Interview with Chris Savage: Candidate for Spokane City Council

Daniel Klemme at RHAWA sat down with Chris Savage, a lifelong Spokane resident and candidate for Spokane City Council, to talk about housing affordability, public safety, and what he hopes to bring to City Hall.

Q: Chris, could you tell us a little bit about yourself and why you’re running for the Spokane City Council?

A: I’m a lifelong resident of Spokane—31 years here. I grew up in the city, went through both public and private schools, and later graduated from North Central High School. From there, I attended Western Washington University, where I studied Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, with a minor in German.

After college, I returned home to care for my father, who was very ill. When he passed away in 2017, it pushed me to get involved in my community and consider running for office. I’ve served on the Spokane Water Conservation Commission, the Community Assembly, my neighborhood council, and several other committees.

Professionally, I’ve worked with Meals on Wheels, which delivers 600–800 meals a day in Spokane, providing not only food but companionship to isolated residents. Currently, I work as a courier at DuBray Business Services, transporting medical records and equipment during the week and handling library routes on weekends.

Q: Housing affordability is a big issue for RHAWA members. What reforms would you prioritize to increase rental housing in Spokane?

A: First, I’d like to reform—or even remove—the city’s rental registry. It hasn’t delivered meaningful results, and it suppresses mom-and-pop landlords who own only a single rental. We need fewer regulatory barriers so more housing can be built.

The truth is, we simply don’t have enough housing supply. Spokane has restricted inventory and high demand, which is driving up prices. I’ve seen bungalows that used to cost $80,000 or $90,000 now going for $300,000. That kind of inflation is pricing families out. We need more options to bring costs down and keep future generations in Spokane.

Q: Safety is also top of mind for our members. Would you support stronger local rules to evict dangerous tenants—for example, those selling drugs or threatening neighbors?

A: Yes, absolutely. Tenant safety must come first. If someone is endangering others, we need to make sure citizens feel safe in their homes. Housing should be a refuge, not a risk.

Q: When you’re out doorbelling in your district, what concerns are people raising most often?

A: The top two concerns are public safety downtown and the homelessness crisis.

Many residents feel downtown is unsafe. That perception keeps people from visiting local businesses, which hurts our sales tax revenue and worsens the city’s financial deficit.

The second issue is homelessness. The current council’s “scattered-site” shelter model has pushed problems into neighborhoods. Residents are seeing more disruptive and unsafe behavior in schools, parks, and residential areas. It’s not working for the community or for those who need help. We need to move away from that model and get back to approaches that keep neighborhoods safe while actually addressing addiction and homelessness effectively.

Q: On safety, voters approved Proposition 1 by 75% to prohibit encampments near schools, childcare facilities, and parks. Would you advocate restoring it as passed?

A: Yes, unequivocally. That measure was for our kids, who are on the front lines of this crisis. It shouldn’t have been watered down. I will advocate to reinstate it, as the voters approved.

Q: What about policing? Do you support adding more officers

A: Yes. We’re down about 44 officers, and it shows. Speeding is rampant, property crimes are up, and we don’t have a dedicated crime unit anymore. Residents are paying the price.

We need to restore the traffic unit to historic staffing levels and ensure officers have the resources and authority to deter crime. Public safety can’t be compromised.

Q: How do you see working with groups like RHAWA to shape housing policy?

A: Collaboration is essential. I’m not an expert in every field, so I want to work with organizations that are. If councilmembers don’t listen to stakeholders, they’ll make policies that don’t solve the real problems.

Q: Are there areas where you think city spending could be redirected more effectively?

A: Yes. A prime example is the “asphalt art” program, which wasted about a million dollars. That money could have gone toward homeless outreach or affordable housing. When the city is running a deficit, we need to be disciplined about spending on programs that truly work.

Q: Council votes often split 5–2. How would you approach working with colleagues who may not share your politics?

A: I’ll work with anyone if it’s a good idea. I may disagree on philosophy, but I won’t quit on the city. Persistence and collaboration are the only way forward.

Q: Spokane also interacts with the federal government on funding. What’s your approach?

A: Right now, the city has taken an adversarial stance with the federal government, and that’s dangerous because so many of our programs rely on federal dollars. I believe we need to align with HUD’s priorities so Spokane doesn’t lose critical funding for affordable housing and homelessness services.

That includes being open to reforms, like requiring accountability and treatment alongside housing, if that’s what it takes to preserve federal support. We can’t afford to risk millions in federal funding by ignoring priorities set at the national level.

Q: What’s your pitch to housing providers and Spokane voters?

A: My promise is simple: I’ll listen. Too often, people testify at City Hall and feel ignored. I won’t be on my phone or laptop—I’ll be making eye contact and paying attention.

I’ll fight for affordability, safety, and accountability. Spokane is a beautiful city with enormous potential, and I want to bring it back to the vibrant, safe, affordable place it once was.

Q: Finally, how can people learn more about your campaign or support you?

A: They can visit SavageForSpokane.com, call me directly at 509-599-1903, or email me at Savage4CityCouncil@gmail.com.