Based on staff reports
Five races on the November ballot in Spokane County will be featured next week in an evening of candidate debates.
The Pints & Politics event, hosted by The Spokesman-Review’s Northwest Passages Book Club, will begin at 5 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Bing Crosby Theater in downtown Spokane. Each debate that evening will be moderated by a journalist-journalist.
It will begin with a debate between John Nowels and Wade Nelson, the two Republican candidates hoping to replace Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, who is retiring at the end of the year after four terms.
The rest of the debates will include:
• Republican Spokane County Attorney Larry Haskell and challenger Deb Conklin, who is running as a nonpartisan candidate.
• Incumbent state House Rep. Rob Chase and former state Rep. Leonard Christian, Chase’s challenger in his bid to retain the 4th Legislative District seat that represents the Spokane Valley.
• Spokane County Commissioner Al French, a Republican running for a commission seat in the new 5th Commissioner District, and French’s opponent, Democrat Maggie Yates.
Current Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton, a Democrat, is also participating. His opponent, Republican Bob McCaslin, declined to participate.
The activity is free but a ticket is required to enter. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Tickets are available at spokane7tickets.com.
No posters, campaign signs or banners will be allowed in the theatre.
