I’m running for Spokane County Auditor because a strong community starts with trust. With a transition in leadership in the Auditor's office ahead, we need an Auditor who is committed to bringing sunlight to government and protecting the security of our elections. I will defend your right to oversight, your right to vote, and your right to clear, usable information about what is happening in Spokane County. My goal is to give you the tools to hold government accountable when it falls short, and the confidence to trust it when it delivers.
As your Auditor, I will be an independent watchdog, focused on the systems that touch our lives every day. That means serious oversight of tax dollars, strong election administration, and careful stewardship of vital records. It also means getting the basics right, from paying our county workers accurately and on-time to recording property deeds and processing marriage licenses accurately to issuing vehicle registration and transferring vehicle titles efficiently.
The Auditor's Office touches the lives of Spokane County residents every day from the ballot you cast, to the taxes you pay, to major life moments such as the home you buy, to the paycheck county employee families depends on.
Conducts federal, state, and local elections. Manages voter registration, ballot security, chain of custody, tabulation, and audits. Protects your ballot and your right to vote.
Records the legal documents that protect your major life moments — real estate deeds and other instruments tied to your property and family.
Issues vehicle titles and registrations, and marriage licenses that residents rely on to live and move through their daily lives in Spokane County.
Oversees county financial operations ensuring bills are paid, assets protected, and makes certain county employees are paid accurately and on time.
For the first time in 28 years, voters will choose a new Auditor. This choice sets the tone for elections, recording, licensing, and county finances for the next generation. The office should be one residents can trust.
Public confidence in elections is earned every cycle by doing the work where people can see it. Polling in Eastern Washington shows growing concern about elections. To wave those concerns away is a recipe for an erosion of public trust. Michael's approach is to proactively demonstrate how the office keeps ballots secure, monitors chain of custody, verifies eligibility, tabulates results, and to expand post-election audits, to show the public the accuracy of our work.
Recording a deed, registering a vehicle, getting a marriage license these are big life moments for most residents and they typically require or result in some kind of engagement with the Auditor's office. These moments deserve the best and most responsive customer service possible. The office will respect their time abd communicate effectively.
County employees count on the Auditor's office for accurate, on-time paychecks. Changes to the County payroll system have created frustrations and doubts that will require further implementation and work to smooth over.
The Auditor's Office is one of the public's strongest safeguards against secrecy and political games. Michael will run the office with professionalism in operations, and a transparency-first mindset; including releasing more data, more often, in formats residents can actually use. We will get into the details of compliance with grants, ensure appropriate spending, and show you the actual results of your taxpayer dollars.
Community leaders of all political backgrounds are supporting Michael because the Auditor’s Office needs steady leadership, secure elections, and public trust people can count on.
I'm absolutely thrilled Michael is running... I'm crossing party lines, but it's been about the service the office provides, and that's how I look at it. It's not whether you're Democrat or Republican, but are you a person who can manage those services and lead that office? And I think Michael is more than capable of providing that leadership.
Michael is a dedicated public servant who cares deeply about our community. I'm proud to endorse Michael Cathcart for Spokane County Auditor. I've known him for over 15 years from his time as my campaign manager and later trusted Legislative Aide. I have no doubt he will be an excellent Auditor, ensuring fair and secure elections, serving as trusted custodian of County resources, and leading with integrity on behalf of the people of Spokane County.
Michael is a proven conservative leader who believes in smarter government, secure elections, and protecting taxpayers. He will be an outstanding Spokane County Auditor.
I’ve worked with Michael as an elected official and from our time as staff in the State Legislature. I can say firsthand that he has long been a champion for good government and a strong budget hawk. In the City, he has been instrumental in stopping future gerrymandering, standing up for taxpayers by opposing major tax increases, and leading the successful effort to ban local income taxes in Spokane.
I trust Michael, and I know he has the backbone, experience, and work ethic to lead the Auditor’s office.
I wholeheartedly endorse Mike Cathcart for Spokane County Auditor. Mike understands the auditor’s role in ensuring election integrity and in delivering exceptional customer service in all other aspects of the Auditor’s Office.
I believe Michael will excel as our next Auditor because he is methodical, listens carefully, considers the full implications of each issue and decision to be made, and understands the importance of bringing the right team together to best serve the people of Spokane County.
After spending over 12 years in the county executive branch, I know these jobs are complex and very dynamic. We need leaders who are decisive and thorough in their approach. Mike is that kind of a leader. He understands executive level management. He is the right choice to lead the Auditor’s office.
Michael Cathcart is the right person to be Spokane County Auditor. I’ve spent my career in law enforcement and public service, and I know this office demands integrity, discipline, and a serious commitment to the public trust. Michael has proven over and over on the record that he will ask hard questions, stand for transparency, and hold government accountable.
As Auditor, he will protect election integrity, safeguard public records, and bring the same focus on protecting your taxpayer dollars that he has emphasized throughout his terms on the City Council and in public service.
Michael has the leadership and judgment to do the job well. I trust him, and I’m proud to support him.
Stand with leaders across Spokane County supporting steady leadership, secure elections, and public trust.
Michael grew up in the Spokane Valley and graduated from University High School before heading off to Montana State University. Today, he serves on the Spokane City Council and lives in northeast Spokane with his wife Vina, their four-year-old son, and newborn daughter.
Read More
Michael's passion for voting and civic involvement started early. Every Election Day, his dad would pull him out of class so they could go vote together at the polling place, talking through the candidates and measures on the ballot along the way.
That meaningful tradition stuck with him and taught him an important lesson in civic responsibility. As Auditor and the County's elected election official, Michael will look for opportunities to inspire that same sense of responsibility in the next generation.
