SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — The Washington State Republican Party poured at least $63,000 into the campaign of victorious Spokane mayoral candidate David Condon in the closing days of the race, helping to defeat incumbent Mary Verner.
Although the office is non-partisan, Condon has extensive ties to GOP politicians, while Verner has ties to Democrats.
Verner is crying foul about the big contributions from the GOP, calling them a “turning point” for local politics in the state’s second largest city.
Peter Graves, executive director of the state Republican Party, says the donations to Condon were part of a new strategy of getting involved in local races.
