Spokane Valley City Council, Position 7
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Laura Padden | 11,020 | 53.57% |
| Linda (Hatcher) Thompson | 9,553 | 46.43% |
* 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
Laura Padden
- Age:
- 70
- City:
- Spokane Valley, Washington
Education: Graduated from Holy Names Academy in Spokane. Went to Washington State University for a degree in police science and administration. Has a bachelor's in computer science from Eastern Washington University.
Work experience: Worked at Jacklin Seed Co. as a data processing manager. For the last 15 years Padden has been working at Spokane Community College in IT and web development.
Political experience: First run for office.
Family: Married to Washington State 4th District Sen. Mike Padden. Has five children, all sons.
Campaign fundraising: Padden has raised $23,400 as of Oct. 11, 2021 (the most of any Spokane Valley City Council candidate), including $6,000 she loaned herself. Contributors include the Spokane Homebuilders Association ($1,000), the Inland Pacific Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors ($500), former Republican 4th Legislative District Rep. Larry Crouse ($500), former Spokane County Republican Party Chairwoman Cynthia Zapatocky ($500), Spokane Valley City Councilmembers Rod Higgins ($250) and Arne Woodard ($250), Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell ($100) and Republican 4th Legislative District Rep. Rob Chase.
Linda (Hatcher) Thompson
- Age:
- 71
- City:
- Spokane Valley, Washington
Education: Graduated from Central Valley High School in Spokane Valley in 1971. Has a bachelor's in general studies with a certificate in public relations from Eastern Washington University. Has a master's in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University.
Work experience: Worked in banking until the early 1990s. Since 1993 has worked as executive director of the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council, a nonprofit.
Political experience: Elected to Spokane Valley City Council in 2017. Was a finalist for a vacant Spokane Valley City Council seat in 2013 but lost a tie vote after a coin toss decided the matter. Ran unsuccessfully against Councilman Rod Higgins later in 2013. Ran unsuccessfully against Republican state Rep. Larry Crouse in 2008. Served on the Washington State Governor’s Council on Substance Abuse from 2002 to 2010, and the Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention since 2000. Served on the steering committee in charge of a park expansion and library project in Spokane Valley.
Family: Married to Richard Thompson and has two children. Three-year-old son killed in 1986 by drunken driver.
Campaign fundraising: Raised $9,600 as of Oct. 11, 2021. Contributors include the Spokane Regional Labor Council ($1,000), former Spokane Valley Mayor Dean Grafos ($500), former Spokane Valley City Councilman Bill Gothmann ($100), and Spokane Valley City councilmembers Tim Hattenburg ($55) and Brandi Peetz ($115).
Related Media
Complete Coverage
Back to the right: Thompson loss, Higgins comeback will give Spokane Valley City Council a conservative majority
How the new conservative majority might govern differently is an open question.
Incumbents Higgins and Thompson trailing in Spokane Valley council election
The balance of power on City Council probably won’t shift based on Tuesday’s partial election results.
Could a homeless shelter be coming to Spokane Valley? New law makes it far more likely
If any homeless shelters do open up in Spokane Valley, they’re probably going to look dramatically different from the ones in Spokane.
Thompson v. Padden race for Spokane Valley City Council could be a nailbiter, and the result could shift the council’s balance of power
Incumbent City Councilwoman Linda Thompson faces a tough opponent in Laura Padden, wife of 4th Legislative District Republican Sen. Mike Padden.
Northwest Passages - Virtual Debate Spokane Valley City Council Position 7
Northwest Passages: Spokane Valley City Council candidate forum with Position 7 candidates Linda Thompson and Laura Padden, moderated by The Spokesman-Review’s Colin Tiernan.
Spokane Valley precinct breakdown shows Wick dominance, tight Thompson-Padden race
It looks like Mayor Ben Wick and Councilwoman Pam Haley won’t have to work hard to retain their seats, but Councilwoman Linda Thompson will have to battle if she’s going to fend off challenger Laura Padden.
Linda Thompson facing candidate with name recognition and deeper pockets in fight to retain seat
Incumbent Linda Thompson is trying to fend off a challenger with name recognition and deeper pockets.
Spokane Valley’s new Streets Sustainability Committee takes shape
Spokane Valley lawmakers have outlined the framework for a new stakeholder group to help officials determine how much to invest into citywide road maintenance.