SPOKANE VALLEY – In the Spokane City Council election, three candidates have emerged as the front runners in their respective races, vying for crucial positions on the City Council. As the initial election results rolled in, it became clear that these candidates were leading the way.
City Council Elections Seat 2
In the competition for City Council Position No. 2, Jessica Yaeger has taken a significant lead with 8,270 votes, securing 62.89% of the total. Her opponent, Rachel Briscoe, garnered 35.52% of the vote with 4,670 votes.
“We are pretty pleased with the results,” said Yaeger. “A lot can still happen with the continued counting, but we are kind of expecting it to stay right where we’re at.”
When reflecting on her campaign, Yaeger extended her heartfelt appreciation to her friends, “I just want to give a big thank you to my friends, family, supporters, and volunteers. They really made this campaign what it was. Great job Rachael.”
City Council Elections Seat 3
In the race for City Council Position No. 3, Al Merkel has surged ahead with 8,466 votes, representing an impressive 64.69% of the total vote. His rival, Arne Woodard, received 34.44% of the vote, with 4,507 votes.
Merkel, basking in his lead, expressed his enjoyment of the campaign trail, saying, “I definitely enjoyed being on the campaign trail, and speaking with folks all over the Valley. What was most memorable, it was very enjoyable to get to know what people think about our city, and figuring out what their vision of the future was.”
Merkel also conveyed his deep appreciation for the trust the community had placed in him, remarking, “I am deeply honored and profoundly grateful for the trust you have placed in me by electing me to the Spokane Valley City Council.”
Arne Woodard was not available for comment on Tuesday night.
City Council Elections Seat 6
The competition for City Council Position No. 6 saw Tim Hattenburg taking the lead with 7,200 votes, securing 53.74% of the total vote. His opponent, Rob Chase, garnered 45.89% of the vote with 6,148 votes.
Hattenburg attributed his campaign success to hard work and grassroots efforts, saying, “We hit a lot of doors, we worked really hard, had a really good team out there working. We really did a good job, we hit over 1000 doors.”
Hattenburg’s unique approach to connecting with constituents also contributed to his strong showing. He noted, “I really like talking to people, I encouraged people to call me with my own phone number. Your constituents need to be able to get a hold of you.”
Rob Chase could not be reached for comment on Tuesday night.
In Spokane County, 14,010 ballots out of the 68,534 mailed to registered voters within the Position No. 6 district have been tallied.
Initial turnout is 20.44%.
The election will be certified on November 28.
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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