CANDIDATE PROFILE: Spokane City Councilmember Jonathan Bingle
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As we enter the month of May and the flowers begin to bloom, it’s also an indicator that the filing deadline for those wishing to run for public office is approaching. 2024 was a statewide and national election year, but 2025 will be more focused on local races. While the theatrics and the glamour of statewide and national races are a big draw, people often ignore the significant impact that their local city leadership can have on how they live and operate in their daily lives.
I sat down with Spokane Councilmember Jonathan Bingle, who is running for his second term and represents the minority conservative voice on the council, along with Councilmember Michael Cathcart. Bingle, who was born and raised in Spokane, represents District 1, which encompasses parts of downtown, the hospital core, Hillyard, Logan, Shiloh Hills, and several other neighborhoods. He and his wife are blessed with a 4-year-old and 20-month-old twins who keep them extremely busy.
Before his time running a small business and entering politics, Bingle started a church with his father and served as the Youth Pastor while his father served as the Lead Pastor for the congregation. This calling took Bingle and his father to many different places all over the world to participate in ministry work. “Definitely brings a different perspective to the United States and how great it is despite all its foils and the real issues we’re dealing with. I would take ours over anybody else’s any day of the week,” Bingle said.
What was the primary draw for you to pursue public office?
“I’ve always known I was going to be in politics. This is what God made me for. I have known it my entire life, but it was really COVID. We own an events and entertainment business, and Washington was shut down longer than every other state in the country. When you specialize in people gathering and you can’t gather, that kills your business.” Bingle said, speaking to the events and entertainment business that he owns and operates. With Washingtonians forced to abandon gatherings for such an extended period, Bingle started a small home remodeling business in the interim.
What are some infrastructure projects in Spokane that you would really like to address?
“The big push for me this year is going to be on infrastructure funding specifically because Spokane has unique challenges that other cities and counties in the state don’t have, in that we have something in our charter that keeps us from being able to bond out for infrastructure. Which is a massive downside for us, and so we actually could fund some of the bridge repair and things like that we need by actually taking out bonds against them.”
He drew attention to the Maple Street Bridge as well because Maple Street was originally a toll bridge, but the tolls were removed once the bridge was paid off, but bonding infrastructure would help the city immensely.
What would you like to convey to our membership and readers in Spokane about rental housing policy?
“I have opposed the landlord tenant regulations that have been really poor for landlords and housing in that regard. I oppose rent control measures that are trying to be implemented here and across the state because it’s bad for housing, it’s bad for renters, it’s bad for everybody. People in my district who tend to be more low-income tend to also disproportionately rent, and so I want affordable rental housing, and that’s always in the forefront of my mind. How can we make it to where it is a good ripe city for investment? Because for us to drive down prices, we need to drive up supply. So how can we get more built as quickly as possible, and how can we oppose all of the unnecessary and really damaging legislation that’s going to hurt rental housing? That is constantly on my mind because my people need housing that’s affordable, and I want to do everything I can to make sure that’s possible in the City of Spokane.”
Councilmember Bingle also wants to address public safety, homelessness, and building a new jail, as Spokane’s current building is typically at almost double the capacity of its intended occupancy.
Keep an eye out for more coverage of Councilmember Jonathan Bingle as we move through the 2025 election year. If you would like to help support candidates who understand the concerns of small rental housing providers, be sure to donate to the RHAPAC at RHAwa.org/pac.