County

Spokane County Commissioner

District 4

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: Spokane County's five commissioners, each elected by the voters of one district, adopt the county budget, set county tax rates and land-use policy, and oversee county departments.

Candidates Compare by issue

Suzanne Schmidt

Prefers Republican Party

State Representative, 4th Legislative District

The gist

Opposes data centers that threaten water or raise utility rates
Supports equipping deputies and targeting repeat offenders
Pledges to keep county taxes and fees in check
Proposes streamlining county permitting for small businesses
Supports expanding apprenticeships and career training
Pledges greater oversight of county spending
Supports increasing housing availability to lower living costs

More about Suzanne

View sources (2)

Opposes data centers that threaten water or raise utility rates
Vote 4 Suzanne (home page statement on data centers)
Campaign website · Suzanne Schmidt for County Commissioner · vote4suzanne.com
“If a project threatens our water supply, increases utility rates for families and small businesses, strains our energy grid”
Supports equipping deputies and targeting repeat offenders
Priorities
Campaign website · Suzanne Schmidt for County Commissioner · vote4suzanne.com
“Suzanne will prioritize public safety by supporting law enforcement, ensuring deputies have the tools and resources they need, and backing policies that hold offenders accountable.”
Pledges to keep county taxes and fees in check
Priorities
Campaign website · Suzanne Schmidt for County Commissioner · vote4suzanne.com
“Suzanne will focus on responsible budgeting at the county level, working to keep taxes and fees in check while eliminating wasteful or unnecessary spending.”
Proposes streamlining county permitting for small businesses
Priorities
Campaign website · Suzanne Schmidt for County Commissioner · vote4suzanne.com
“She will work to cut through bureaucratic red tape, streamline permitting processes, and create a more business-friendly environment that encourages growth and job creation.”
Supports expanding apprenticeships and career training
Priorities
Campaign website · Suzanne Schmidt for County Commissioner · vote4suzanne.com
“Suzanne will also support workforce development by partnering with local schools, community colleges, and trade programs to expand apprenticeships and career training opportunities.”
Pledges greater oversight of county spending
Priorities
Campaign website · Suzanne Schmidt for County Commissioner · vote4suzanne.com
“She will push for greater oversight of county spending, ensure taxpayer dollars are used responsibly, and demand results from county programs and services.”
Supports increasing housing availability to lower living costs
Priorities
Campaign website · Suzanne Schmidt for County Commissioner · vote4suzanne.com
“She will advocate for policies that reduce the cost of living, increase housing availability”

Rachelle Miller

Prefers Independent Party

Licensed clinical social worker; small business owner

The gist

Opposes AI data centers in Spokane County
Supports a longer data center moratorium than four months
Pledges to put aquifer protection ahead of corporate interests
Proposes pressing the state to fund public defense mandates
Pledges stable funding for opioid and crisis programs
Opposes new taxes to close the county's deficit
Pledges transparent land-use decisions for unincorporated housing

More about Rachelle

View sources (2)

Opposes AI data centers in Spokane County
Candidate statement, Online Voters' Guide, November 3, 2026 General Election
Provided by the campaign · Washington Secretary of State (statement written by the candidate) · voter.votewa.gov
“AI data centers threaten our water, our land, and our power grid. They receive massive tax breaks while we pay higher utility bills”
Supports a longer data center moratorium than four months
Platform
Campaign website · People to Elect Rachelle Miller · voterachelle.com
“Following public pressure, Spokane County enacted a four-month moratorium on data centers. However, this four-month period is simply too short.”
Pledges to put aquifer protection ahead of corporate interests
Platform
Campaign website · People to Elect Rachelle Miller · voterachelle.com
“We must prioritize our most precious natural resource over corporate interests.”
Proposes pressing the state to fund public defense mandates
Platform
Campaign website · People to Elect Rachelle Miller · voterachelle.com
“will fight the state to fund the mandates it creates.”
Pledges stable funding for opioid and crisis programs
Platform
Campaign website · People to Elect Rachelle Miller · voterachelle.com
“The commissioner's job is to protect what is working, fight for stable funding, and make sure dollars reach people”
Opposes new taxes to close the county's deficit
Platform
Campaign website · People to Elect Rachelle Miller · voterachelle.com
“The answer is not more taxes on families who are already struggling. The answer is accountability.”
Pledges transparent land-use decisions for unincorporated housing
Platform
Campaign website · People to Elect Rachelle Miller · voterachelle.com
“Rachelle will make sure those tools are working for residents and that decisions about land use are made transparently and in the public interest.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 8 issues covered in this race.