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

Rob Chase

A candidate for Spokane County Commissioner, District 2, Spokane County in the 2018 Washington General Election, Nov. 6

Party: Republican

Age: 70

Education: Graduated from Kellogg High School in 1972. Graduated from Eastern Washington University in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, operations management.

Work experience: Is semiretired, but has worked as a U.S. Census Bureau enumerator and security guard for Phoenix Protective Corps in Spokane Valley. Worked as an expeditor with Haakon Industries based in Cheney from 2006 to 2007. Held mortgage origination and real estate licenses. Served in U.S. Army Reserves from 1972-78. Now volunteers with Spokane Fatherhood Initiative.

Political experience: Elected as a state representative in 2020. Served one term and lost his re-election bid in 2022. Elected Spokane County treasurer in 2010 and 2014. Republican Party precinct committee officer. Ran unsuccessfully for state Senate in 2000, U.S. House in 2002 and Spokane County Commissioner in 2012 and 2018. Served as Eastern Washington coordinator for Ron Paul for President in 2008 and 2012 and Eastern Washington coordinator for Clint Didier’s 2010 Senate campaign.

Family: Married to Chris Chase and has four children.

Campaign contributions: Has raised $6,725 as of July 2. Notable donors include outgoing state Sen. Mike Padden, Spokane Valley Mayor Pam Haley, Spokane Valley Councilman Rod Higgins, the Idaho Free Enterprise Institute and Duane Alton, a prolific donor to conservative politicians and causes who founded Alton’s Tires.

Contact information

Race Results

Candidate Votes Pct
Mary Kuney (R) 119,638 62.47%
Rob Chase (R) 71,869 37.53%

Details & headlines

Related Coverage

Plan for public group to buy Avista has major obstacles

Setting up a public entity to buy Avista may be unprecedented and definitely faces obstacles.

Kuney defeats Chase for seat on Spokane County Commission

Incumbent Republican Mary Kuney is likely to retain her seat on the Spokane County Board of Commissioners against challenger Rob Chase.

Avista spends $200,000 supporting county commissioners Kuney and French

Avista Corp. is spending heavily in the Spokane County commissioner races by dropping nearly $200,000 on re-election television advertisements for commissioners Mary Kuney and Al French. In Avista Corp.’s largest independent campaign expenditure to date, the company in August contributed more than $99,500 per commissioner in “independent expenditures” for television ads and production costs, according to Washington State Public Disclosure Commission filings.

Mary Kuney, Rob Chase are familiar opponents in race for Spokane County commissioner

The race for county commissioner between Rob Chase and Mary Kuney mirrors a split in the Spokane County Republican Party between more traditional Republicans who have lined up behind Kuney and those whose influence grew in the last decade with the rise of the tea party who have mostly backed Chase.

Spokane County Treasurer Rob Chase trying to block Avista’s sale

Rob Chase doesn’t want Avista Corp. to sell to a Canadian utility, and the Spokane County commissioner candidate says he’s deploying a little-known part of federal laws to try to block it. Washington regulators, however, said the laws Chase cites don’t apply to the sale.

Spokane GOP chairwoman defends alt-right provocateur James Allsup at tea party meeting

The chairwoman of the Spokane County Republican Party offered a defense of James Allsup during a meeting of local conservatives this month, claiming the 22-year-old alt-right provocateur – whose views have been widely condemned as racist – was a victim of “label lynching” by the political left and the mainstream media.

For first time in 40 years, Democrats forgo chance at Spokane County Commission

For the first time in 40 years, Republicans will run unopposed by Democrats for a seat on the Spokane County Board of Commissioners.