Al French
A candidate for Spokane County Commissioner, Spokane County Commission District 5 in the 2022 Washington General Election, Nov. 8
Party: Republican
Age: 73
City: Spokane, Washington
Education: Graduated from Western High School in Las Vegas. Earned bachelor's in architecture and minored in business finance at the University of Idaho.
Political experience: Has served three four-year terms and one two-year term 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 $195,000 as of Oct. 2, 2024, including a $5,000 loan to himself and more than $20,000 he’s given himself via in-kind contributions, according to the Washington Public Disclosure Commission. Prominent donors include a long list of contractors, home builders and political action committees representing the development industry. French also has donations from Highline Grain Growers; Avista Corporation CEO Dennis Vermillion; former Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward; Spokane Valley City Councilman Rod Higgins; Spokane Valley Mayor Pam Haley; former Spokane Valley Mayor Diana Wilhite; state Rep. Leonard Christian; Daniel Kuney, brother-in-law of Commissioner Mary Kuney; and longtime conservative candidate contributor Duane Alton, who owned Alton’s Tires until 2008.
Contact information
Race Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Al French (R) | 23,786 | 51.64% |
| Maggie Yates (D) | 22,279 | 48.36% |
Related Coverage
Spokane County Commission to conduct airport board interviews Monday
Board appointments rarely attract much attention, but the lead-up to the county commission’s decision has been full of drama.
Spokane County Commission delays airport board appointment vote once again
Airport board appointments aren’t typically high-profile, controversial affairs, but this one has been an exception.
Spokane County’s attempt to make unions bargain in public officially over
Four years after the county commissioners passed a law requiring unions to bargain in public, the county commissioners had to undo it.
Spokane County is about to try a criminal justice reform effort that once seemed doomed
A year ago, grant funding for the criminal justice reform effort appeared to be in jeopardy, but it’s finally happening.
French delivers scathing attack against airport board member in incident that shows fissures on county commission
It’s not every day you see an elected official in a public meeting give a half-hour presentation bashing a volunteer member of the Spokane Airport Board.
Spokane is about to collect a new utility tax … on fewer than 30 properties
The wastewater tax fight between Spokane, Spokane County and Spokane Valley is still far from over.
Spokane County commissioners vote against raising property taxes
The move will save the average county homeowner about $7 in 2023.
Superior Court wants another judge, but the Spokane County commissioners don’t want to pay for it
The Washington Legislature in 1997 authorized the county to hire a 13th judge, but the county commissioners still haven’t added the position.
Republicans win majority on Spokane County Commission; McCaslin gains on Dalton in auditor’s race
Maggie Yates has conceded to Al French, Bob McCaslin is chipping away at Vicky Dalton’s lead and Leonard Christian’s odds of upsetting Rob Chase look increasingly good.
Two Democrats heading to the Spokane County Commission, but Republican majority likely to hold
Democrats won representation on the Spokane County Commission for the first time in a dozen years, but Republicans are in position to continue to control the body that writes county laws and determines spending.