Michael Cathcart
A candidate for Spokane City Council, northeast district, City of Spokane in the 2019 Washington General Election, Nov. 5
Age: 39
City: Spokane, Washington
Education: Went to University High School. Graduated from Montana State University with a bachelor's degree in motion picture arts.
Political experience: Elected to the the Spokane City Council in 2019, and currently serves as the Spokane City Council president pro tem. Ran unsuccessfully for Spokane County commissioner in 2022. Serves as Spokane’s representative to the Regional Broadlinc Public Development Authority, chair of the Public Safety Committee, chair of the Northeast Public Development Authority, chair of the police and fire pension boards, vice-chair of the Finance Committee, and a current member of the Budget Committee, Spokane Police Advisory Committee and Traffic Calming Committee. Formerly served as vice chair of the Spokane City Council Public Infrastructure & Environment Committee, council liaison for the Spokane Park Board, council liaison for the city’s Employees Retirement System, volunteer for the Spokane Lunar New Year Celebration, chair of the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council, member of the city’s In-Fill Housing Steering Committee and a member of the Mayor’s Quality and Affordable Housing Taskforce.
Work experience: Spent five years as executive director of Better Spokane, a pro-business organization. Worked as an aide for former 6th Legislative District Sen. Michael Baumgartner. Former government affairs director for the Spokane Home Builders Association.
Family: Married to Vina (Tran) Cathcart. Has a young son.
Political donations: Reported nearly $63,800 as of Oct. 3. Top donors include the Association of Builders and Contractors Political Action Committee, the Build East Political Action Commission, Spokane Realtors, the Spokane Homebuilders Association, manufacturing and engineering firm Pyrotek, and George, Jennifer, Theresa and Ryan Gee of the Gee Automotive Holdings company.
Contact information
Race Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Cathcart | 6,444 | 53.54% |
| Tim Benn (N) | 5,592 | 46.46% |
Related Coverage
New Councilman Cathcart wants community policing in his district
Mayor Nadine Woodward is moving quickly to identify and open a new downtown police precinct focused on community-oriented law enforcement, with more officers patrolling on foot and bike. New City Councilman Michael Cathcart likes that plan so much he wants to mirror it in northeast Spokane, the district he represents.
Getting There: Northeast City Council candidates discuss North Spokane Corridor, street planning, public transit
Northeast Spokane has seen several major transportation construction projects in the past few years, including changes to Crestline and Sprague. An even larger one looms with completion of the North Spokane Corridor. City Council candidates Tim Benn and Michael Cathcart offer their views on those projects, as well as whether car tab fees should be reduced.
City Council debate: Benn vs. Cathcart
At the Oct. 3 Pints and Politics debate, Tim Benn and Michael Cathcart debated city issues related to their race for the District 1 seat on the Spokane City Council.
Spokane’s Proposition 1 would make bargaining between the city and unions public
The proposal is intended to bring more transparency to talks between City Hall and public employees, including clerical and maintenance workers, firefighters and police. The initiative is sponsored by Better Spokane, a pro-business nonprofit that is headed by City Council candidate Michael Cathcart.
Spokane Proposition 2 would outlaw a local income tax, as courts weigh legality of Seattle measure
Sponsor Michael Cathcart said the measure is intended to make sure the city remains competitive in business recruitment.
Shawn Vestal: Realtors and other rich interests are pouring money into funds to back Nadine Woodward and other Spokane candidates
As special-interest money pours into local elections, do donors with $50 to contribute deserve 100 or even 1,000 times less free speech than the deep pockets? What about people without even that?
Northeast Spokane guaranteed a conservative councilman, so Benn, Cathcart highlight experience
Preview of the city council race between Michael Cathcart and Tim Benn in the northeast.
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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.
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The open seat to represent northeast Spokane on the City Council has drawn multiple challengers, including seasoned political players and first-time candidates. They all agree, however, that their district has been overlooked at City Hall for dollars to support infrastructure and industry.
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The Spokane City Council on Monday will hear two initiatives submitted by Better Spokane, a fiscally conservative group that supports business-friendly political candidates. One would prevent the city from enacting a local income tax, and the second seeks to make collective bargaining open to the public.