Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office Controversy Gets Election Review

Val Osier and Aaron Hedge examine recent turmoil inside the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office as voters weigh the contest between Preston McCollam and Danny Tarkenton. McCollam is the current prosecutor, while Tarkenton is the challenger and previously worked in the office as a deputy prosecutor.

McCollam dismissed Tarkenton from that job. Before the firing, Tarkenton had accused a supervisor within the office of making the workplace unsafe. Their history now forms part of the public discussion surrounding the prosecutor race and how voters assess the two candidates.

In November, Spokane County voters will choose a prosecutor in the first election for the position following Larry Haskell’s retirement. The review is intended as last-minute ballot coverage, organizing the dispute’s details and considering how the office controversy could affect the election. For Spokane residents, the race determines who will lead a county office already facing internal conflict between the two people seeking the job.