Andy Rathbun
A candidate for Spokane City Council, northwest district, City of Spokane in the 2019 Washington Primary Election, Aug. 6
Age: 60
City: Spokane, Washington
Education: Graduated from Richland High School, then known as Columbia High School, in 1982. Graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in science. Graduated from Squadron Officer School and Air War College while in the Air Force.
Work experience: Worked in the Air Force and Air National Guard for 32 years. Now retired. Served on the West Central Community Center board of directors for more than 20 years, including 18 years as the vice president.
Political experience: Previously served as chair of the West Central Neighborhood Council. Ran for mayor of Spokane in 2019 before pulling out to run that year for a seat on the Spokane City Council, losing to Councilwoman Karen Stratton.
Family: Married to Melody Rathbun. Has three adult daughters and seven grandchildren.
Political donations: Reports raising $0 as of July 3, 2023.
Race Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Karen J. Stratton (N) | 7,616 | 47.68% |
| Andy Rathbun | 3,831 | 23.98% |
| Jeff Martin (N) | 2,293 | 14.35% |
| Ken Side (N) | 810 | 5.07% |
| Christopher Savage | 751 | 4.70% |
| Jeff Rugan (N) | 673 | 4.21% |
Related Coverage
Getting There: Northwest Spokane City Council candidates talk Monroe, Five Mile and other needed street repairs
City Councilwoman Karen Stratton and her opponent in the November election, Andy Rathbun, both say there are roads in the northwest part of town that need attention from City Hall. They offered their opinions on road diets and what should be done to alleviate heavy traffic in the rapidly growing reaches of the Five Mile area.
Spokane City Council: Rathbun vs. Stratton
At the Northwest Passages Pints and Politics debate between Spokane School Board and City Council candidates, incumbent Karen Stratton and Andy Rathbun debate the issues as they seek the District 3 seat on the City Council. Debate was October 3, 2019 and held at OverBluff Cellars’ tasting room at the Washington Cracker Building in Spokane.
Race to represent northwest Spokane on City Council pits candidates with different styles
Part of the debate between Andy Rathbun and incumbent Karen Stratton in their bids to represent the northwest district on the Spokane City Council is about style.
Ethics complaint targets Spokane Councilwoman Karen Stratton’s endorsement of Pasco marijuana business
The complaint filed Friday alleges Stratton violated several portions of the city’s ethical code prohibiting city officials from using public resources to further their own financial interests. The councilwoman said the timing of the complaint, after a letter she wrote last summer had been shared publicly in conservative circles online, indicates it is politically motivated and that she hasn’t benefited financially from the action.
Ties to marijuana businesses are disqualifying bankruptcy filers, including City Councilwoman Karen Stratton
The U.S. Trustee Program, responsible for policing the federal courts’ bankruptcy proceedings, is weeding out cases involving people or firms with ties to state-sanctioned marijuana businesses. Earlier this summer, that included Karen Stratton and her husband, Chris Wright, despite the fact that the majority of their debts were not wrapped up in the family-owned farm they’ve helped operate since 2014.
Election preview: Spokane City Councilwoman Karen Stratton draws five challengers in the northwest
Andy Rathbun, Jeff Martin, Christopher Savage, Ken Side and Jeff Rugan have filed against the incumbent councilwoman, who’s been in office since 2015 and has, at times, butted heads with Mayor David Condon as a member of the council’s perceived liberal supermajority.
Andy Rathbun drops out of mayor’s race to run for Spokane City Council, but there are still 8 people running for mayor
One of the most vocal critics of his opponents, Andy Rathbun, has withdrawn from the mayor’s race to run for City Council, saying he may not have the name recognition to win the city’s top position.
Shawn Vestal: The ‘Not Nadines’ have a point about lack of coverage of their Spokane mayoral campaigns
When Nadine Woodward announced she was running for mayor, local media covered it as a capital-B capital-D Big Deal. When most other candidates announced, not so much.
‘Seattle is Dying’ report prompts political response to homelessness in Spokane
City Council President Ben Stuckart declared from the dais last week that neither Seattle nor Spokane is dying, but the divisive KOMO-TV report has prompted a wide-ranging discussion on the issue on the east side of the Cascades.