SPOKANE, Wash. – Incumbent Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward conceded the election to her challenger Lisa Brown on Monday evening after a hotly-contested campaign, which became the most expensive race across Washington state in the 2023 election cycle.
“This job is huge,” Woodward said in a Tuesday afternoon interview with NonStop Local KHQ. “It can be overwhelming at times, but it’s an important job, and I’m honored and privileged to have had it.”
Woodward said her top priority right now is ensuring a smooth transition from her administration to one led by now Mayor-Elect Brown.
“I just called her last night and congratulated her and wished her success, and told her that we would make that transition as smooth as possible for her and her team–as well as the organization–by offering her office space, access to staff, all of those things,” Woodward said.
That’s what Woodward said she was offered from former Spokane Mayor David Condon during her transition to the mayor’s office four years ago.
“Because my focus is really on the employees, and on this organization, so I think it’s really important that we provide those opportunities for the next administration,” Woodward said.
Outside of the upcoming transition, Woodward said her focus of the last six weeks of her mayoral tenure centers around the proposed Spokane regional homeless authority.
“That work needs to continue,” Woodward said. “I’m really hopeful that we can keep those conversations going, keep that momentum going and we can see that become a reality in 2024.”
When asked if there were things she learned or didn’t anticipate coming into office that she might pass along to the mayor-elect as part of the transition, Woodward responded:
“Well everyone approaches the job differently. For me, it was how important it is to listen, to know that you represent everybody–people who voted for you, people who didn’t vote for you, people who agree with you and people who don’t agree with you.”
Woodward said she’s planning on taking some time off with family after leaving office, but outside of that?
“Listen, I’m really excited about what’s next,” Woodward said. “I don’t know what exactly that is yet, but I’m excited. This job has prepared me for something big, and I’m looking forward to that.”
NonStop Local KHQ has asked the Lisa Brown campaign for an interview with the mayor-elect to learn about what the transition between administrations will look like from her perspective, but those requests have been declined over the last few days Her team has said Brown will be taking some time to rest and be with family after a long election cycle, and will be available for an interview next Monday.
Brown did publish a Tweet Monday night after Woodward conceded, though, with the statement below:
“Thank you [Mayor Woodward] for your service to the city we love. I appreciate and accept your offer to work together for a smooth transition for the people of Spokane and for City of Spokane Employees.”
