Amber Waldref
A candidate for Spokane County Commissioner, Spokane County Commission District 2 in the 2022 Washington General Election, Nov. 8
Party: Democratic
Age: 47
City: Spokane, Washington
Education: Went to Gonzaga Preparatory School. Majored in sociology and English at Georgetown University. Has a master's degree in environment and community from Antioch University Seattle.
Political experience: Served on Spokane City Council from 2010-2017. Served as a Democratic precinct committee officer. Has been appointed to multiple boards, including the Spokane Housing Authority Board and the Washington State Governor’s 2020 Census Committee.
Work experience: Director of The Zone, a northeast Spokane initiative focused on improving education and battling poverty. Worked with Urbanova, a public-private partnership based in the University District that strives to improve public services. Former development director of The Lands Council, a conservation organization. Former field director of Heart of America Northwest, where she focused on environmental cleanup of the Hanford nuclear site. Helped create Priority Spokane.
Family: Married to Tom Flanagan. Has two children. Sister is Vanessa Waldref, the U.S. Attorney for Eastern Washington.
Fundraising: Has raised more than $100,000 as of Sept. 27. Prominent donors include numerous labor unions, Washington State Department of Commerce Director Lisa Brown, the Washington State Democratic Central Committee, Spokane City Council President Breean Beggs, Spokane City Council members Betsy Wilkerson, Lori Kinnear and Zack Zappone, former Spokane City Councilwoman Candace Mumm, former Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart, state Sen. Andy Billig, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, the Spokane Firefighters Union Political Action Committee and the Win With Women Political Action Committee.
Contact information
Race Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Amber Waldref (D) | 18,570 | 55.14% |
| Michael Cathcart (R) | 15,109 | 44.86% |
Related Coverage
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.
‘A fresh start for Spokane County’: Democrats Waldref, Jordan sworn in as county commissioners
The era of the five-member Spokane County Commission has informally begun.
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.
KSPS debate: Cathcart and Waldref
KSPS hosted this debate between former Spokane City Councilwoman Amber Waldref, a Democrat, and Spokane City Councilman Michael Cathcart, a Republican, for the county commission seat representing District 2. Spokesman-Review reporter Colin Tiernan and Spokane Public Radio reporter Rebecca White were panelists for the event.
Amber Waldref and Michael Cathcart battle it out for Spokane County Commission District 2
A former city councilwoman and an incumbent city councilman both hope to represent east Spokane on the Spokane County Commission.
French trailing, but other Spokane County Commission incumbents cruise to general election
For the first time in history, voters this year are electing five Spokane County commissioners instead of three.
Haven’t yet voted in the primary election? Here’s what’s at stake in Spokane County
For those who liking waiting to the last minute to cast their ballots, here’s a look at the candidate field.
Race for Spokane County Commission District 2 a battle between familiar faces. Here’s where they stand on crime, homelessness and more
Two former and one current Spokane City Council member are vying for Spokane County Commission District 2, which covers east Spokane.