Diana Wilhite

A candidate for Spokane Valley Fire Commission Position 5, Spokane Valley Fire Department in the 2023 Washington Primary Election, Aug. 1

Age: 78

City: Spokane Valley, WA

Education: Graduated from Cambridge (Idaho) High School in 1963. Earned a bachelor’s in history from the University of Maryland in 1969.

Political experience: Elected to the inaugural Spokane Valley City Council in 2003. Served until 2009, including a two-year stint as mayor from 2005 to 2007. Ran unsuccessfully for state representative as a Republican twice – against Matt Shea in 2008 and against Bob McCaslin Jr. in 2014. Former chairwoman of the Spokane County Republican Party. 

Work experience: Worked as a teacher in Washington, Arizona and Illinois. Owned a company with her husband called Safeguard Business Systems that printed specialty checks, mainly for small businesses, that sold in 2011. 

Family: Married to Rick Wilhite. Has one daughter and two granddaughters.

Fundraising: Has raised $1,890 as of June 27.