Kerns, Kuney win commissioner seats

SPOKANE COUNTY – Republicans have maintained their lock on the county commissioners board as both incumbents Josh Kerns and Mary Kuney won re-election Nov. 3.

Kerns won his second term with a 12-point win over Democratic challenger Ted Cummings in the Commissioner District 1 race representing the north county. Kerns notched 55.97% of the vote to Cummings 43.90, 136,293 votes to 106,896 votes.

In the District 2 race, Kuney enjoyed a larger almost 17-point win over Democratic challenger David Green, 58.05 to 41.79 %. Kuney received 141,185 votes to Green’s 101,641.

The win represents Kuney’s first four-year term, having been appointed to the position in 2017 and winning a special election be easily defeating Rob Chase in 2018. District 2 represents Spokane Valley.

The county commissioner wins represented a good night for Republicans locally as they won or were on their way to winning in most local races.

Spokane County Republicans Chair Brian Steele said he wasn’t surprised by the election results in the county races and felt they were about where they had expected them to be.

“It’s looking pretty good so far,” Steele said. “I think people are making some good choices.”

Steele said in voting Republican, people were choosing individual freedoms along with community. An earlier speaker at the election night gathering described the party as “rugged individualism married with community.”

“That’s what Republicans are all about,” Steele added.

While disappointed about the results, Spokane County Democratic Party chair Nicole Bishop said she was impressed by the efforts candidates and volunteers had made. She noted there are many issues they need to continue to work on.

“Some of the races didn’t turn out the way we wanted them to, but we moved the dial,” she said at a virtual election night watch party.

“I’ve been so heartened by the work we’ve done.”

Turnout in the county was a 71.18 %, with over 78.57 % of voters having returned their ballots in the all-mail election by Nov. 3, according to Election’s Department statistics.

“Voters want their voices heard, and they are sending in their ballots because they want their votes counted,” Spokane County Auditor Vicki Dalton said at the Spokane Arena voting center earlier today. “This election holds a lot of interest for voters.”

— John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].