Spokane County Commissioner, District 3
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Al French (R) | 122,092 | 56.65% |
| Robbi Katherine Anthony (D) | 93,442 | 43.35% |
* 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.
The Candidates
Al French
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 73
- City:
- Spokane, Washington
Education: Graduated from Western High School in Las Vegas. Majored in architecture and minored in business finance at the University of Idaho.
Political experience: Has served three terms as a Spokane County commissioner. Served two terms on the Spokane City Council from 2002 to 2009. Served as the Nevada-Lidgerwood Neighborhood Council president from 1995 to 2001.
Work experience: Served in the Marine Corps from 1969 to 1972. Worked as an officer candidate school instructor in Quantico, Virginia. Has been an architect and developer in Spokane since 1977. Spent much of his career designing retail buildings.
Family: Married to Rosalie French. Has a daughter and a grandson.
Fundraising: Has raised nearly $140,000 as of Oct. 9, including more than $20,000 he's given himself via in-kind contributions. Prominent donors include a long list of contractors, home builders and political action committees representing the development industry. French also has donations from Amazon, Avista, Avista Corporation CEO Dennis Vermillion, Spokane Valley City Councilman Rod Higgins, Spokane Valley Mayor Pam Haley, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and Gretchen McDevitt, a former board member of the Spokane County Republican Party and wife of former U.S. District Attorney for Eastern Washington Jim McDevitt.
Robbi Katherine Anthony
- Party:
- Democratic
- City:
- Spokane, WA
Education: Graduated from Gonzaga Prep High School in 2010. Graduated from Evergreen State College in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree.
Political background: First run for elected office. Worked on Andrew Biviano’s 2016 campaign for County Commissioner. Participated in campaigns to defeat Initiatives -1515 and I-1552.
Work experience: Owner of Praxis Coworking and Firedove Technology.
Family: Wife Lillian Warto.
Complete Coverage
Annemarie Frohnoefer: New jail won’t solve societal problems
County Commissioner Al French has proposed building a new jail, saying, “this can has been kicked down the road for too many years,” before adding that he needs to know an exact number of beds. The implication is that once the number is known then building can begin.
Spokane County commissioners open union contract negotiations to the public
The move means members of the public and media will be able to witness the collective bargaining process in real time, even though state law allows that process to take place in private meetings. “Salaries are our largest cost, and the citizens ought to know how we’re negotiating contracts and how we’re trying to represent the best interests of both the taxpayers and our employees,” Commissioner Al French said.
County approves $790 million budget without raising taxes
Spokane County commissioners unanimously approved a $790 million balanced budget for next year that largely avoids cuts to county departments while maintaining funding for public safety, infrastructure, parks and capital projects.
Spokane County Commission again votes for 1 percent property tax increase
Spokane County Commissioners approved a 1 percent property tax increase to fund core county services, road construction and property acquisition for the Conservation Futures program.
County commissioners vote to sue state over commission expansion
Spokane County commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to file a lawsuit to block expansion of the board from three members to five.
French, Kuney sworn in as Spokane County commissioners
Spokane County Commissioners Al French and Mary Kuney took the oath of office Tuesday evening surrounded by family members, friends and county employees.
Spokane County Commissioners to take action on lawsuit aiming to block expansion of board
Spokane County commissioners will vote on whether to approve a lawsuit to block expansion of the board from three to five members – which would be filed on behalf of the county – at a Nov. 27 meeting.
Integrated 911 center could go forward without city of Spokane
City of Spokane dispatchers may not be apart of a new region-wide communications center after City Council required its dispatchers to exclusively work with city public safety employees.
Al French wins third term on Spokane County Commission
Incumbent Republican Al French is leading in the race against Democratic opponent Robbi Katherine Anthony to retain his seat on the Spokane County Board of Commissioners.
Amazon showcases progress of West Plains fulfillment center
Amazon showed off progress on its new West Plains fulfillment center Friday, which will be finished in fall 2019.
Vestal: Avista’s $200,000 for French, Kuney TV ads puts timing, Hydro One sale in spotlight
Avista Corp. gives a lot of money to local candidates. If it leans in any political direction, it is toward incumbency – toward those already in power. But Avista’s recent decision to spend $200,000 to signal-boost the candidacies of French and Kuney with TV ads is a dramatic, puzzling departure from business as usual.
Spokane County Commission race takes negative turn with transgender comment by French
A race for Spokane County Commissioner turned contentious over the weekend when incumbent Al French reportedly called his challenger a “transgender, Bernie-loving, socialist, millennial.”
Editorial Endorsements: Kuney and French for Spokane County commission
Among the candidates running for Spokane County commissioner are a relatively new commissioner and an experienced one. Mary Kuney in District 2 and Al French in District 3 deserve election on Nov. 6. Generally speaking, District 2 is the southeastern part of the county and District 3 is the western part. District 1, the northeastern part of the county, is not up this year. Josh Kerns currently represents District 1.
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.
Spokane County prosecutors demand raises, complain of unfair bargaining practices
The union representing Spokane County’s deputy prosecutors has launched a public pressure campaign in hopes of rebooting contract negotiations and obtaining wage increases. Mediated negotiations stalled in August when the union, Local 1553-PA, voted to reject the county’s “last, best and final offer,” which would have immediately raised wages for senior attorneys by 2.5 percent and wages for the two lower attorney classifications by 4.25 percent.
Spokane County commissioner candidates debate housing, public safety, economy
Spokane County Commissioner Al French and challenger Robbi Katherine Anthony traded viewpoints on public safety, housing, growth and economic development during a Thursday afternoon election debate at the Spokane Club.
County Commissioner Al French faces challenge from political newcomer Robbi Katherine Anthony
If you want experience, Al French is probably your pick for Spokane County Commission.
Commissioners to host public meetings on Spokane County budget
The Spokane County commissioners will host a series of community meetings to inform the public and gather input as they craft the county’s budget for 2019.
Democrats see fresh energy in Spokane County primary; French shrugs off second-place finish
Democrats fared well in Spokane County races Tuesday, but can that momentum last in the general election?
Local officials look to ‘Amazon effect’ to boost region’s economy
Beyond the Amazon fulfillment center’s 1,500-plus jobs, local officials see the company’s presence here as an opportunity to raise Spokane’s profile as a place to do business.