County Settles Case With Prosecutor Challenger

Spokane County settled Danny Tarkenton’s claim for $20,000 in January after she accused supervisors in the prosecutor’s office of violating due process and creating an unsafe workplace. The county later recorded her departure as a resignation instead of a termination and agreed not to disparage her.

Prosecutor Preston McCollam dismissed Tarkenton on August 25, 2025, after five months on the job, citing insubordination. Tarkenton had questioned decisions in involuntary behavioral-health treatment cases, including the rejection of medical opinions she obtained. She also said military language used by her supervisor, Jason Moscowitz, triggered PTSD connected to her military service. Her lawyers had sought $25,000 in September 2025.

Tarkenton is now challenging McCollam for prosecutor, making the employment dispute part of a closely watched county election. The firing became public shortly before election day, after records requests revealed details of the case. Tarkenton’s account emphasizes her health, constitutional obligations and concerns inside the office; McCollam’s campaign has framed the dispute around workplace safety and victims. The settlement’s treatment of her separation, along with the allegations about office management, gives Spokane County voters more information about the candidates and the prosecutor’s office before choosing its next leader.