Can We Trust Lisa Brown & Betsy Wilkerson to Keep Us Safe?

SPOKANE, WA - The Spokane Good Government Alliance released the following statement today, kicking off a new campaign that asks Spokane voters to consider a simple question:

“Can we trust Lisa Brown and Betsy Wilkerson to keep us safe?”

“Public safety is on the ballot this year,” said John Estey, Executive Director of the Spokane Good Government Alliance. “Lisa Brown and Betsy Wilkerson may give lip service to ‘public safety’ but Spokane voters deserve to know their real records. They both support policies that will make Spokane less safe.”

Spokane residents will recall Lisa Brown used her position at the Washington State Department of Commerce to give taxpayer dollars to an organization that bails repeat offenders out of jail. Brown also has a long history of funneling her failed congressional campaign funds to support “Defund the Police” candidates for public office and even hired staff who advocate for defunding the police on her Mayoral campaign.

During the City Council meeting on September 26, 2022, Betsy Wilkerson voted to defund police drug investigations. Spokane Police Chief Meidl pleaded with Council to not pass an ordinance removing funds that the department relies on for drug investigations.  He noted “we had a 600% increase in overdose deaths… We’ll have to stop drug investigations” if Council took action to defund their investigations.  Despite hearing this testimony, Councilwoman Wilkerson still voted to pass an ordinance that would bankrupt the fund used for these drug investigations.

“Voters have a clear choice this November. There is a reason why the Spokane Police Guild and Sheriff John Nowels did not endorse Lisa Brown, Betsy Wilkerson, or anyone on their slate of candidates - their records of supporting defunding the police and making our community less safe is bad for Spokane. Voters are entitled to know their record” Estey concluded. 

The Spokane Good Government Alliance was formed in 2019 to advocate for a balanced local government that best serves the Citizens of Spokane.