Spokane County Commissioner
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Kerns (R) | 34,999 | 78.90% |
| Wild Bill Schreiner (N) | 9,359 | 21.10% |
* 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.
About the Race
The Candidates
Josh Kerns
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 39
- City:
- Mead, Washington
Education: Graduated from Mount Spokane High School in 2003. Earned associate degree from Spokane Community College in 2004 and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Whitworth University in 2006 and 2008.
Political experience: Elected Spokane County commissioner in 2016. Served six years as a legislative aide for state Rep. Jeff Holy and former state Rep. John Ahern. Previously served as a delegate to precinct caucuses and county and state Republican conventions. Has worked on Republican campaigns since 2008.
Work experience: Owns a small marketing company, River Marketing, with his wife. Previously worked as a server at Red Robin and a banker for U.S. Bank.
Family: Married to Nichole Kerns. Has two children.
Campaign finance: Has raised nearly $41,000 as of Sept. 9, 2022. Notable donors include Avista, numerous builders and political action groups that represent developers, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ congressional campaign fund, Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell, Spokane Valley City Council members Rod Higgins and Arne Woodard, the Washington Association of Realtors, 4th Legislative District Sen. Mike Padden, 4th Legislative District representatives Rob Chase and Bob McCaslin and Spokane County Republican Party Chairman Brian Steele.
Wild Bill Schreiner
- Party:
- No party
- Age:
- 62
- City:
- Mead, Washington
Education: Graduated from Mead High School. Attended Spokane Falls Community College and Green River College, a community college in Auburn, Washington.
Political experience: None.
Work experience: Currently works for Spokane’s code enforcement department. Spent much of his life as a contractor and commercial pilot. Had a business that staffed and supplied casinos in Arizona.
Family: Married to Brenda Darlene Schreiner. Has three kids.
Fundraising: Has raised more than $800 as of Sept. 9.
Complete Coverage
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.
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.
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.
City of Spokane and Knezovich requesting emergency proclamation for Camp Hope
Spokane County commissioners plan to sign an emergency proclamation on Tuesday related to Camp Hope, the 450-person homeless encampment along Interstate 90 in east Spokane.
Spokane County to sue WSDOT over Camp Hope
It’s unclear if Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward supports the lawsuit.
Effort to improve voter turnout among inmates moving forward, despite opposition from Spokane County commissioners
Commissioners Josh Kerns and Al French rejected auditor Vicky Dalton’s request to get grant funding to improve voter turnout in Spokane County detention facilities.
Josh Kerns, ‘Wild Bill’ Schreiner both tout conservative views in race for Spokane County Commission District 3
Republican incumbent Josh Kerns will have to fend off political outsider Wild Bill Schreiner, who will appear on the ballot without a party affiliation.
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.
Even before $27 million Spokane County Jail lawsuit, NaphCare had a rocky legal history
The company that provides health care services to the Spokane County Jail is no stranger to lawsuits.
Spokane County won’t put property tax on August ballot for Avista Stadium upgrades
The question may still be left to voters, but it won’t be answered during the summer primary election.
Supported release, a Spokane County criminal justice reform proposal, turns a corner
After months of disagreement, county criminal justice leaders are now unanimously in favor of a supported release pilot program.
Spokane County sets aside $4 million for water infrastructure project
The Spokane County commissioners are expected to give the Whitworth Water District $4 million to help pay for a $14 million infrastructure project north of Spokane.
No medical doctors among Spokane County Health Board’s nominations for new members
A naturopathic doctor, former regional administrator of HUD and homeless outreach coordinator are slated to join the Board of Health.
Spokane County passes largely symbolic resolution opposing local income tax
“We’ve heard our voters loud and clear multiple times on the issue,” Spokane County Commissioner Josh Kerns said.
Spokane County’s $677 million budget includes major investments in Sheriff’s Office
The Sheriff’s Office’s $50 million budget includes the salaries of 19 new patrol deputies and the purchase of body cameras.
Spokane County used to publish 150-page budgets. Now they’re three or four pages long
The county says it intends to publish detailed budget documents once again in the near future.
Sheriff’s Office to maintain $15k signing bonuses
The signing bonus is an essential recruiting tool as law enforcement agencies throughout the country battle to recruit officers, the Sheriff’s Office says.