SPOKANE, Wash. — With the first round of numbers in on election night, it appears as though incumbent Zack Zappone will continue to hold Spokane District 3’s Position 2 seat.
As of 9:12 p.m., Councilmember Zappone is leading the race with 54.52% of the vote, against candidate Savage’s 45.05%.
Since his election to City Council in 2021, Councilmember Zappone has supported, among other issues, establishing school-based health clinics, expanding behavioral health crisis response teams, securing funding for police training to improve officer accountability and converting empty parking lots for affordable housing.
Born and raised in Spokane, Zappone earned a full-ride scholarship to study Public Policy and Urban Planning at Princeton. He later worked as a teacher in local public schools.
“Zack is running for re-election to keep fighting for Spokane’s working and middle class families by improving public safety, addressing affordability, and building 21st century infrastructure,” reads his reelection campaign website.
Candidate Chris Savage, also born and raised in Spokane, has run his campaign on prioritizing public safety, making housing affordable and reining in what he calls ‘reckless spending’ by city leaders.
His campaign has emphasized cracking down on crime, banning public camping and supporting Spokane Police Department.
“We need more police. We must stop tying their hands with bad policies so they can do their job. We have the funding to hire more officers, but morale within the SPD is low due to hostility from the City Council and restrictive policies. Electing leaders who back our police will restore morale and fill vacancies, ensuring safer streets,” reads Savage’s campaign website.
In early October, both candidates took to the debate stage to discuss homelessness and housing ahead of the election.
Savage said current strategies aren’t working.
“When I’m door-knocking all the doors in my district, I’m hearing constantly complaints about where these shelters are and how they’re being activated,” Savage said.
Zappone pointed to a policy he backed called “H.O.M.E. Starts Here” to boost housing for all income levels.
“This policy about it and support of for is a cohesive, comprehensive, all above strategy to address homelessness,” Zappone said.
As of Tuesday evening, 24.84% of ballots have been returned. Votes will continue to be counted over the next several days. Final results will be certified on November 25.
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