragmatic leadership style.