Spokane City Council, south district
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Lori Kinnear | 10,799 | 59.13% |
| Tony Kiepe (N) | 4,226 | 23.14% |
| Liz Fleming | 3,237 | 17.73% |
* 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
Lori Kinnear
- Age:
- 71
- City:
- Spokane, WA
- Occupation:
- Assistant to Spokane City Councilwoman Amber Waldref
Why running: Lori Kinnear is running to continue the work she has begun in her first term as a city councilwoman. That work includes collaborating with the city administration, police and fire departments to lower property crime rates. Kinnear also wants to continue her work promoting historic preservation. Browne’s Addition has applied for a historic district and overlay zone, and Kinnear wants to ensure other neighborhoods have the same opportunity. She is promoting the continued investment by the city in upgrading infrastructure, particularly in residential neighborhoods.
Her pitch: Kinnear says Spokane has come a long way since she first got involved in local politics but that she sees room for more progress to be made. She believes she can help steer the city toward responsible growth in a way that preserves the city’s character while allowing development along main corridors.
Education: Graduated from Palo Alto High School in California in 1971. Earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Nevada-Reno in 1978. Earned associate’s degree in applied science horticulture from South Seattle Community College in 1994.
Political experience: Kinnear worked as a legislative assistant to two former city council members, Amber Waldref and Richard Rush, prior to her election to a first term on the council in 2015.
Work experience: Served as a small-business adviser for Women’s Business Center and is a former manager of the YWCA Opportunity Center teaching job skills to low-income women.
Family: Married.
Tony Kiepe
- Party:
- No party
- Age:
- 62
- City:
- Spokane, Washington
Education: Attended high school in Memphis, Tennessee. Earned a bachelor degree in biology, with minors in chemistry and business from the University of Memphis, followed by a master's of business administration from the same school in 1996.
Political experience: Kiepe unsuccessfully sought appointment to the City Council in 2016. He ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 2017 and 2019.
Work experience: Kiepe moved to Spokane in 2000 and worked as director of sales at Hollister-Stier, but he was laid off when Jubilant bought the company. He then owned Rapid Refill, an ink and toner replacement business, before shutting down the business and becoming a health care consultant for AristaPoint. He has since retired.
Family: Married to Diane Keipe. They have four children.
Campaign finances: Has raised more than $19,000 as of Oct. 2, 2024, including a $6,000 in loans, according to the Public Disclosure Commission. Notable donors include Mary Moldenhauer, widow of esteemed musicologist Hans Moldenhauer; Spokane County GOP Chair MJ Bolt; and Dave Lucas, a former Senate and House candidate in the district.
Liz Fleming
- Age:
- 45
- City:
- Spokane, WA
Why running: For Liz Fleming, it all started about a year and a half ago, when a family friend retired and bought a condominium in downtown Spokane. But due to safety concerns, that friend ultimately sold the condominium and moved to Coeur d’Alene. That didn’t sit well with Fleming, so she decided to get involved.
Her pitch: In preparation for the campaign, Fleming has been diving into city policies. With her passion for Spokane and her passion for legislation, Fleming believes she can work to improve the city.
Age: 39
Education: A graduate of Mead High School, Fleming earned undergraduate degrees in international business and communication from Whitworth University in 2002 and a master’s degree from Gonzaga University in 2008.
Political experience: After graduating from Whitworth University, Fleming worked as a staff associate for former U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt, a Republican. She has not held any elected positions.
Work experience: Before her recent transition to real estate, Fleming spent her career in fundraising, including at Gonzaga University and at the Washington State University College of Medicine.
Family: Single.
Related Media
Complete Coverage
Getting There: Council candidates Lori Kinnear, Tony Kiepe weigh in on street congestion, commuting
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City Council debate: Kinnear vs. Kiepe
At the Oct. 3 Pints and Politics debate, Lori Kinnear and Tony Kiepe debated city issues related to their race for the District 2 seat on the Spokane City Council.
Kinnear and Kiepe seek South Hill seat on City Council
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Browne’s Addition takes historic vote, elects to become historic district
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Time running out on Browne’s Addition historic preservation vote
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