Kate Telis
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Kate Telis is running for election to the Spokane City Council to represent District 2 Position 2 in Washington. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025. The primary for this office on August 5, 2025, was canceled.
Telis completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2025
See also: City elections in Spokane, Washington (2025)
General election
Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Alejandro Barrientos and Kate Telis advanced from the primary for Spokane City Council District 2 Position 2.
Endorsements
Telis received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Telis's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
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International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District Lodge 751
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kate Telis completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Telis' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I’m Kate Telis—a mom, attorney, and nonprofit leader running for Spokane City Council. I’ve worked as a prosecutor and a nonprofit director working with families experiencing homelessness. Since moving to Spokane six year ago I’ve been deeply involved in local organizations - from the League of Women Voters to chairing the Spokane Chapter of Moms Demand Action. I’m running to ensure safe communities, affordable housing, and leadership that listens.
- Safe Communities – Modernize our 911 response so that calls are directed not only to police and fire, but also to trained crisis responders who can address addiction, mental health, and non-violent emergencies.
- Affordable Spokane – Tackle the housing crisis by incentivizing affordable housing, supporting working families, and keeping good-paying jobs here in Spokane.
- Sustainable Future – Protect our river, air, and land while planning for smart, sustainable growth within city limits to keep Spokane livable for generations to come.
I’m passionate about public safety, housing affordability, and sustainability. Spokane’s outdated 911 system needs reform so calls are directed to the right responders—police, fire, or trained crisis teams—so everyone gets the help they need. I’m committed to tackling the housing crisis by incentivizing affordable homes and supporting working families with good-paying jobs. And I believe we must protect our river, air, and land while planning for sustainable growth, ensuring Spokane stays livable and resilient for future generations.
Spokane City Council is unique because it’s the level of government closest to the people—where residents can directly shape decisions that impact daily life. While not part of state government or the court system, the office plays a critical role in making sure state and federal policies are implemented in ways that work for Spokane. Its importance comes from being a direct, accessible voice for neighbors and ensuring city government is accountable, responsive, and focused on community needs.
I look up to Justice Sonia Sotomayor for her resilience, brilliance, and commitment to fairness—she shows how lived experience can shape a more just legal system. I also admire President Barack Obama for his steady leadership, ability to bring people together, and vision for hope and progress. Both inspire me to lead with integrity, empathy, and a focus on solutions that include everyone.
An elected official must lead with integrity, accountability, and a willingness to listen. It’s essential to bring people together, even across differences, and focus on solving problems with lasting results—not short-term fixes. Effective leaders should be transparent, responsive to their constituents, and guided by fairness, compassion, and a commitment to the public good
The core responsibilities of a City Councilmember are to listen to constituents, set policy that reflects community priorities, and ensure city resources are used wisely and fairly. That means strengthening public safety, addressing housing affordability, protecting our environment, and planning for Spokane’s growth. Just as importantly, it requires holding city government accountable, fostering transparency, and working collaboratively so that every neighborhood has a real voice in shaping Spokane’s future.
I want my legacy to be that I cared deeply for my community and worked every day to make Spokane a better place. If people can say I left things better than I found them—more fair, safe, and hopeful for the future—that’s the legacy I’d be proud of.
The first major historical event I remember was Operation Desert Storm. I was a child at the time, and I remember watching the news with my family and sensing how serious it was, even if I didn’t fully understand it then. It was my first memory of realizing how events in the wider world could affect all of us.
My very first job was as a dishwasher at a local cafe near the University of Montana in Missoula, where I worked summers in high school. Over time, I worked my way up to become a barista and server, learning the value of hard work, teamwork, and customer service.
My favorite book is The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. I love it because of the beauty of the writing and the way it shows how family, history, and politics shape people’s lives in both big and small ways. It’s a story that stays with you long after you finish it.
I’d choose to be Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series. She’s smart, brave, and compassionate—someone who stands up for what’s right, uses her knowledge to solve problems, and never leaves her friends behind. Those are qualities I try to live by, too.
One struggle in my life has been not letting perfect be the enemy of good. I care deeply about getting things right, but I’ve learned that progress often comes from taking steady, practical steps forward—even if every detail isn’t perfect from the start.
Many people don’t realize that City Councilmembers often serve on numerous regional and statewide boards and commissions in addition to their city duties. These include boards overseeing public transit, regional health, environmental protection, economic development, and intergovernmental partnerships. Through these roles, councilmembers influence not just Spokane’s future, but also how our region grows, collaborates, and secures resources from the state.
Experience in government or politics can be helpful, but it isn’t the only path to being effective. What matters most is the ability to listen, build coalitions, and deliver results. My own background—as a prosecutor, nonprofit director, small business owner, and community leader—has given me hands-on experience solving problems, working with diverse groups, and navigating complex systems. Those skills, combined with a commitment to transparency and accountability, are just as valuable as traditional political experience for serving Spokane well.
The most helpful skills for a City Councilmember include strong listening and communication abilities, experience building coalitions, and a solid grasp of budgeting and policy-making. It’s also valuable to understand housing, public safety, and infrastructure, since these are core city responsibilities. Just as important are skills in negotiation, problem-solving, and transparency, so councilmembers can work across differences, hold government accountable, and deliver results that reflect community priorities.
City Council is unique because it is the direct voice of Spokane’s residents in local government. Councilmembers shape policies on housing, public safety, transportation, and the environment—issues that affect daily life in every neighborhood. The office holds the power of the purse through budget approval, oversees city departments, and ensures accountability. What makes it especially important is that councilmembers also represent Spokane on regional and statewide boards, giving the community influence beyond city limits and ensuring Spokane has a seat at the table in larger decisions that impact our future.
3rd LD State Senate Majority Floor Leader Marcus Riccelli
3rd LD State Representatives Timm Ormsby & Natasha Hill
Spokane County Commissioners Chris Jordan & Amber Waldref
Spokane City Council President Betsy Wilkerson
Spokane City Council Members Paul Dillon, Lili Navarrete, Kitty Klitzke, Zack Zappone
Alliance for Gun Responsibility Victory Fund
Fuse Washington
National Women's Political Caucus of Washington
NE Washington & N. Idaho Building & Construction Trades Council
ProChoice Washington
SEIU 775 - Caregivers Union
SEIU 1199W - Healthcare Union
Spokane County Democrats
Sierra Club
Spokane Firefighters Union, Local 29
Spokane Carpenters Union, Local 59
Spokane Regional Labor
Spokane Education Association Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Other survey responses
Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Telis completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.
See also
External links
