Wiser tops four-way race for Spokane School Board

The resignation of a Board Member Bob Douthitt set up an usual shift in this year’s board race. Michael Wiser, a health care administrator, was appointed to fill the two years left on Douthitt’s term. Current Board President Deana Brower, whose term is up this year, filed for the remainder of Douthitt’s old term and Wiser filed for election to the seat Brower holds and a six-year term.

Brower is running unopposed and advances automatically the the general election. But Wiser drew three opponents: Jennifer Thomas, 40, a director of business development for a local nonprofit; Jessica Yocom, 30, an IT student at Spokane Falls Community College, and Miranda Ackerman, who did not submit information for the county elections Office voter’s guide and didn’t respond to requests for an interview.

Wiser lapped the primary field, with ballots counted Tuesday showing him with 57 percent of the vote. Thomas outdistanced the other challengers with 19 percent.

“I’m feeling pretty good right now,” Wiser said after the tally came in, adding he believes the district needs someone with his analytical skills to “dig into things.”

Thomas acknowledge that overcoming Wiser’s lead will require hard work but said she has a perspective that will allow her to relate better to struggling students.

“When the chips are down, I don’t let them stay down for long,” she said.