SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane City Council will swear in their three newest councilmembers and council president on Monday evening. The three councilmembers are Michael Cathcart, Paul Dillon and Kitty Klitzke. Betsy Wilkerson will take over as council president.
Wilkerson is making history on the Spokane City Council being the first Black council president. KREM 2 spoke with Wilkerson during the mayoral swearing in back in December. “But really, we are here to celebrate a new chapter in Spokane’s history. New leadership, not saying the old was bad but we are going forward as a city.”
Betsy Wilkerson was appointed to the Spokane City Council in 2020 after then-council member Breann Beggs was elected as the city council president. She is succeeding current President Lori Kinnear, who was appointed to the position after former President Breann Beggs stepped down.
Michael Cathcart represents Northeast Spokane District 1 on the Spokane City Council. He currently serves as the chair of the public safety, Northeast Public Development Authority and the police and fire pension board.
Paul Dillon is the former vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho, a role he stepped down from to avoid a conflict of interest with his city council campaign. Prior to his time with Planned Parenthood, he served as a legislative assistant for Rep. Andy Billig.
Kitty Klitzke is the chair of the Spokane Regional Transportation Council TAC committee and the Spokane Public Language Immersion program. She is also the president of the Spokane Regional Food Policy Council and the secretary of Spokane's CA Transportation Committee.
Monday’s ceremony will be the official start for all four councilmembers terms.
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