Spokane County Primary Election Report: Aligning Local Governance with Sustainable Development Goals

A primary election in Spokane County, with a voter turnout of approximately 25%, resulted in the approval of key fiscal measures and the narrowing of candidate fields for several elected positions. The outcomes reflect a significant local commitment to advancing several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning environmental protection, public health, and strong, accountable institutions.

Fiscal Measures Advancing Sustainable Development

Commitment to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Voters in the city of Spokane demonstrated overwhelming support for environmental stewardship and public health by approving a measure to rejoin the Aquifer Protection Area. This initiative directly addresses the targets of SDG 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

• Approval Rate: Nearly 74% of voters supported the measure.
• Funding Mechanism: A $15 annual tax will be levied.
• Projected Revenue: The tax is expected to generate approximately $1.8 million annually for the city.
• SDG Impact: Funds are designated for projects that monitor and improve the quality of the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, the region’s sole source of drinking water. This includes specific efforts to mitigate pollutants such as PFAS “forever chemicals,” safeguarding a critical natural resource for community health.

Enhancing SDG 11 and SDG 16: Sustainable Communities and Strong Institutions

In Spokane Valley, a public safety sales tax was approved, highlighting a focus on building safe communities and strengthening local institutions, which are central tenets of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

• Approval Rate: 58% of voters supported Proposition 1.
• Funding Mechanism: A 0.1% public safety sales tax, bringing the city’s total sales tax rate to 9%.
• Projected Revenue: The tax is estimated to generate $2.6 million in 2026.
• SDG Impact: The revenue will fund 10 additional police officers, reinforcing the institutional capacity for maintaining public order and safety, a key component of a sustainable and resilient urban environment.

Bolstering SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Voters in Fire Districts 8 and 13 passed levies for emergency medical services, a direct investment in community health infrastructure that aligns with SDG 3.

• Approval Rates: Fire District 8’s measure passed with over 61% of the vote, while Fire District 13’s measure received more than 67%.
• Funding Mechanism: A tax of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
• SDG Impact: The levies provide critical funding for emergency medical response, ensuring residents have access to essential health services and contributing to the overall well-being of the community.

Election Outcomes and the Future of Local Governance

Upholding SDG 16: Effective and Accountable Institutions

The primary election narrowed the candidate fields for numerous local government positions, a fundamental democratic process for ensuring effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels, as outlined in SDG 16. The general election in November will determine the leadership responsible for local policy and its alignment with sustainable development objectives.

1. Spokane City Council: Incumbent Zack Zappone and challenger Christopher Savage will advance to the general election.
2. Spokane Valley City Council:
   • For one seat, Mike Kelly and Kristopher Pockell will proceed.
   • For another seat, incumbent Laura Padden will face challenger Brad Hohn.
3. Central Valley School Board (SDG 4: Quality Education): Incumbent Pam Orebaugh and challenger Mark Bitz will be on the November ballot, competing for a position crucial to shaping local educational policy.
4. Spokane County Fire District 3: Incumbent Tim Flock and challenger Mike Meyer will advance.
5. Spokane County Fire District 4: Incumbent Roger Krieger will face Dan Garner in the general election.
6. Cheney City Council: Rebecca Long and Timothy Steiner will move on to the November election.
7. Deer Park City Council: David Aufdencamp and Tony Bailey will compete for the council seat.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The article directly addresses this goal by detailing the approval of a tax for Spokane to rejoin the Aquifer Protection Area. The stated purpose is “to fund water quality monitoring and improvement in the region’s sole source of drinking water” and to address pollutants like PFAS, which is central to ensuring clean water availability.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The issues discussed, such as managing the primary water source, funding public safety through more police officers, and ensuring emergency medical services, are all fundamental components of creating safe, resilient, and sustainable urban and community environments in Spokane County.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is highlighted in two ways. First, the funding for “10 additional police officers” aims to strengthen public safety institutions. Second, the detailed reporting on the primary elections for various city council, school board, and fire district positions showcases the democratic process of building “effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels” through public participation in voting.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The successful passage of levies for “emergency medical services” in Fire Districts 8 and 13 directly relates to strengthening local capacity to manage health risks and provide essential health services, contributing to the well-being of the community.

Specific Targets Identified

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The article supports this by describing measures to protect the “sole source of drinking water” for the region, the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer.
   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution…and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials. The article explicitly mentions that the new funding will be used for projects that “address pollutants, including the ‘forever chemicals’ in the PFAS family.”
   • Target 6.b: Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management. The primary election vote, where “Nearly 74% of voters…supported a $15-a-year tax to rejoin the Aquifer Protection Area,” is a direct example of community participation in water management decisions.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services. The funding for water protection, police, and emergency medical services are all investments in the “basic services” necessary for a sustainable community.
   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities. The initiative to monitor water quality and address pollutants in the aquifer is a direct action to reduce the city’s environmental impact.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The entire article, which reports on election results for city councils, school boards, and fire districts, is about the process of staffing these local institutions. The funding of public safety is also an effort to make these institutions more effective.
   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. The primary election is the mechanism for this target. The article details voter choices and turnout (“about 25% of registered voters returned a primary election ballot”), reflecting the level of participation in local decision-making.

4. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries…for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks. At a local level, passing levies for “emergency medical services” directly strengthens the community’s capacity to manage and respond to health emergencies.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Financial Investment: The article states that rejoining the protection area will generate “approximately $1.8 million each year” to fund projects addressing pollutants. This monetary value is a direct indicator of resource allocation.
   • Public Support: The fact that “Nearly 74% of voters” supported the tax is a strong indicator of public will and engagement in water protection.
   • Pollutant Focus: The specific mention of addressing “‘forever chemicals’ in the PFAS family” serves as an indicator of the type of water quality improvement being targeted.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Resource Allocation for Basic Services: The article provides several financial indicators for investment in basic services: “$1.8 million each year” for water, an estimated “$2.6 million in 2026” for police, and a tax of “50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value” for EMS.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Voter Participation Rate: The article states that “about 25% of registered voters returned a primary election ballot,” which is a direct indicator of citizen participation in the democratic process.
   • Resource Allocation for Public Safety: The new public safety sales tax is “estimated to generate $2.6 million in 2026” to pay for “10 additional police officers,” serving as a quantitative indicator of strengthening safety institutions.
   • Election Results: The specific vote percentages for candidates (e.g., “Zack Zappone…received more than 51% of the vote”) are indicators of the outcomes of representative decision-making processes.

4. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Financial Commitment to Health Services: The tax of “50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value” for emergency medical services is a clear financial indicator of investment in health infrastructure.
   • Level of Public Approval: The high approval rates for the EMS levies (“more than 61%” and “more than 67%”) are indicators of strong community support for strengthening emergency health response.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: inlander.com