Whitworth Water District, position 1
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Jean Pond | 2,968 | 52.10% |
| Rick Koller | 2,729 | 47.90% |
* 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
The Candidates
Jean Pond
- Age:
- 72
Political experience: None.
Work experience: Has taught biology at Whitworth University on and off since 1990.
Education: Graduated from Edina High School in Minnesota in 1969. Earned bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Minnesota in 1973. Earned master’s degree in biology at Oregon State University in 1980. Earned doctoral degree in microbiology at the University of South Dakota in 1987.
Family: Married to Finn Pond for 36 years. Has two children and one grandchild.
Rick Koller
- Age:
- 77
Political experience: Has served on the Whitworth Water District Commission for six years.
Work experience: Worked at Abbott Laboratories pharmaceutical company for 27 years. Owned pharmaceutical store for about two years.
Education: Graduated from Pomeroy High School in 1965. Earned bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Washington State University in 1970.
Family: Married to Jeanette Koller. Has three children and six children.
Complete Coverage
Challenger in Whitworth Water District race says commission running well
A biology professor looks to bring her water quality knowledge to the Whitworth Water District Commission, position 1, as she runs against an incumbent who wants to localize decisions on water management. Incumbent Rick Koller said he has concerns over a state Supreme Court ruling that requires counties to ensure new wells won’t have a negative impact on water availability. He agrees with the concept, but said in practice it has become a “bureaucratic mess,” carried out by “people who have never drilled a well before.”