OCTOBER
2026
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MEET REGIMENT BAND BOOSTER PRESIDENT PAGE 2
FALCON SPORTS TAKE OFF PAGE 26
ATHLETIC FACILITY ALLOWED BY EXAMINER PAGE 30
2 • OCTOBER 2026
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DOCKSIDE Valley School District’s language youngest actually started with the “He is so inspiring to his staff and Central Valley East arts teacher on special assignment. trumpet, then switched to drums. his students,” she said. “It really does Thompson switched to the Central After playing different types of drums, make people want to be involved.” Educator and Valley School District, spending a year both ended up playing quads, which Thompson said she’s grateful that as the librarian at both Sunrise and are four drums attached to a harness the school district has been supportive Ridgeline Greenacres elementary schools. Eight that the percussionist wears. of the marching band and has done years ago she started teaching language Thompson said she stepped up things like waiving instrument rental Regiment arts and history at Bowdish Middle right away when her sons joined the fees and reducing marching band then became an instructional band because she knows how hard it is uniform costs. “Marching band is Booster Club School, coach six years ago. to be involved in a marching band. At extremely expensive,” she said. “The She’s currently working on her times she’s been the mom in charge of school district has been phenomenal in President principal certification and is an washing the uniforms, has run the craft doing what they can to make it more administrative intern. “I just decided fair that is the marching band’s main affordable.” - Tiffany last January to pursue getting my fundraiser and has been involved in With her youngest son graduating principal certification,” she said. “It the Booster Club. at the end of this school year, Thompson kind of opens more doors for you in She said she’s become close with Thompson knows her time as a band By Nina Culver
education.”
Splash contributor
Both of her sons took up percussion and joined their school’s marching band. Her oldest, Brady, is now 21. Her youngest, Hunter, is in his senior year at Ridgeline High School.
Tiffany Thompson’s days are full. By day she’s an instructional coach and administrative intern at Bowdish Middle School and nearly every other moment is spent as a band mom, chaperoning her son’s events with the Ridgeline High School marching band and serving as president of the Ridgeline Regiment Booster Club.
Thompson said she encouraged both of them to pick up music. Her
other parents who serve as chaperones for the many trips the band takes to performances and competitions and help with the Booster Club. She credits band director Eric Parker, whom she went to school with, with creating a culture of excellence and respect that encourages people to become involved.
“I won’t give it up completely,” she said. Thompson said she’ll always be grateful for the marching band long after she stops appearing in the stands for every performance. It taught her sons responsibility, to be on time and to work together with others, she said. “I definitely attribute that to marching band,” she said.
Marching band has been a part of Thompson’s life since she was a teenager. She grew up in Spokane Valley and was in the marching band’s color guard when she attended Central Valley High School. She got involved in color guard because she had always been involved in dance and was looking for a new experience.
Q: What prompted you to pursue a career in education?
“I just loved the activity,” she said. “It was a lot of fun and we got to travel a lot. We even got to do a parade in Canada.”
A. As an elementary student, I struggled in both reading and math, so I know what it feels like when learning doesn’t come easily. I was fortunate to have teachers who helped me find success, and that experience really shaped my desire to become an educator. I wanted to help students who struggle see that they are capable and help them find joy and confidence in learning.
Inspired by teachers who helped her when she struggled with reading and math, she attended Eastern Washington University and got a degree in education. After graduating she moved to Federal Way, Washington, where she worked as a fifth-grade teacher for several years. She moved back home with family after her father died. She and her family built a home next door to her mother’s house and she lives just down the street from her second grade teacher. She worked as a reading intervention and ELL teacher at East Valley High School for seven years, then was the
mom is coming to an end. However, she doesn’t plan to just step away in June. She plans to still be involved in events like the craft show and to step away slowly. Part of what she’s doing to prepare is helping to recruit and train new Booster Club members to fill the spaces left by her and other senior parents.
Photo by Nina Culver Central Valley High School Alumni now educator within the Central Valley District and currently Administrative Intern pursuing her principals certification. Tiffany Thompson is also the lead volunteer with the Ridgeline Regiment Booster Club where she serves as President and lead volunteer with their Holiday Craft Fair, supporting her youngest son Hunter who plays in the percussion.
Throughout my career, I’ve always been drawn to the students who may not immediately see their own potential. I’ve had the opportunity to work at different grade levels and in different roles, but that has remained at the heart of what I do. What has See THOMPSON, Page 5
OCTOBER 2026 • 3
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4 • OCTOBER 2026
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CVSD Replacement Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy
Same Rate. Same Mission. Our Students.
What voters are being asked to decide on November 3, 2026: Central Valley School District’s current EP&O levy expires at the end of 2027. The EP&O levy sustains student programs, activities and safety measures that state and federal dollars do not fund. CVSD has had a voter-approved EP&O levy in place for more than 50 years. Students in every school benefit from each levy dollar. In order to sustain these programs, a voter-approved replacement EP&O levy is required. Voters will decide whether to approve a three-year replacement levy for collection in 2028, 2029 and 2030.
16% of CVSD’s annual costs fall above the state funding model
100%
14%
Extracurricular Activities & Athletics
Teachers, Nurses & Certificated Staff
$5.8M of $5.8M
$17.0M of $118.0M
The Estimated Rate The current EP&O levy rate is $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The replacement levy is estimated at a maximum rate of $2.50 per $1,000 for all three years.
Bridging the Gap
What the Levy Funds The EP&O levy provides 16.2 percent of the district’s general fund revenue. State and federal funding does not fully cover the staffing, programs and services CVSD currently provides. Levy revenue supports: • Teachers and staff beyond state funding
35%
95% Substitutes $4.5M of $4.8M
• Extracurricular activities, athletics and fine arts
13%
Facilities, Utilities & Insurance
Transportation $1.2M of $9.3M
$4.5M of $12.7M
• Special education programs and student supports • Nurses, safety and security • Curriculum and instructional materials
13%
• Ongoing maintenance and operations
Special Education
Support Staff
$5.8M of $43.9M
$5.4M of $26.4M
20%
Voting Information Ballots mailed October 14 -16. Election Day is November 3, 2026. Registration info at Vote.gov. Find more details, frequently asked questions and the levy calculator at cvsd.org/levy.
11% Child Nutrition
Estimated Annual Levy Tax
Collection Year
Estimated Maximum Rate
Maximum Levy Amount
for a Median Assessed Home Value of $418,000
2028
$2.50/thousand
$48,900,000
$1,045 ($87/mo.)
2029
$2.50/thousand
$50,550,000
$1,045 ($87/mo.)
2030
$2.50/thousand
$52,400,000
$1,045 ($87/mo.)
Amounts increase based on expected growth and to reflect the district’s projected operating budget, including anticipated inflation and the cost of operating schools.
Levy estimator at cvsd.org/levycalculator
$1.0M of $9.2M
10% Materials, Supplies & Operating Costs $3.2M of $32.6M
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NEWS
THOMPSON
Continued from page 2 kept me in education is knowing that we have opportunities every day to make a difference. Sometimes it’s a big academic breakthrough, but often it’s something small—helping a student feel successful, understood, or simply excited to learn. Q: What does an instructional coach do? A. I always joke that an instructional coach wears a lot of hats! My primary role is to support teachers and help improve instruction and student learning. That might mean looking at assessment data, helping a teacher plan a lesson, finding resources, working through a challenge, or helping implement a new strategy. At the middle school level, though, my role extends beyond just instruction. I also help with a lot of the behind-the-scenes pieces that keep a school running, and I am currently doing my administrative internship in hopes of becoming an administrator in the future. Q: How did you get involved in the Ridgeline Regiment Booster Club? A. Marching band has actually been part of my life for a long time. I was in marching band at Central Valley High School and served as one of the color guard captains alongside Eric Parker, who is now Ridgeline’s band director. Marching band was such an important part of my high school experience. We traveled, worked incredibly hard, and I made friendships and memories that have stayed with me. Years later, my oldest son started at Central Valley while Eric was still the band director there. I wanted my son to have the same kind of experience I had as a teenager, so during my first year as a marching band parent, I simply asked, “How can I help?” That question led to volunteering, becoming more involved, and eventually serving on the booster board. Then, the summer before Ridgeline opened, a group of marching band parents met at Orchard Park to talk about whether we wanted to create a booster organization for the new school. Five of us raised our hands and volunteered to serve as the first board members. I have now been serving on the board for the past 6 years. I’m incredibly grateful for all of the board members I’ve had the
OCTOBER 2026 • 5
opportunity to serve alongside, both past and present. What we do has never been the work of one person. It takes a tremendous team of parents and volunteers who are willing to give their time and talents because they believe in these kids and this program. I’ve learned so much from the people I’ve served with, and many of those relationships have become friendships that I really value. I’ve been on the Ridgeline Band Booster board ever since. It’s pretty special to look back and realize that something that meant so much to me as a teenager eventually became something I could help create and support for my own kids and so many other students. Q: What’s your favorite part of being a band mom? A. The people and the memories. I love watching the kids work incredibly hard on something and then seeing that moment when everything finally comes together on the field. I also love the community that surrounds the marching band. You spend a lot of hours together, so the students, parents and staff really become a family. Some of my favorite moments aren't necessarily the big performances—they're the busyness behind the scenes, cheering together in the stands, feeding a bunch of hungry teenagers, and watching friendships and memories being made. And now that my youngest son is a senior, I’m definitely trying to soak up those moments a little more because I know how quickly this final season will go. Q: Why do you believe it’s important for you as a parent to be involved in school activities? A. I think being involved is one of the best ways we can show our kids that what matters to them matters to us. It doesn't mean every parent has to volunteer for everything or serve on a board. Parents have different schedules, responsibilities and abilities to participate. But when we can show up— whether that's volunteering, attending a performance, working an event, cheering from the stands or simply asking our kids about what they're doing—it matters. Schools and extracurricular programs are also stronger when families and staff work together. I've been fortunate to see that from both perspectives, as an educator and as a parent.
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6 • OCTOBER 2026
Council narrows in on final City Logo Option By Nina Culver
Splash Contributor
The Liberty Lake City Council got a look at the final design of the new city logo in September after months of discussions and public input on the update of the city logo that has been in use since the city incorporated in 2001. “We’ve been having this conversation for a while,” said City Administrator Mark McAvoy during the September 1 council meeting. McAvoy said the city worked with Visit Spokane to design the logo based on input from the public. People overwhelmingly said they wanted water, trees and a mountain in the logo, he said. Most recently, the city asked
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people to give input on two possible designs, both in an online survey and at the weekly farmer’s market. Neither rose to the top. “There really wasn’t clear consensus we were able to get from that engagement,” he said.
But people were still clear that they wanted water, trees and a mountain, McAvoy said. “People really liked having a sunset or a sunrise,” he said. The version unveiled at the September 1 council meeting included a mountain with wavy lines representing water in the foreground and a large tree to the side, placed in front of a rising sun. In the center was “Liberty Lake, Washington” with the word Washington sandwiched between estd. 2001. “People really seemed to like the established date,” McAvoy said. McAvoy said the plan, once a new logo is approved, is to gradually replace things like business cards as they run out, not go out and purchase new cards for every employee simply because they show
Photo by Nina Culver The most recent draft of the proposed City of Liberty Lake Logo as presented at the Sept 15th City Council meeting. After outreach to the public through online surveys and feedback collected at the Farmers Market Booth, as well as feedback from City Council at prior meetings staff working with Visit Spokane presented the proposed logo which will come back to the Council for a final vote tentatively schedule for the Oct 6th Council meeting. the new logo. Councilman Hugh Severs noted that the single large tree looked a lot like the outline of a Christmas tree that one might see in a cartoon. “I’m struggling with that tree,” he said. “The tree that was in the last design I think would go really well with this.” “The tree now stands out to me,” said councilwoman Annie Kurtz. “I can’t unsee it.”
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Councilwoman Linda Ball said she wasn’t a fan of the large, bolded font used for the words “Liberty Lake.” “It looks like it’s shouting,” she said. “This is the font that was overwhelmingly preferred, both online and at the farmers market,” McAvoy said. A slightly different design was brought back to the September 15 meeting, with the tree now more similar to the type depicted in the original options and the wavy lines representing water now stretching more fully across the logo. Councilwoman Arlene Fisher, who was one of the city’s first employees, said she was upset about the logo change. “We were told this was a refresh,” she said. “This
is a brand new logo. This is not a refresh. I am 100 percent against this. I am absolutely hurt, upset and disappointed about what action has taken place.” Fisher said she’s heard from people that the city should leave the existing logo alone. “I just feel like this is a bait and switch,” she said. “I feel like I’ve been misled.” McAvoy said the reason the city started the process is that people complained that the old logo was too busy and didn’t reproduce well in small sizes. Changing the logo was also an attempt to modernize, he said. Every attempt was made to get public input and to follow the input that was given, McAvoy said. He said he believes the city was successful in that because the logo contains the mountain, trees and water that people wanted. “We wanted to make sure we were honoring the feedback we received,” he said. The proposed design, which was presented in black and white, will be voted on at the October 6 council meeting, McAvoy said. Once the design is set, a color scheme will be created for the logo, he said.
OCTOBER 2026 • 7
The Splash
The Lookout Want to be part of one of the city’s commission or board groups?
If you’ve ever thought about serving the Liberty Lake community by becoming a member of one of the city’s citizen groups, right now there are a variety of opportunities that might match up with your interests. This fall, the city is fielding applications to fill openings on four of those advisory groups: The City Planning Commission, the Community Engagement Commission, the Salary
Commission, and the Library Board of Trustees. The City Planning Commission studies and makes recommendations to the mayor and City Council on issues related to development codes, the city’s comprehensive plan, and other areas related to Liberty Lake’s future growth. This group meets on the second Wednesday of each month. The Community Engagement Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the mayor and City Council on methods and resources to actively engage residents on city projects and initiatives, and to obtain community input. This group meets on the third Wednesday of each month.
The Salary Commission meets to base salaries of the city’s mayor and City Council on realistic standards so those elected officials may be paid according to the duties of their offices. This group meets two or three times during the summer and fall. The Library Board of Trustees helps determine and oversee the mission, policies, and general management of the city’s public library. This group meets on the second Wednesday of each month. You can find the city’s application form for these advisory groups – and learn more about each commission and board – by going to the city’s website at www.libertylakewa.gov.
“My Haunted Hometown” is coming in October!
Liberty Lake residents may see a little bit of added color near home entrances – and maybe some parks – during the first weekend of October. Creations from the new Chalk Art Extravaganza from the city’s Parks & Recreation Department are set to adorn area asphalt on Saturday, Oct. 3. Entries in the citywide exhibition will commemorate the city 25th anniversary as well as the nation’s 250th.
What’s the best part of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library’s popular Halloween Party? Is it the annual opportunity to get into costume before the actual holiday? Or is it the annual games or story time with a seasonally fitting book reading?
The city’s Parks & Recreation Department has unleashed “My Haunted Hometown” – a new fall offering in which residents can vie for the honor of having the most boo-tiful, bone-chilling, and creatively creepy homes in town.
Or is it this year’s tattoo station? Or this year’s golf? Or this year’s trinket walk – a variation of a cake walk? Or is it this year’s fun and educational bat exploration?
Liberty Lake city residents can register for the home decorating contest by digging up the link on city’s homepage at www. libertylakewa.gov, or at the Parks and Recreation’s section w w w. l i b e r ty l a ke wa . g ov / 7 3 6 / Community-Events. Deadline for registering is Oct. 16.
All entries will be added to a
Chalk Art Extravaganza is Oct. 3
Liberty Lake Library’s Halloween Party is Oct. 29
There’s a monstrously fun opportunity this October for Liberty Lake residents to take part in a citywide contest that will treat the entire community.
Home exteriors and streetside yards must be decorated and ready to be judged by Saturday, Oct. 24, and remain decorated through Halloween.
October 2026
Find out by dropping into this year’s party on Thursday, Oct. 5, between 5 and 8 p.m. at 23123 E. Mission Avenue!
citywide map that will be posted during late October on the event’s web page. Winners will be announced on the city’s website
and Facebook site … and will likely be the talk of local trickor-treaters on the evening of October 31st.
https://www.facebook.com/libertylakewa
•
www.libertylakewa.gov
8 • OCTOBER 2026
The Splash
Introducing the
Safety Awareness Channel LLPD Crime Analysis Property Crimes Calls for Service: 17
LLPD Crime Analysis
On 8/3, an unsecured e-scooter was stolen from outside of McDonalds. On 8/5, multiple juveniles were trespassed from Safeway after eating and drinking merchandise without paying for it. On 8/5, a male suspect stole merchandise from Walgreens.
Traffic Stops: 224 / Citations Issued: 23
Police Report - Aug. 2026
Splash news sources
On 8/11, a complainant reported her boyfriend’s vehicle had the gas door damaged while parked in her apartment complex parking lot. On 8/17, a vehicle was egged while driving near N Winrock St & E Mission Ave. On 8/19, a male suspect threw a 2x4 through a window at Northwest Trends. Suspect was possibly identified
with the help of the SCSO RTCC. Trespass: On 8/5, three juveniles were trespassed from McDonalds after refusing to leave, kicking chairs, and tearing stickers off tables. McDonalds has had ongoing issues with this group. Vehicle Prowl: On 8/11, two vehicles were prowled while parked at a residence on N Legacy Flats Rd. Vehicles were rifled through, but nothing appeared stolen. Theft:
Lake Police Department has had an increase in speeding violators and are proactively enforcing those high traffic areas. Remember to secure your belongings inside your residence and out of your vehicles to prevent vehicle prowlers as the summer months tend to invite more prowling activity. Stay well and be safe!
On 8/8, a female suspect stole ARRESTS – LLPD made 14 arrests SignificantinCases alcohol from Yokes. August On 8/10, multiple male and Malicious Mischief: female suspects were believed to have stolen items from Safeway and then went to the Park & Ride to catch a bus. Two of the suspects returned the merchandise they took. Those contacted were trespassed from the location. The Liberty Lake Police Department would like to remind everyone to drive slowly and safely in all marked school zones and neighborhood areas. The activity in those areas will increase as the kids are back in school. Take additional time to be aware of the pedestrian traffic. The Liberty
On 8/1, a traffic stop was initiated on a vehicle traveling at an estimated 110–120 mph eastbound on I-90. The driver failed to yield and led officers on a pursuit that crossed the state line into Idaho before stopping just west of Exit 2 near Post Falls. He was subsequently arrested for failure to stop, DUI (by Idaho State Patrol), speeding, and expired tabs. On 8/6, a male was arrested for Felony Harassment (DV) after sending approximately 103 threatening emails to Spokane County Superior Court Department 11 between 7/15 and 8/3. The male was also taken into
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custody on an active bench warrant for violating conditions of release in the prior bomb threat case.
LLPD Crime Analysis
SAFETY CHANNEL
OCTOBER 2026 • 9
Total Calls for Service: 997
On 8/7, officers responded to a domestic disturbance at Signal Point Apts. Two males suspects refused to answer the door for over 20 minutes, resulting in a forced entry. Both were found with visible injuries consistent with a physical altercation. Both were charged with Obstructing a LEO. On 8/13, officers responded to a domestic violence call at Big Trout. a male suspect was arrested for Assault 4D – DV after allegedly body-slamming his mother during an argument over bathroom use. On 8/9, officers responded to a call stating glass was broken and a female was being chased. A male and female were contacted and stated an argument occurred after he found messages to other men on her phone. The female physically assaulted the male while he was trying to leave. She was arrested for Assault 4D and MalMis 3D. He was arrested for MalMis 3D. On 8/15, officers responded to a domestic violence call on N Red Shoulder Ln between a husband and wife. The wife stated her husband had struck her in the head with his elbow during the course of the argument. He was arrested for Assault 4D – DV and transported to the Spokane County jail. On 8/16, officers responded to a report of a male walking into traffic on E Mission Ave. officers had been dealing with him intermittently throughout the morning for similar behavior. Upon contact, he was verbally defiant and made statements concerning IED’s, the Space Force, and other unrelated topics. He attempted to resist arrest by putting his arms under his torso but was taken into custody with minimal effort. On 8/18, officers responded to a domestic violence call on E Short Tail Ln between a boyfriend and girlfriend. The female reported she and her boyfriend were in an argument and he put his hand on her neck and choked her to the point she had difficulty breathing and shoved her. The boyfriend left the location and was later arrested on 8/20 for Assault 2D – DV. On 8/22, officers responded to a domestic violence call on E Nora Ave. A male resident had smashed several items in the house and was arrested for MalMis 3D – DV and Assault 4D – DV.
On 8/22, officers responded to a domestic violence call on E Caufield Ave. A male and his girlfriend were in an argument during which he punched her vehicle damaging the sideview mirror. He was arrested for MalMis 3D and Assault 4D.
On 8/26, a male was arrested after throwing a basketball at his exgirlfriend’s car causing damage and physically resisting officers trying to detain him. On 8/29, officers responded to a welfare check for a male at NomNom
who appeared intoxicated and unable to stand or walk. Upon contact, he was found to be suffering from mental health/medication issues. He had an active misdemeanor warrant out of Spokane County and was arrested without incident.
M0690_Suzanne Schmidt for County Commissioner_Piece 1.pdf
10 • OCTOBER 2026
1
9/8/26
2:17 PM
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SUZANNE SCHMIDT Proven Leader for Spokane County
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Election Day: November 3
As your County Commissioner, Suzanne will:
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Special Election G u i d e 2026 OCTOBER 2026 • 11
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Dear Readers: With the upcoming election heating up and the sea of political signs filling our streets, we at The Splash wanted to take the opportunity to provide you with some information about the candidates seeking your vote this election cycle. It had become a tradition to bring you this election guide that showcases as many candidates as we
can get to respond. In order to give you more insight into who these people are we reached out to all of the contenders appearing on your ballot and asked them to please provide a 300-word response to the following questions (which we would publish at no cost). 1. What best qualifies you for this position? 2. What is the most important issue that needs addressed? Again this year we added
some fun questions to also get to know more about the candidates personality! 1. What is your favorite community event? 2. What is your favorite restaurant? 3. What is your favorite place to volunteer? While not everyone chose to respond to our request, a good number have and we hope that you find their unedited responses helpful for your voting consideration. For those who haven’t
registered to vote or accidently lose your ballot, you can register all the way upto election day and/or get a replacement ballot in person by going to CenterPlace Regional Event Center in Spokane Valley.
Thanks for reading The Splash, we hope you enjoy it!
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Vote by November 3rd
12 • OCTOBER 2026
What is your favorite community event?
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U.S. Representative District 5 Michael Baumgartner Incumbent
Michael BaumgartnerBloomsday Carmela Conroy- Spokane County Interstate Fair Suzanne Schmidt- Spokane County Fair Rachelle Miller- Liberty Lake Yard Sale Callie Gee - Pig Out in the Park Michael Cathcart Annual Lunar New Year Celebration Dave Lucas - Bloomsday Elliot Robison- Terrain’s Summer Bazaar Preston McCollam- too many to choose Mike Valerien- Spokane in Bloom Garden Tour Deanna Crull- Polar Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day Nicholas Ulrich- The Interstate Fair Michael Addams- Spokane Indians baseball Hillary Pham- Memorial Day Community Pancake breakfast Trent Maier- 4th of July Fireworks Rob Chase- Spokane RiverKeepers Rob Tupper- County Fair Karina Wallace- The Spokane Interstate Fair Colleen Melody- Bloomsday Scott Edwards- Bainbridge Island 3rd of July Street Fair Sean O’Donnell- rodeos Dave Larson- Seahawks games
What best qualifies you for this position? I love Eastern Washington. I’m convinced this is the best place in the world. I was born and raised on the Palouse, and my wife and I are raising our five children here. I’m a proud WSU alum and I spent eight years serving in our State Senate, building relationships throughout our community that have been invaluable as your
What best qualifies you for this position? I am a third-generation Eastern Washingtonian. My grandfather laid stone at Grand Coulee Dam. My dad was a union railroader. My mom worked for Ma Bell. I worked my way through school, earned my law degree at the University of Washington, and came home to Spokane as a deputy prosecutor, holding violent offenders accountable and seeking justice for survivors of sexual assault. Then I spent nearly 25 years in the U.S. Foreign Service, in Afghanistan, Japan, New Zealand, Norway and Pakistan. I negotiated trade agreements that opened
Representative. My priorities are those of Eastern Washington. In Congress I’ve fought for lower taxes for working families, smaller government, and more freedom. I kept my promise to help secure the border, and cut waste and fraud. I helped pass the first Farm Bill in 8 years through the House, and to enact laws increasing military salaries. I’ve been guided by local experts, convening policy advisory groups on issues from law enforcement to agriculture and healthcare. My office has responded to more than 180,000 emails and calls, and helped hundreds cut through red tape. My background overseas
and as a diplomat in Iraq has supported my efforts to ensure warm relations with our trade partners and allies in a complex world. Our community is deeply divided on many issues. I believe everyone deserves to be heard and treated with respect. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? Our most important issue now is affordability: we need to keep taxes low, reduce regulation and secure fair trade agreements, particularly with Canada and China. It was critical to stop Iran getting a nuclear weapon, but I’m hopeful the Middle East will stabilize and fuel costs will come down.
markets for what we grow here, worked alongside our military, and helped Americans in trouble far from home. As Consul General in Lahore, I helped manage one of the most serious crises between the United States and Pakistan in recent memory. My first ambassador in Tokyo was Tom Foley. He told me the job of a public servant is to find solutions for the people you represent. That is the job I want to do. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? Prices. Families in Liberty Lake, Spokane Valley and the West Plains are paying more for groceries, gas and school supplies than they
Carmela Conroy
Candidate
did two years ago. Tariffs drove costs up and closed overseas markets for Washington wheat, apples and cherries. I will work from day one to end the tariff chaos and reopen those markets. I will fight to keep rural hospitals open, protect Medicare and Medicaid, and stand up for Fairchild and the military families who call the West Plains home.
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County Commissioner District 4 Suzanne Schmidt Candidate
What best qualifies you for this position? I have lived in the Spokane Valley for nearly 30 years. My children and now grandchildren have attended schools in the Central Valley School District. I am very involved in my community. I have volunteered hundreds of hours serving my community. Having served as the President/CEO of Associated Builders and
What best qualifies you for this position? I’m Rachelle Miller, running for Spokane County Commissioner in District 4. I’m a fourth-generation Washingtonian, a small business owner, and a mom who couldn’t just sit by after learning about plans for massive, unregulated AI data centers right here in Spokane County. Over the past twentyeight years, my work in advocacy and social work has taught me how public systems operate and how to make them listen to everyday people. When I saw what was happening, our community rallied behind a write-in campaign after the filing
Contractors, I dedicated my career to representing businesses and their employees. I worked with nearly every agency in Washington, I know we can do better as a state to cut red tape and empower families, workers, and small businesses to succeed. If elected as Spokane County Commissioner, I will continue to fight for small businesses and oppose government overreach at the county level. As a county we need to push back on the state. I will fight for more local control. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? Spokane County has several issues that are looming over us as we into 2027. There is a deficit in the County budget that has to be addressed by the
current Board of County Commissioners. The budget will be approved by the end of 2026 but, will directly impact public safety and services in 2027. I have been attending the budget discussion online for the last few months and intend to continue through the end of the year. Another issue facing the county is the completion and submission of the GMA comprehensive plan. This will determine opportunities for new housing, economic development and infrastructure in the county. The comprehensive plan is at the “Planning Commission” with public hearings taking place. The issue of Data Center zoning restrictions and regulations are being addressed with these public hearings.
deadline and pushed us straight through the primary. Folks are ready for a fresh voice. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? Our most pressing challenge is protecting our drinking water. The Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer supplies over 600,000 of us, and it can’t become an unlimited utility for out-of-state tech giants. Closed-door talks without resident input just don’t cut it. Spokane County isn’t for sale, and our next commissioner needs to be a watchdog, not a rubber stamp. When I’m not digging into county policy, you’ll find me with a cup of
Rachelle Miller Candidate
coffee at the rink as a Spokane Junior Chiefs hockey mom. My favorite place to volunteer is our local animal shelter when kitten season hits. In the summer, my annual favorite events are the Liberty Lake yard sales and Fourth of July fireworks, which always turn into neighborhood barbecues.
What is your favorite place to volunteer? Michael BaumgartnerUnion Gospel Mission Carmela Conroy- Second Harvest Suzanne Schmidt- Habitat for Humanity Rachelle Miller- Local animal shelter Callie Gee - Habitat for Humanity Michael Cathcart Northeast Youth Center Dave Lucas - Northwest Scouting Council Elliot Robison- Washington Native Plant Society Preston McCollam- In schools Mike Valerien- Second Harvest Food Bank Deanna Crull- Truth Ministries Nicholas Ulrich- Tom Foley Debate Tournament Michael Addams- CASA Partners Hillary Pham- Liberty Lake Rotary Club Trent Maier- Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce Rob Chase- gather signatures for initiatives Rob Tupper- community garden Karina Wallace- Domestic violence shelters Colleen Melody- My kids’ elementary school Scott Edwards- American Red Cross Sean O’Donnell- Mock trial judge for high school students Dave Larson- Puget Sound Honor Flight (Guardian)
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Who is your favorite public servant?
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Spokane County Auditor Callie Gee
What best qualifies you for this position? My education and professional experience in accounting and finance directly prepare me for the responsibilities of Spokane County Auditor. I hold degrees in Accounting and Finance from Washington State University and have worked in public accounting, including preparing and reviewing complex financial and
tax filings for corporations, partnerships, and individuals. I understand how important accuracy, accountability, and strong internal controls are when managing financial information. I also bring experience running part of my family’s small business, giving me a practical understanding of how government systems affect businesses and working families. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? Election integrity and protecting vote-by-mail are critical. The federal government is actively seeking to restrict local election processes and voting rights. The Auditor’s Office administers elections, and Spokane County has a
responsibility to ensure they remain secure, accessible, and reliable while maintaining public confidence in the process. The county also needs to continue modernizing its systems, improving communication, and addressing errors quickly and transparently when they occur. That includes using technology to improve services and strengthening processes to reduce errors. As Auditor, I will bring a fresh set of eyes and a financial professional’s attention to detail to making sure the office works effectively for everyone in Spokane County.
What best qualifies you for this position? As a parent of two children and a member of the Spokane City Council for nearly seven years, I think a lot about their future. Will they grow up believing their voice matters, their vote is protected, and their government can be trusted? The Auditor’s Office plays a central role in building that trust. On Council, I’ve led budget reforms, served as the City’s Finance Committee Chair, and championed transparency and public accessibility. I spearheaded rewriting the redistricting process to prevent future gerrymandering and have taken on regional issues and leadership responsibilities. I currently chair the Spokane Regional Health District. Before Council, I worked
in the State Senate, managed government affairs, and led a business and civic advocacy organization. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? • A steady, well-managed transition is critical as leadership changes for the first time in 28 years. The office faces serious budget cuts amid the County’s financial shortfall. I’ll work with my team and County Commissioners to protect core services and uphold high standards. • After months of challenges and costly inefficiencies, fully implementing the County’s new payroll system is a top priority. • Elections must be secure, accurate, and conducted in the open. I’ll expand post-election
Michalel Cathcart
Candidate
Michael BaumgartnerPresident Reagan Carmela Conroy- Tom Foley Suzanne Schmidt- Veterans Rachelle Miller- Jeannette Rankin Callie Gee - Amber Waldref Michael Cathcart - Tim Fitzgerald Dave Lucas - First responders Elliot Robison- Sarah Dixit Preston McCollam- The one who works hard everyday for the good of others without caring who gets the credit for it. Mike Valerien- Judge Shelley Szambelan Deanna Crull- Court Judge Szambelan Nicholas Ulrich- My wife Claire Michael Addams- Ronald Reagan Hillary Pham- Arlene Fischer Trent Maier- Anyone who picks up litter & trash Rob Chase- Ron Paul Rob Tupper- Mr. Rogers Karina Wallace- Frances Perkins Colleen Melody- The paramedics who saved my husband’s life Scott Edwards- My father Sean O’Donnell- Maureen Haggard Dave Larson- Former Chief Justice Gerry Alexander
Candidate
audits and increase public access to observe the process and results. I’ll also take corrective action to ensure the ballot errors from the primary don’t recur. My goal is to strengthen public trust through more sunlight and greater accountability. I’d truly be grateful to earn your vote. Learn more at cathcartforspokane.com
THIS RESPONSE WAS SUBMITTED LATE
OCTOBER 2026 • 15
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Spokane COunty Clerk Dave Lucas Candidate
What best qualifies you for this position? Real Life experience matters. I am the most qualified candidate in this race for Spokane County Clerk with my years of experience as Cheney Municipal Court Administrator, and my equally important experience in executive level leadership experience gained during my nearly 22 years
of service as a Marine Corps Officer. I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel with experience leading an artillery regimen of over 2,000 personnel and responsible for budgeting millions of dollars in maintenance and operational expenses. This experience has uniquely prepared me to provide the finest service possible to the Citizens of Spokane County. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? The most important issue with regard to the race for Spokane County Clerk is leadership experience. I am the only candidate with any previous real life work experience leading any organization or
managing any budgetary tasks. Experience matters and will directly impact the quality-ofservice the Citizens of Spokane receive when interreacting with the court system and seeking access to justice. Ensuring the highest level of service and unobstructed access to justice for our Citizens must be at the forefront of discussion for any candidate running for County Clerk.
Serving the greater Spokane Valley since 1985 Residential and Office Cleaning Licensed and Insured Hourly Rates
Experience Matters 20 years legal experience including 10 years judicial (full-time on the bench)
THIS RESPONSE WAS SUBMITTED LATE Endorsed by judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and law enforcement.
What best qualifies you for this position? As a sixth-generation Spokane County resident, my roots here run deep. I serve as chair for the local chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society, a volunteer leadership role where I celebrate our region; few things ground you in a sense of place quite like an intimate knowledge of local flora. Beyond location, I also love our people. My favorite event is Terrain’s Summer Bazaar, where I’m always hunting for good handthrown mugs. I also love visiting the Spokane Valley Farmer’s Market, where I used to snag a loaf from Lucky Lady Bread before their hiatus. Honestly, running for
office wasn’t my original plan for this year. However, I believe people are tired of a crumbling bureaucracy and are hungry for new energy. I was deeply inspired by Sarah Dixit, a peer who stepped up to improve access to local government. Her journey showed me that I, too, could use my skills to make a clunky system actually work for everyone. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? I am running because the County Clerk role aligns perfectly with my professional expertise. Currently, I work as a Business Intelligence Analyst at CHAS Health, where I leverage optimization and technology skills daily. My role involves navigating
Elliot Robison Candidate
For Our Community and working around complex, legacy document databases to support professionals and the public alike. Our community currently faces long wait times, and the Clerk’s Office is bracing for an upcoming county budget crisis. My business optimization skills are perfectly positioned to mitigate these challenges by modernizing our systems with ambitious, practical solutions.
Paid for by Committee to Elect Mike Valerien, PO Box 6073 Spokane, WA 99217
16 • OCTOBER 2026
Spokane County Prosecuter Preston McCollam
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District Court Judge 2 Mike Valerien
What best qualifies you for this position? Experience matters in the courtroom, and I have the most judicial experience in this race. You want someone who is prepared to take on the serious responsibilities of judge. I am an Air Force veteran and have over 20 years of legal experience, including 8 years as an Assistant City Prosecutor
and 10 years as a full-time court commissioner for Spokane Municipal Court. I have a proven track record of managing high-volume court hearings efficiently and effectively. This level of competency is crucial when people’s freedom and rights are at stake. I am ranked Exceptionally Well Qualified by the Spokane County Bar Association and endorsed by judges, prosecutors, public defenders, as well as law enforcement and court staff organizations (to view the full list visit VoteMikeV.com). What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? Throughout this
campaign I have spoken with many Spokane County residents. The most common concern I hear expressed is that offenders should be held accountable for their criminal behavior. I believe in accountability and want to improve public safety. Sentencing should make offenders less likely to reoffend in the future. To do this, courts need to keep meaningful data and use the data to ensure taxpayer dollars are not wasted while consistently communicating this information to the public. I would appreciate your vote in November.
What best qualifies you for this position? Experience. I have 25 years as an attorney and 7 years of judicial experience on the Spokane County District Court bench, where I seek to be elected. From handling complex trials in Spokane Superior Court to appellate matters with the Court of Appeals, to representing children, parents, veterans, and individuals navigating mental health challenges. I’ve seen our justice system from every angle as a judge, prosecutor, defense, and advocate. Today, I am currently
the civil judge for Kalispel Tribe of Indians, Airway Heights Court Commissioner, an appellate justice for multiple jurisdictions, a pro tem commissioner for Spokane Superior Court, all while also assisting members of the Spokane Tribe of Indians with cases. I have experience, perspective, and understand that being a judge is a position of service to their community, both on and off the bench. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? Transparency. The
Deanna Crull
Candidate
Candidate
What best qualifies you for this position? I am a working prosecutor, not a politician. I bring nearly thirteen years of frontline experience earned through thousands of cases and hardfought battles in Spokane County courtrooms. I have never backed down from difficult decisions or complex prosecutions. When others stepped away from adversity, I stepped toward it. The honesty, grit, and willingness to fight for crime victims has earned me the respect of county leaders, law enforcement partners, and the community I serve. Spokane deserves an experienced, steady prosecutor who puts people before politics, public safety before public perception, and justice for victims above all else. That is the standard I have followed my entire career. I have handled many of the most serious and tragic cases in our region, including homicide, assault, trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault, and crimes against children. My mission is simple: pursue justice without fear or favor. That means protecting victims, holding offenders accountable, and applying the law with integrity and common sense. As a husband and father of four, I’m deeply invested in the future of our county. I believe in personal responsibility, strong families, safe neighborhoods, and a government focused on its core duties rather than political agendas. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? The greatest challenge confronting our community is the current collision course we are on with the increasing mental-health crisis and the escalating drug epidemic. Washington’s current approach is not working and pretending otherwise only prolongs the harm. I am a prosecutor with the honesty, accountability, and a willingness to confront this crisis head-on.
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Incumbent
only way to restore community trust is through openness in our proceedings, our decisions, and ensuring accessibility to witness the process firsthand.
OCTOBER 2026 • 17
The Splash
district court judge 4 Nicholas Ulrich
What best qualifies you for this position? I was born and raised in Spokane and am committed to serving the Spokane community. I have spent the last four years as a Judge Pro Tem for the Spokane County District Court and have dealt with countless matters there. I have also spent the last decade as a litigator, litigating criminal and civil cases in state and
federal courts. I currently work at the Washington State Attorney General’s Office as a Section Chief, and I have extensive trial experience. In addition to my litigation work, I also train lawyers around the country for the National Association of Attorneys General on the law, litigation and trial skiIls. I am the only candidate rated Exceptionally Well Qualified for this position by the Spokane County Bar Association. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? The District Court operates on outdated technology and uses paper files. The Court needs to be modernized. The Administrative Office of the
Courts is implementing new technology, which our court will have in the next year. This will present an opportunity for our court to embrace the new software and systems and find efficiencies to modernize the court. We need judges with experience who are comfortable implementing changes and finding efficiencies in workflows. I serve as a Section Chief in the Attorney General’s Office and supervise over 80 attorneys and paralegals. I have handled this type of modernization at the AGO for my division and am well-positioned to do the same for the District Court.
What best qualifies you for this position? I currently serve as the Prosecutor for the City of Cheney and have spent the past five years as a Judge and Commissioner Pro Tempore in Spokane County, presiding in both District and Superior Court settings. My legal experience is broad, including criminal defense, prosecution, family law, domestic violence matters, and civil practice. In addition to my legal career, I served 24 years in the United States Air Force and Washington Air National Guard, enlisting after the events of September 11, 2001, and retiring as a commissioned officer.
That service, combined with my MBA, shaped my ability to lead in high pressure environments, make disciplined decisions, and maintain order while treating people with respect.. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? A central issue facing the courts is balancing accountability with meaningful opportunities for rehabilitation. Community safety depends on appropriate responses and accountability for unlawful behavior. At the same time, therapeutic and problem solving programs can be highly effective for individuals who genuinely
Michael Addams
Candidate
Candidate
want and need support. These approaches should complement one another, but accountability is key to improving public safety.
State Rep. District 9 Karina Wallace Candidate
What best qualifies you for this position? I put myself through college, earning my degree in 2017, and worked as a CNA while pursuing nursing school until lupus made that path impossible. Since then, I’ve become a Washington State certified Peer Support Specialist and betrayal trauma recovery coach, and I’ve volunteered extensively at domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, and WorkSource — services I’ve also relied on myself at different points in my life. I know these systems from both sides of the desk, and that firsthand experience is exactly what I bring to representing this district. I’m running a true grassroots campaign — I accept no corporate PAC money and no lobbyist donations, because I don’t want to owe anyone except the people I’m asking to trust me with their vote. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? The most important issue facing our area right now is healthcare access. Rural communities already have thin options, and this year’s scaled-back ACA premium tax credits are making coverage even harder to afford for working families. Alongside that, I’m focused on real accountability: cracking down on corporations that pay poverty wages while hiding executive pay, and bringing transparency to lobbyist influence in Olympia. People deserve a government that answers to them, not to donors. I didn’t set out to become a politician. I’m running because I believe ordinary people need to step up when the systems meant to help us stop working — and I’m ready to do that work for this district.
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supreme court justice #4 Sean O’Donnell
The Splash
District 4 State Rep pos. 1 Trent Maier
What best qualifies you for this position? I have tried very hard over the last 8 year to become an integral part of the community in which I live, work and play. Between owning & operating our businesses in Liberty Lake, and enjoying the natural surroundings we are blessed with in this region, it honestly has been a dream come true for this kid from rural Mid-
Michigan (where it’s pretty flat and pretty boring). The Liberty Lake community specifically has been very welcoming to us, but during this campaign I have also had a chance to see our entire 4th Legislative District for what it is – a wonderful place to call home! It’s in this spirit that I decided to run for this position to be able to stand up for our way of life here on the far edges of Eastern Washington, and push back against policies that are not serving our citizens well, even if they were implemented with the best intentions. . What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? I have witnessed firsthand the effects of increased taxes and regulations on
small businesses like Trailbreaker, and have come up with real-world solutions to those problems that I believe need to be heard in Olympia. Affordability for citizens and Accountability for our government are the two main priorities I am taking with me in January, and I truly appreciate all of the support that it will take to get us there!
What best qualifies you for this position? As a former Air Force Captain, my leadership training shows a strong work ethic, perseverance, and resourcefulness. After my military service at Fairchild Air Force Base, I continued to serve at the Spokane County Treasurer’s office. Where I understood how local government serves the people. Also, the Washington Policy Center, has equipped me with skills, knowledge and connections to solve problems. Additionally, I worked in the WA State House of Representatives as a Legislative Assistant. I will hit the ground running, with proven experience in Olympia for the last two legislative sessions. I understand the
pressing issues affecting our communities, developed good working relationships and can navigate the challenges with passion and commitment to represent you well. You can trust that I am your most dedicated serviceoriented person to be your best advocate.. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? To be successful and pragmatic, I will focus on common cause issues such as affordability, education and public safety. I care about making our community a better place for the next generation be ready for the workforce and to raise a family. Also, I believe in lowering taxes, providing relief to working families and taking care of our seniors
Hillary Pham
Candidate
Candidate
What best qualifies you for this position? I have devoted 25 years to public service: 12 as a King County Prosecutor, 13 as a King County Superior Court Judge. As a prosecutor, I handled serious felonies, including homicides and child sex trafficking, and helped prosecute the Green River Killer. As a judge, I have ruled on thousands of cases, from pretrial release to parenting plans to wrongful death and malpractice. My colleagues have entrusted me with leading the judiciary: President of the Superior Court Judges Association, King County’s Chief Family Law and Chief Criminal Judge, and co-lead of task forces on court security and interpreter funding. I served as a Justice pro tem on the State Supreme Court. I am the only candidate recommended by both major parties, and that record will serve the Court well. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? Access to justice remains the most urgent issue facing our courts. Most Washingtonians who need legal help cannot afford it. As Chief of King County’s Family Law Department, I saw this firsthand: roughly 60% of litigants had no lawyer. I worked to close that gap through pro bono mediation, civil legal aid support, and a task force securing interpreter funding for rural courts. Courthouse security is also critical; I co-chair the judiciary’s statewide security committee. AI is the newest challenge: weighing where it can help self-represented litigants without replacing human judgment. I serve on two statewide AI task forces on this. At root, these issues are one: whether people can walk into a courtroom and trust they will be treated fairly.
SUBMITTED LATE OPPONENT DID NOT RESPOND
Candidate
who are on fixed incomes. I promise to listen first, improve affordability, restore quality education and defend public safety. I will rebuild a thriving business climate for our small businesses to keep Washingtonians in our beautiful state. I can offer solutions through my compelling speeches by sharing your stories on the house floor debate and bring home change.
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The Splash
district 4 state rep pos. 2 Rob Chase
cause issues. I was an activist long before I ever incumbent first ran for office in 2000. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? Artificial Intelligence is coming on very fast, and we need to put effective guardrails around What best qualifies personhood, and make sure AI does not diminish you for this position? resources that rightly This is my 11th belong to residents. Campaign for public office. I try to call issues as I see them through the lense of cautious conservatism with research and experience. I have always met with anyone who wanted to meet with me, and listened to them. This is how I got the ideas for most of the bills I have passed, being common
What best qualifies you for this position? I am Rob Tupper, a transplant from Alaska and recently retired as a robotics engineer. I’ve a BS in Applied Mathematics with electives in Chemical, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. The Trentwood Rolling Mill hired me out of Alaska in 1996 and employed me as an electrician maintaining Hot Line and Cold Roll equipment. The 1998 strike/ lockout was brutal. Walking the picket line instead of working destroyed our family savings. The union did help, but those were lean times. My Union seniority status meant I wasn’t going back when the lockout ended. I leaned into a passion and earned
a teaching certificate from Whitworth. I have taught technology, math and science at a Jr College (Alaska), Jr High (Dist 81) and High School (Mead). I realize I will have a rough time passing as a “wellqualified career politician.” However, I have decades of experience analyzing complex systems and working with team members to find optimal solutions. It is my hope these same skills in Olympia will help cut to the heart of issues and bring practical options to the discussion. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? Issue #1: Data Centers might represent the inevitable conquest of
Ballot Drop Off Locations
Liberty Lake Library 23123 E Mission Ave Liberty Lake, WA 99019 Otis Orchards Library 22324 E Wellesley Ave Otis Orchards, WA 99027 Spokane Valley Library 22 N Herald Rd, Spokane Valley, WA 99206 Argonne Library 4322 N Argonne Rd Spokane, WA 99212
Rob Tupper Candidate
humankind, but they need to be located where their required resources are most readably available. Build where power and water are in abundant supply along the Columbia River. Issue #2: Finding or reallocating resources to blunt the impact of funding cuts to Healthcare that will hit clinics, hospitals and nursing homes this January.
supreme court justice #5 Dave Larson Incumbent
What best qualifies you for this position? I am the only candidate in this race with prior experience as a judge. I bring 41 years of legal experience to this position: 18 years as a trial judge and 23 years as a trial lawyer. I managed a court for 16 years, taught new judges at the state’s judicial college for 10 years, and worked with Democrats and Republicans in the legislature to improve our courts for 17 years. I want the Supreme Court to be a trusted institution. I have run a politically neutral campaign based on the values that judges are sworn to uphold. I’ve reached out to Democrats and Republicans, Labor and Business, and to citizens in Eastern and Western Washington because everyone deserves to have trust and confidence in our Supreme Court regardless of their political beliefs, economic status, or geographic location. One-sided justice for only some of us means there is no justice for any of us. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? My work around criminal justice reform has been recognized on a national level. Instead of helping our communities and trial courts address crime, the current Supreme Court’s decisions have undermined those efforts. I will use my extensive experience to bring the leadership needed to work with the legislature, local government, and trial courts on common sense solutions to the issues we face in our communities that will reduce crime with compassion without sacrificing personal accountability. We don’t need to be tougher or softer on crime; we need to be smarter on crime.
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20 • OCTOBER 2026
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supreme court justice #1 Colleen Melody incumbent
What best qualifies you for this position? As a Spokane native, it is an honor to serve my home state on the Washington Supreme Court. At this moment, when state courts and state rights are increasingly important, my experience as a publicinterest lawyer who has served our state for more than a decade helps prepare me to serve the whole state, from the Palouse to the
What best qualifies you for this position? I have spent over three decades practicing law and handling complex litigation, including cases involving constitutional questions, state and local government, and taxation. I graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University and earned my law degree with honors from the University of Washington. I have also taught law at the UW School of Law for over 20 years. That experience has taught me the importance of carefully studying the law, listening to competing arguments, and reaching conclusions based on the Constitution, statutes, precedent, and
Peninsula. My goals are simple— to uphold the rights of all Washingtonians with integrity and fairness. The Supreme Court has a unique role to ensure Washington is a safer and more just place for everyone. I believe: • Courts must safeguard Washington’s independence and longstanding protection of individual and constitutional rights, including in the workplace, at school, and in housing. • Everyone deserves to be safe and free from violence. Crime victims and discrimination victims deserve dignity, respect, and safety. • Our Courts are a cornerstone of our democracy and must be transparent and
accessible to everyone. • Judges are public servants. They must listen, work hard, and approach each case with impartiality and humility. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? Increased access to court services and programs for individuals who live in rural areas, don’t have transportation, or who lack time off work or childcare that they would need to participate fully in court hearings or on jury duty. We can use increased technology, court navigator programs, and community partnerships more strategically to increase access to justice in our courts.
the facts before you. Those are the principles I would bring to the Washington Supreme Court. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed? Public confidence in an independent judiciary is critically important. Courts should apply the law consistently and transparently, without regard to political pressure or preferred policy outcomes. My approach is straightforward: judges should respect constitutional limits, protect due process, and decide each case based on the law and the record before them.
Scott Edwards Candidate
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NEWS
OCTOBER 2026 • 21
the commissioners voted to pause water supply and the strain on County data center applications through the energy grid, Miller said other the end of the year while they work communities have also reported Commissioner to enact new regulations. that data centers emit noise at a Schmidt said she doesn’t favor level that causes health effects in Race Heats “I love my community,” she an outright moratorium on data humans and animals, including said. “I want to work to have it centers and said data centers can insomnia and a drop in production Up as writecontinue to be a good place to work be useful. She said she supports the in milk cows. current pause and would vote to and raise a family.” Miller said she sees nothing in candidate continue it if new regulations are good in data centers. “I’m not Schmidt holds an associate’s not in place by the end of the year. convinced we’re ever going to see in business administration gets added to degree benefits,” she said. “If building a data center is from Flathead Valley Community College in Libby, Montana, and going to hurt the people that live She said she didn’t realize when ballot an associate’s degree in medical there through increased rates or she started the process just how in the Washington State House of Representatives since 2022. She opted not to run for re-election and instead filed for the County Commissioner seat.
By Nina Culver
Splash contributor
When Suzanne Schmidt filed in May to run for the Spokane County Commissioner District 4 seat being vacated by Mary Brooks, it appeared she would be the only candidate on the ballot. However, Independent Rachelle Miller launched a successful writein campaign and earned a place on the general election ballot in November. A write-in candidate can only advance if they receive enough votes and if they filed a declaration of write-in candidacy before the primary election, said Spokane County Elections Manager Ryan Dosch. Typically, write-in votes aren’t counted unless there are enough to make a difference in the outcome of the race, Dosch said. That’s partly because there’s always some voters who write in random names. “There’s a lot of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck and whatever creativity they’re feeling that day,” he said. There were over 2,100 write-in votes in the race, which received just over 24,000 votes, so they were counted. Miller needed to receive one percent of the vote in order to advance to the general election. She received 4.5 percent, Dosch said. “That’s more than the one percent she needed to be in the top two and go on to the general election,” he said. Dosch said it’s fairly uncommon to have a successful write-in campaign. “It does not happen very often,” he said. “I believe the last time was in 2010.” Schmidt, a Republican, had previously held the 4th Legislative District Position 1 seat
assistant/technology from Spokane Community College. She was previously the president and CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors Inland Pacific Chapter and was an administrator at the Corps of Engineers at Libby Dam.
Schmidt said she wants to focus on the intersection of crime and mental health and has been serving on the Safe and Healthy Spokane Task Force, which has been studying how to improve public safety and behavioral health, including the need for a new criminal justice center. Part of the problem is that the state legislature has made changes to laws that make it harder for law enforcement agencies to enforce the law and harder to keep people in jail once they’re arrested, she said. “The state has rolled back a lot of laws to lessen criminal charges,” she said. She said she’d also like to work on economic development, including recruiting new businesses, and that she believes that taxes and fees have made it harder for businesses to be successful. The Spokane County Commissioners have been at the center of a firestorm recently after the public learned about discussions being held with data centers interested in locating on the West Plains. People are concerned about the large amount of water and electricity required to run a data center. Schmidt said she understands that people in the community didn’t appreciate how the data centers were a surprise. “People in our community did not appreciate how this was sprung upon them and I can understand their frustration,” she said. In response to the public outcry,
depleting natural resources, then I’m an absolute no,” she said.
She’s also concerned about the projected $30 million deficit Spokane County will be facing in 2027, Schmidt said. “I have been monitoring those meetings online,” she said. “To cover that deficit, that means there has to be cuts made.” Schmidt noted that the 2027 budget will be finalized before a new commissioner takes office. She declined to offer any suggestions for items that could be cut or reduced from the budget. “That’s something I’m keeping a very close eye on,” she said. “It’s in their hands now.” Miller grew up in Spokane and attended Gonzaga Prep before moving to Great Falls, Montana, during her senior year of high school. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Montana and a master’s degree in social work from Eastern Washington University. She currently works as a licensed independent clinical social worker in Spokane Valley and has lived in Liberty Lake since 2012. Miller said one of the things that convinced her to run for office was the discovery of the undisclosed meetings that Spokane County Commissioner Al French was having with data center companies. “I found out that was directly putting our aquifer at risk,” she said. “The massive amount of water that gets extracted to run these facilities is concerning. That community is already impacted by PFAS, the forever chemicals.” She said when she grew up in Spokane’s Logan neighborhood, she never had to worry about the quality of the water even though her family wasn’t well off. In addition to worrying about the
uncommon it was for a writein candidate to be added to the general election ballot. “When I decide to do something, I take the challenge,” she said. “I didn’t know it was as rare as it was until after it happened.” Miller said she’s concerned about unfunded mandates coming from the state that are causing problems with the County budget. As an example, there’s a new law restricting the number of cases that public defenders can handle at one time. Miller agrees that their caseloads were too high, but said that the state didn’t provide any funding for new public defenders and adding more will cost the county $15 million a year. “It’s my understanding that became an unfunded mandate,” she said. “We have to have funding from the state for these mandates.” She said she sees connections between the opioid crisis, mental health and needed jail reforms and wants to work to address them. “They’re all knitted together,” she said. “When someone is released from jail, where do they go? These are all systems that impact each other.” Schmidt said she believes she can hit the ground running if she’s elected to the position. She said she’s well-rounded and hardworking and during her time in the legislature she was able to get eight pieces of legislation passed. “In the state legislature, I worked very well across the aisle,” she said. Miller said she promises to fight for her constituents in an honest and transparent manner if elected. “I went into this because I want to take care of my community,” she said. “I want to protect what I had growing up.”
22 • OCTOBER 2026
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VOTE PRESTON MCCOLLAM TUESDAY, NOV. 3RD Go to PrestonForProsecutor.com to learn more
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OCTOBER 2026 • 23
NEWS
Central Valley Levy Renewal gets unanimous board support By Nina Culver
Splash contributor
Like many school districts in the area, the Central Valley School District has put a replacement Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levy on the November ballot, but unlike other districts several board members expressed unease during a public meeting about asking voters to approve the levy. In the end, however, the vote to put the measure on the ballot was unanimous. The proposed three-year levy, which is replacing an expiring levy, would collect an estimated $2.50 per $1,000 in assessed home value, which is the maximum allowed under state law. That amount is unchanged from the $2.50 per $1,000 voters are currently paying. One of the board members expressing concern during a July meeting was Pam Orebaugh, who brought forth a resolution in September to cap the levy collection, if approved, at $2.50 per $1,000 in assessed home value. The resolution passed unanimously. Board president Stephanie Jerdon said the idea behind the resolution was to promise voters they wouldn’t collect more than $2.50 per $1,000 under any circumstances, even if the state legislature changes the current $2.50 limit in the next few years. Jerdon said the board wants the community to have stability no matter what the state does, particularly during a time when costs are going up. “We’re just trying to be understanding of that,” she said. Superintendent John Parker said part of the pushback from some board members and from the community is that the estimated cost per $1,000 under the current levy came in higher than expected because of changes in home valuations. “That will flex based on whatever the assessed values of homes are,” he said. “That estimated rate has gone up.” What has not changed, however, is the amount of money collected by the levy, Parker said. The district is requesting to collect $48.9 million from voters in 2028, the first year of the renewal levy. The district cannot collect more than that, so if collecting $2.50 per $1,000 will bring in more than that amount, the district
lowers the rate per $1,000 that it collects. “The number one driver is the amount that we set,” he said. Parker said it’s possible that the rate per $1,000 could go down if there is a lot of new construction. “There’s still a fair amount of new construction going on that might drop the rate,” he said. Parker said the levy provides 16 percent of the district’s annual budget. The district uses the funds for 100 percent of all extracurricular activities and athletics, plus portions of the special education, transportation and school lunch programs. It also provides additional nurses and teachers than what the state funds, Parker said. As an example, the state does not fund teachers for career and technical education classes as well as most electives, including art and music. Parker said Central Valley uses levy money to pay 300 staff members. The issue is that the state simply doesn’t fund enough staffing, Parker said. “I don’t think there is a district in Washington that can survive on that minimal staffing,” he said. Jerden said she would like to see the state change its outdated funding model. “Our district cannot function without support from our community,” she said. “Our state does not fully fund basic education and it certainly doesn’t fund beyond that." As an example, Jerden said the district is trying to expand its fifth grade strings program, which is funded by the levy. The district also needs more school nurses than are funded by the state, she said. “We have medically fragile students and students with diabetes that need care,” she said. Parker said the community has long supported the EP&O levy, which used to be called an M&O levy. “This community has passed a levy for 50 years,” he said. Jerden said she supports the levy request and will vote for it. “This isn’t anything new,” she said. “These levies have been up for a vote every three years for a while now. We literally could not function at the level that we do without it.” Parker said if voters don’t approve the levy renewal, it would likely be placed on the February ballot to try again. If that also fails, the district will have to develop a “painful” protocol to prioritize programs and people, Parker said. “We’re going to get down to the bare bones,” he said. “We would be eliminating a lot of positions, we would be eliminating a lot of programs. It would very much transform what the educational experience would be.” Additional information on the Central Valley levy is available at https://www. cvsd.org/apps/pages/LevyUpdate.
A holiday guide for the Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Millwood, Otis Orchards, Newman Lake, Airway Heights, Medical Lake, and West Plains areas
“Eat, Shop and Be Merry” is a special cover section that will champion what the Valley area has to offer in the way of gifts and food. Advertise in this holiday guide aimed at area consumers and businesses — and as a bonus we’ll include your idea as part of our story featuring can’t-miss local gift ideas. Restaurants are encouraged to advertise and contribute a tantalizing menu item for our article on dining out. On November 24 and 25, the guides will be distributed throughout the greater Valley and West Plains areas via The Splash, The Current and The Stream. The December issues are strategically scheduled to land before Thanksgiving, just in time to remind residents about supporting local businesses on Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season.
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City asks voters for Sales Tax Increase to help fund Public Safety By Nina Culver
Splash contributor
The City of Liberty Lake is requesting that voters approve a one tenth of one percent sales tax to help fund law enforcement as the police department grows alongside the city’s rising population. City Administrator Mark McAvoy said that law enforcement expenses have been rising. “We need more revenue to cover those expenses,” he said. “Our expenses for our public safety functions are increasing twice as fast as any other functions.” The city has been struggling to accommodate the increases as the department has grown and can’t
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afford to keep doing that, McAvoy said. “There are multiple scenarios where we are in the red,” he said. Currently, Spokane County collects a one tenth of one percent public safety sales tax. The county keeps 60 percent of the funding and the remaining 40 percent is distributed among all the cities in Spokane County, including Liberty Lake. The maximum allowed by state law is three tenths of one percent. Earlier this year, County Commissioners appeared to be signaling that they were considering maxing the sales tax out at three tenths of a percent. Liberty Lake had the option to request one tenth of a percent, but only if they submitted it for the ballot before Spokane County submitted their increase request. More than one jurisdiction can collect the tax, but it still cannot go over three tenths of a percent. Once Liberty Lake submitted its ballot measure, Spokane County would have been limited to asking for two tenths of a percent in public safety sales tax.
“We were anticipating the County was going forward with a
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ballot measure because they were signaling that,” McAvoy said. However, the County Commissioners opted not to ask for a public safety sales tax increase. Liberty Lake Mayor Cris Kaminskas said that decision surprised her. “It was a huge surprise for me and I think it was for everybody,” she said. Kaminskas said she is grateful that County Commissioners opted not to ask for a sales tax increase. “I think that gives us a better chance,” she said. If Liberty Lake voters approve the measure, Liberty Lake would keep 85 percent of the funding with the other 15 percent going to Spokane County. It would bring in an estimated $750,000 for the city’s law enforcement needs. Using a public safety sales tax is common for city and county governments, McAvoy said. “It’s one of many (revenue) streams available,” he said. In addition to paying for officers and equipment, the money could also be used for other public safety activities that need funding, McAvoy said, including emergency management planning. Kaminskas said that what she likes about the sales tax is that it won’t be borne by city residents alone. People who come into town for food, coffee, gas and other goods will help pay it as well. “People who come here and benefit from our police presence will help pay for that,” she said. Kaminskas noted that any money collected through a public safety sales tax can only be spent on public safety. “Per the RCW that allows us to do that, it’s limited for use by the police department,” she said. “We can’t use it for anything else.” Kaminskas said she hopes the
The Splash sales tax will help the city get further funding. “It gives us more access to grants,” she said. She said Spokane County could still decide to ask to increase their public safety sales tax to two tenths of a percent in a future election, including the one in February. Getting the city’s measure on the ballot now will prevent it from losing money to Spokane County in the future, Kaminskas said. “This will keep the money in Liberty Lake instead of going to the County,” she said. The city is currently working on its 2027 budget and, as it sits now, the proposed budget does not include revenue from the public safety sales tax because the ballot measure has not been approved. “We’re putting together the budget as if it’s not passing,” Kaminskas said. However, if the ballot measure is approved it will be easy to put the additional revenue into the budget before it has to be finalized by the end of the year, she said. During meetings in March city council members spoke in favor of adding the sales tax measure to the ballot, with most agreeing that law enforcement needs additional funding and that a sales tax is better than a property tax to get the funding because it can be paid partly by nonresidents. The vote to approve the ballot measure was unanimous. McAvoy said the city will be sending out a mailer to city residents explaining the ballot measure in mid-October. He said he encourages residents who have questions about the measure to call City Hall. Ballots will also be mailed in midOctober and must be postmarked by November 3 if returned by mail or dropped off by 8 p.m. on November 3 at a ballot drop box. There is a drop box at the Liberty Lake Library.
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Falcon teams finding early success this fall By John McCallum Splash contributor
All results are for competition through Sept. 25. Cross country The Falcons boys and girls
teams are off and running, so to speak. Both Ridgeline squads won the varsity titles at the Barbero Border Clash Sept. 12 at The Course in Spokane Valley, and traveled to Alderbrook, Oregon for the Mook Invitational Sept. 19 where the boys were fifth and the girls 10th in the Elite divisions. The Falcons opened Greater Spokane League meet competition on Sept. 23 at home against Cheney, Ferris and
Mead. Both Ridgeline varsity squads went 2-1, defeating Cheney and Ferris but losing to Mead. “Ridgeline girls cross country has started the season strong, showing a lot of grit, determination, and depth,” girls head coach Heather Graham said. Sophomore Grant Summers is sixth in overall Greater Spokane League standings for the Falcon boys with a time of 15 minutes, 41.2 seconds. Senior
Keenan Huntsinger is 12th and junior Preston Nelson is 13th. “Grant has been our top runner so far this season, helping lead the way competitively as the whole group continues to improve,” boys head coach Peter McArthur said. Five Ridgeline girls are in the GSL top 10, led by sophomore Emery Sevy in first in 18:44.7. Freshman Chloe Lentz is second, sophomores Kalia Blanchard and Maliah Tsuber fifth and 12th respectively, freshman Abigail Moll is 13th and senior Myranda Evans 15th. The Falcon girls and boys are ranked sixth and seventh respectively in the Washington State Cross Country Coaches Association’s Sept. 22 3A poll. Football The Falcons are off to a solid start in 2026. After starting 2025 at 0-3, Ridgeline currently sits at 3-1 in 2026 — including an impressive 27-6 win over perennial GSL title contender Mt. Spokane that put the Falcons at 1-0 in the GSL’s 3A classification. Ridgeline opened with a 14-7 loss at GSL 2A West Valley but followed that with the win over the Wildcats, a 61-7 rout of 4A Ferris and a 42-0 whitewash of 4A Lewis and Clark. Junior running back Jaxon Feiser carried the ball 23 times for 208 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Ferris and 20 times for 139 yards and two scores against LC. Junior quarterback Marcus Mitrovich was 9-for-19, 141 yards and two TDs passing and ran for a 30-yard score against the Tigers.
Photo by John McCallum Ridgeline’s Brynlee Allred spikes the ball against Central Valley in Greater Spokane League playoff action last year. After finishing fifth at state in 2025, the Falcons are looking to return to the top of the 3A podium with another state title in 2026.
Ridgeline is ninth in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) state 3A RPI rankings. See SPORTS SUPPLY, Page 29
OCTOBER 2026 • 27
The Splash
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Student of the Month
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Baily Romero balances academic excellence, leadership, service and dance with remarkable focus. The West Valley High School senior holds a 4.0 GPA and is in the running for class valedictorian. She serves as president of National Honor Society, participates in Link Crew to welcome and support freshmen transition into high school, and captains the West Valley dance team. Romero also competes with Smokey Hill Dance Studio and has danced competitively for six years. Last season, Romero and the West Valley Dance Team won its district title. Her commitment extends beyond the classroom through service at elementary school events and Pasadena Park Church’s North Pole Experience. Academically, she is earning college credits while in high school through Running Start. Inspired by crime documentaries and psychology books Baily plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology, followed by graduate study in forensic psychology and a possible career in public safety. Romero is fascinated by how the brain shapes perception and behavior.
Ridgeline High School senior Lola Millard stands out for the energy, curiosity and care she brings to every commitment. With a 3.976 GPA, Lola balances AP and dual-credit courses with an impressive range of activities. She serves as a Color Guard captain, performs in Wind Ensemble and Winter Guard, plays tennis, participates in Podcast Club and National Honor Society, helps lead Ridgeline’s Green Team, and is a part of the Ridgeline Verde Loco Planning committee. Her leadership is rooted in community: she supports campus cleanups, a community garden, activities and environmental projects, while also volunteering through her church and working at a locally owned thrift store. Recognized as an outstanding Winter Guard performer and an AP Scholar of distinction receiving 4.0 in six AP classes, Lola pairs achievement with enthusiasm for teamwork and service. After graduation, she hopes to study environmental science or natural resources and sustainability at Western Washington University, with an interest in fieldwork and ecosystems.
For more than two decades, Matt Albright has built a reputation as a dedicated leader who combines strategic vision with a commitment to serving others. Currently serving as Executive Director of Operations & Service Lines for Providence in the Inland Northwest, he oversees critical hospital operations and service lines that support thousands of patients and caregivers across the region. Albright’s leadership journey spans healthcare, military service, and community engagement. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and Washington State University, he has held key positions in healthcare administration while developing multidisciplinary teams and driving organizational excellence. Beyond his professional achievements, Albright is deeply invested in community development. He serves as a member of the Spokane County Leadership Council with LaunchNW and is a board member and past board chair for the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, helping strengthen educational opportunities and economic vitality throughout the region. Congratulations Matt on your recent marriage!
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SPORTS SUPPLY Continued from page 26 Girls soccer Ridgeline returns 11 seniors from last year’s team that advanced to the second round of the 3A state tournament, losing to No. 3 seed Bellevue to end their season at 13-7-1. The Falcons are off to a fast start in 2026, going 4-11 through the first month of play. Ridgeline opened with a 4-0 loss to Idaho’s Lake City, followed by a trip to Western Washington to face two Everettarea schools, downing Everett High School 5-0 on Sept. 11 and Jackson High School 4-0 on Sept. 12, with senior forward Lydia Lynn scoring six of the nine goals. Back home, Lynn scored two goals in Ridgeline’s 4-1 win over defending 2A state champion West Valley on Sept. 15 while senior midfielder Gianna Moriniti had a goal and assist in the Falcon’s 2-0 win over visiting Central Kitsap Sept. 17. The Falcons battled Mead to a scoreless tie on Sept. 23. The Falcons are currently second in the WIAA 3A RPI rankings. Fellow GSL schools Mt. Spokane and Cheney are third and sixth respectively. Girls swimming Six swimmers have turned out for the Falcons, allowing the young program to compete in its first-ever full team competition Sept. 15 against Cheney, Lewis
and Clark, Medical Lake and Pullman, earning the program’s first victory with a win over Medical Lake. Freshman Emme Teske placed second in the 200-meter freestyle and the 500-meter free. She teamed with senior Rachel Nicholls, sophomore Baylee Crater and freshman Taylor Behrens for second in the 200 free relay. First-year head coach Kevin Eddy said Homecoming activities kept all of the Falcons from competing at the MidColumbia Invitational at Pasco High School on Sept. 19 — all except one. Nicholls made the trip to the largest swimming and diving meet in state history and came home with a thirdplace finish in the 500 free and an eighth place finish in the 200 free. Her time in the 500 of 5 minutes, 35.44 seconds — according to SwimCloud.com — not only set a school record, Eddy said, but is also the second fastest time so far this season in 3A District 6. Also competing this season are freshman Finleigh Abrams (backstroke, individual medley) and senior Sara DeSanti (IM, freestyle). Eddy believes it’s a talented squad capable of sending two relay teams to state in Federal Way in November. “Additionally, Nicholls, Abrams and Teske are potential individual state qualifiers,” he said. “Nicholls and Teske are potential point scores (top 16) as well.”
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Slowpitch softball After a 2-4 start the Falcons were on a six-game winning streak to climb into third place in the 2A/3A/4A GSL overall standings. Ridgeline has outscored opponents 11230 during the streak, including a 12-0 shutout of 4A Lewis and Clark. “One of the things I have been most impressed with is the depth of our team,” head coach Lori Maupin said. “We have girls contributing in a variety of ways and we are continuing to grow as a team as the season progresses.” Ridgeline has a balanced mix of four seniors, five juniors and four sophomores back from last year’s team that finished their GSL season at 8-4, 14-7 overall and advanced to within one win of an appearance at the 3A state tournament — losing to University in the game for the District 6 third seed. Aaliyah Yeldon, Ada Case, Persais Triplett and Millie Dobyns return for their final season, with Yeldon’s nine home runs and 36 runs batted in leading the team offensively. At 8-4 overall, 6-1 in the GSL, the Falcons are fourth in the WIAA 2A/3A rankings. University and Mt. Spokane are 1-2 respectively. “As we head into October, we are looking forward to continuing to improve, competing against some of the best teams in the area and honestly the state,” Maupin said. “We know there is still a
lot of work ahead of us, but this group has the talent and work ethic to make a deep postseason run.” Volleyball After taking home a fifthplace trophy at last year’s state tournament the Falcons are looking to recapture the hardware they earned in 2024 — a 3A state championship. Ridgeline finished 6-2 in the GSL in 2025, tied with Mt. Spokane for second and first among 3A teams, but owned the league tiebreaker over the Wildcats courtesy of a 3-2 road win, giving the Falcons the top seed to districts. At District 6 competition, Ridgeline downed CV and University to advance to the title game where they lost 3-1 to Mt. Spokane, earning a No.7 seed to state. At Yakima, Ridgeline opened with a win over Bishop Blanchet before being bounced to the consolation bracket with a 3-1 loss to Mt. Spokane. Ridgeline defeated third-seeded Lakes and then Central Kitsap for fifth, finishing the season 16-6. The Falcons return six seniors who have played big roles in the program’s success the past two seasons: Bailey Hillman, Ryan Libey, Sophia Campbell, London Pulsipher, Brynlee Allred and Mia Bjorklund. Ridgeline is off to a 3-1 start with wins over Idaho 5A Coeur d’Alene along with Mead and Cheney. Their only loss is to WIAA 4A top-ranked Gonzaga Prep.
30 • OCTOBER 2026
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Hearing Examiner Allows Indoor Sports Facility at Launch Academy site, calling city decision clearly erroneous and not supported by substantial evidence
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The decision, dated Sept. 25, comes several months after a 7.5 hour hearing that spanned two days in June. The City argued that the facility’s size and some planned amenities, including a bar, made it a Participant and Spectator Sports Facility, which is capped at 30,000 square feet in the M-2 zoning the land sits it. They also argued that Launchpad Assets, which would build and own the facility, would be leasing the facility to the school and also rent it out to outside groups, including Mode Sports, so it would not be a true school facility. In turn, Launchpad Assets owner Luke Kjar argued that the facility would be limited to
OCTOBER 2026 • 31
The Splash Liberty Lake Launch Academy students during the school day, which qualified it as an accessory use. The school currently has about 240 students. He also argued that many other schools, public and private, allow their facilities to be rented by outside groups. In his decision, Hearing Examiner Karl Granrath came down firmly on the side of Kjar. “The decision of the City was clearly erroneous and/or not supported by substantial evidence,” Granrath wrote. “The decision of the City to determine that the proposed sports facility was not an accessory use and/ or that it constituted a separate primary use of a Participant and Spectator Sports Facility is clearly erroneous and not supported by substantial evidence. The decision of the City is reversed.” He said the decision was “hard to whittle down to its core critical components” because “there are a myriad of facts and circumstances, alleged or otherwise, that can serve to distract a reviewer.” Granrath wrote that the proposed facility is “admittedly enormous in size (compared to the school itself), but is so large chiefly because of the inclusion of an indoor soccer/ lacrosse field with associated spectator seating.” The proposal submitted by Launchpad Assets includes six full-size basketball courts, seven pickleball courts, 1,800 spectator seats, a rooftop
viewing deck, a Farmers Market and a food truck area in addition to the 95,000 square foot soccer field. In comparison, the HUB Sports Center in Liberty Lake, is 66,670 square feet and includes five full-size basketball courts. It is classified as a Participant and Spectator Sports Facility, which is allowed in the C-2 zone it sits in. However, Granrath wrote, being “shocked by the proposed size” is not sufficient reason to deny the proposal. He wrote that the city improperly fixated on the plan to let outside groups, including Mode Sports, use the facility outside of school hours. The city relied, in part, on a slideshow on the Mode Sports website that touted the facility as the “ultimate destination for athletics in the Northwest” and boasted about the expansion of Mode Sports that would follow construction of the facility, representing the facility as the home of Mode Sports. The slideshow has since been deleted. In his decision, Granrath chided the city for relying on information on the Mode Sports website. “While some outside research can be warranted, in this case the overreliance on such was error,” he wrote. “The City’s reliance on their own cursory investigation into a separate entity’s website is misguided.” At the same time, however, Granrath acknowledged that the City “identified some potentially
worrying statements Mode website.”
on
the
Granrath wrote that it was not “illegal or inappropriate” for Launchpad Assets to incorporate “design elements to support activities outside of pure school use.” During the hearing, city representatives expressed concern about a “bait and switch” and what would happen if Liberty Lake Launch Academy closes after the facility is built. “Nothing in this decision forestalls future code enforcement measures in the event of a school closure or any other situation in which the school is longer the primary user of the athletic facility,” he wrote. “Hypotheticals, suspicions or worry about potential future noncompliance is not a valid basis for denial.” Granrath suggested the City could consider negotiating a Development Agreement that would limit the facility to school use only during school hours. “The Hearing Examiner is left with a firm and definite conviction that a mistake has been made and, therefore, the decision of the City is reversed,” he wrote. “The Appellant’s proposed facility is accessory to the school.” Kjar said he was pleased by the Hearing Examiner’s decision. “I feel vindicated,” he said. “The public narrative around this project was very different from what we had been saying the facts were all
along. Now an independent Hearing Examiner reviewed the full record and found the City’s determination clearly erroneous and unsupported by substantial evidence. That is a very stark contrast from what the community had been led to believe.” The proposed project has been on hold during the hearing process and Kjar said the wait was so long that he’s been exploring other locations, including Stateline Speedway, which he owns. Kjar said that there’s enough space there, but there’s no access to sewer and water and the land isn’t zoned properly. “I had to go and explore,” he said. Kjar said he’d still like to build the proposed facility, but isn’t sure he’ll do it in Liberty Lake. “I don’t know how I would restart the project with the city in shambles,” he said. “Winning the appeal validates our position, but it doesn’t fix the larger problem. We spent an enormous amount of time, money and energy just trying to get a project with real community benefit over the finish line and that experience absolutely affects how we look at moving forward in Liberty Lake.” The city has 15 days from the date of the decision to decide whether or not to appeal the Hearing Examiner’s decision in Spokane County Superior Court. City Administrator Mark McAvoy said the city is “discussing the next steps.”
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