Querna Tops District 81 Vote
School volunteer Christie Querna was leading the race for the Spokane District 81 School Board late Tuesday, but whether Rocco Treppiedi or Steven Neumiller would advance with her to the Nov. 7 general election was too close to call.
Querna, 50, received roughly half the votes in a crowded field of candidates.
“It shows widespread support for bringing experience to the table,” Querna said. “I’ll emphasize my experience, my open-mindedness and providing quality education for all kids in the community.”
Neumiller, 45, who so far has spent almost nothing on his campaign, stayed close to assistant city attorney Treppiedi, who raised $1,700, posted campaign signs and advertised.
“I’m surprised,” Neumiller said. “My best guess is that people are aware of my views from the newspaper and television coverage and the work I’ve done in Spokane.”
Neumiller designs and evaluates educational and anti-drug programs in his private consulting business.
Both Querna and Neumiller are South Hill residents. Treppiedi lives on the North Side.
Only one of the five current board members, Terrie Beaudreau, lives north of the Spokane River. Treppiedi, 42, played up that fact in his campaign. His newspaper ad said, “It’s time to balance the school board.”
Incumbent Carol Wendle’s decision not to run opened the floodgates to a half-dozen candidates.
They included Jimmy Marks, a Gypsy leader who is suing the city for $40 million. Treppiedi is defending the city in the 6-year-old case. Observers speculated Marks ran only to tweak Treppiedi.
Other candidates were the Rev. Lonny Bingle and retired Air Force meteorologist Ludwik Chobot Sr.
A nurse on the North Side said she had voted for Neumiller.
“The only reason was the name was in my mind,” she said.
A 27-year-old North Side man said he had voted for Treppiedi because “all the other ones were clowns.”
A 42-year-old South Hill voter said she had voted for Querna. “I’ve done a lot of work with Christie. She’s incredibly astute. She calls it as it is. She does her homework.”
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