SPOKANE, Wash. — The city of Spokane's general election took place on Nov. 7, 2023, with some big races on the ballot. That election was certified on Tuesday, and while some representatives held onto their positions, a lot of new faces are entering leadership roles in the city of Spokane.
According to the Spokane County Election's Office, overall voter turnout in the 2023 general election was 42.9%. That's down from 61.92% turnout in the 2022 general election, but up from 29.54% in the 2023 primary election.
This year's general election introduced new leadership into positions within the city of Spokane, including the mayor, city council president and city council members.
Here are the people Spokane elected to lead the city:
For all Spokane County election results, click here.
Lisa Brown- Mayor
Lisa Brown has served as a Washington state official for nearly 30 years. She began her career as a Washington state representative from 1993-1997 and a state senator from 1997-2012. After her time in the state legislature, she served as the chancellor of Washington State University-Spokane from 2013-2017. Most recently, she served as the director of the Department of Commerce from 2019-2022.
Brown is a former board member of YWCA Spokane, the Empire Health Foundation, the Downtown Spokane Partnership, Greater Spokane Incorporated and more.
Brown received 51.8% of the votes for mayor, compared to incumbent Nadine Woodward, who earned 47.7% of the votes.
She will be sworn in as Spokane's new mayor on Dec. 29, 2023 and will begin work on Jan. 1, 2024. Going into the position, her main focus will be improving public safety, streets, affordable housing and economic opportunities.
WATCH: KREM 2 speaks with Mayor-elect Lisa Brown
Betsy Wilkerson- Spokane City Council President
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 also the owner of Moore's Assisted Living Center in Spokane.
Wilkerson is the president of Junior League and the chair of the Carl Maxey Center. She is the president of the Women Helping Women fund and serves of the boards for the Innovia Foundation and the St. Luke's Community Advisory Board.
Wilkerson received 53.1% of the votes for Spokane city council president, compared to challenger Kim Plese, who received 46.6% of the votes. Her victory makes her the first Black woman elected to serve as Spokane city council president.
Going into the position, her main focus will be strengthening community safety, taking on homelessness and housing with urgency and prioritizing small businesses.
She is succeeding current President Lori Kinnear, who was appointed to the position after former President Breann Beggs stepped down.
WATCH: Betsy Wilkerson | The Tea with Amanda Roley
Michael Cathcart (Incumbent)- Spokane City Councilmember Dist. 1, Pos. 1
Incumbent 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.
Cathcart has experience working in government positions as an executive director for Better Spokane, five years working with the Spokane Home Builders Association advocating for smarter local housing policies, and two years working for Sen. Michael Baumgartner as his Legislative Aide.
Cathcart received 55.8% of the votes in the general election, compared to challenger Lindsey Shaw, who received 43.7% of the votes.
Cathcart’s priorities include fighting to secure more resources for Northeast Spokane as well as working to improve policies addressing crime, housing, homelessness and infrastructure needs.
Paul Dillon- Spokane City Councilmember Dist. 2, Pos. 1
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.
Dillon is on the board for Greater Spokane Progress and the Washington Bus. He is also a former board member for the Center for Justice and Washington Bikes.
Dillon received 52.2% of the votes in the general election, compared to challenger Katey Randall Treloar, who received 46.4% of the votes.
Going into the position, his main focus will be affordable housing, economic opportunity and creating safe, livable neighborhoods.
Kitty Klitzke- Spokane City Councilmember Dist. 3, Pos. 1
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.
Klitzke serves as an Army Reserve medic and an AmeriCorps member. She is the program outreach director for The Lands Council and the Eastern Washington program director for Futurewise.
Klitzke received 59.5% of the votes in the general election, compared to challenger Earl Moore, who received 38.9% of the votes.
Going into the position, her main focus will be building strong neighborhoods, ensuring neighborhood voices are heard and making sure tax dollars are spent wisely.
She is succeeding Karen Stratton.
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