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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Central Valley School Board District 1

Election Results

Candidate Votes Pct
Cynthia (Cindy) McMullen 12,782 51.18%
Jeff Brooks 12,193 48.82%

* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.

About The Race

The Candidates

Cynthia (Cindy) McMullen

Age:
71
City:
Spokane Valley, Washington

Education: Graduated from Heidelberg American High School in Germany in 1970. Graduated from Stanford University in 1974 with a bachelor’s in political science. Graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1979 with a law degree.

Political experience: First elected to Central Valley School Board in 1987, serving for 24 years. Elected again in 2015 and has been on the board since. Appointed to the State Board of Education by other school board members, serving from 2012-15. Appointed chair of the Spokane County Civil Service Commission, served four years in the 1980s. Currently on the legislative committee and federal relations network in the Washington State School Directors Association for the last 15 years, served on the leadership board of the association from 2007-10. Chair of the WSSDA federal relations network from 2018-22.

Work experience: Worked as a lawyer for 40 years, as a city attorney for several small cities and towns and eventually opening McMullen Law Offices and working there until retirement in 2020. Served as Spokane County District Court judge pro tempore from 1995 to 2010. Served as Spokane County Superior Court arbitrator from 2005-2018 and Spokane County land use hearing examiner from 1998-2010.

Family: Married to Dennis McMullen. Have three grown daughters who attended Central Valley schools.

Campaign contributions: Has raised $8,445 as of Sept. 10. Support is largely from individual donors, including $1,200 from Geoffrey Batt; $1,200 from Paul Clay, who represented the three incumbents in a failed 2021 recall attempt; $1,200 from Amy Kay; $500 from Teresa Landa, another board member; and $250 from Washington Education Association Political Action Committee, the statewide teachers’ union.

Jeff Brooks

Age:
62
City:
Spokane Valley, Washington

Education: Graduated from Franklin Pierce High School in 1979. Completed a two-year Navy nuclear power school program in 1987. Graduated from Spokane Falls Community College in 1993 with an associate degree in applied science. Graduated from Eastern Washington University with a bachelor’s in physical therapy.

Work experience: Currently working as a physical therapist since 1995, currently at Infinity Rehab since 2005. Previously did physical therapy at Sacred Heart Medical Center, St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Medical Center, in home care, pediatrics and as a traveling physical therapist. Served in the Navy from 1985-91.

Political experience: None.

Family: Married to Kimberly Brooks. Has two adult children, who transferred from Central Valley to West Valley School District.

Political donations: Has raised $3,532 as of Sept. 10. Support is largely from individual donors, including a $1,000 donation from Kimberly Brooks and $100 from Rob Linebarger, petitioner of a failed recall attempt against the three incumbents in 2021.

Complete Coverage

How the Valley was won: Conservative newcomers to Central Valley School Board ready for teamwork, concern for levy passage

After its most contentious election in recent memory, the Central Valley School Board will see new faces in December, though not a complete sweep of challengers.

Two of three challengers in contentious Central Valley school board election overtake long-time incumbents

Two longtime Central Valley School Board members lost their re-election bids in last week’s vote.

Another Central Valley School Board incumbent falls behind in third day of vote counting

Long-time Central Valley School Board member Debra Long lost her lead Friday in her bid to retain her seat, putting more conservative candidates on a path for winning the majority on the board.

Early results show tight races for Central Valley School Board

It was too close to call the victors late Tuesday in Central Valley School Board’s contentious and expensive races this year between conservative challengers and long-time incumbents.

The six candidates for Central Valley School Board discuss legislative advocacy, parent’s rights in candidate forum

Curriculum, local control and parents’ role in education dominated conversation among candidates in a student-moderated Central Valley School Board election forum Monday evening.

Challenger to long-time incumbent on Central Valley School Board says district should forgo $33M levy

There’s a lot that differentiates candidates for the Central Valley School Board seat representing district 1.