SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane County voters have less than two weeks to cast ballots in the August primary election, where they will decide which candidates advance to the general election in November. Among the races on the ballot is the position of county auditor, a role that has been held by Vicky Dalton for more than two decades.
Three candidates are vying to replace Dalton: Michael Cathcart, Callie Gee and Dale Whitaker. The top two vote-getters in the primary will move forward to compete in the November general election.
While many voters associate the auditor’s office primarily with election oversight, the position carries more responsibilities. The auditor oversees county finances, maintains public records, manages vehicle licensing and processes marriage licenses.
Cathcart, a Republican, has served on the Spokane City Council since 2020. He believes his experience in local government positions him well for the auditor role.
“A lot of the work that I’ve been doing on the Spokane City Council has really emphasized good governance, transparency, accessibility, accountability,” Cathcart said.
If elected, Cathcart plans to strengthen election security by expanding post-election audits.
“This office is the center of public trust. It is what helps strengthen people’s understanding and trust in government,” Cathcart said.
Callie Gee is running as a Democrat and brings professional accounting experience to her candidacy.
“I feel like accounting experience is not just a bonus for this role — I feel like it should be a prerequisite,” Gee said.
She works at a public accounting firm and supports maintaining secure elections while ensuring public access to information.
“We’ve had a great administration over the last 28 years with Vicky Dalton, and I really plan to just run on continuing to build on her legacy and keep our county government honest and our elections secure,” Gee said.
Dale Whitaker is running as a Republican. According to his campaign website, he aims to ensure that community members can trust the office that manages public finances and elections. Whitaker did not respond to requests for comment.
Current voter turnout in Spokane County stands at just over 11%. Voters have until Aug. 4 to either postmark their ballots or deposit them in a drop box.
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