Spokane County prosecutor candidates clash in TV debate

Spokane County prosecutor candidates Preston McCollam and Danny Tarkenton faced each other in a public television debate Monday evening. McCollam, a Republican, is seeking his first elected term after being appointed last year to complete Larry Haskell’s term. Tarkenton, an independent, says the office needs a different workplace culture and a new approach to its work.

Experience was a central dividing line. McCollam has spent more than 10 years in the prosecutor’s office, including leading criminal prosecutions. Tarkenton was admitted to the bar in 2025 and spent several months as a deputy prosecutor, but points to leadership experience from her Army National Guard service. She argues courtroom background is not essential for the position, while McCollam says the job requires detailed knowledge of its duties and the law. He also highlighted efforts to improve compensation for deputy prosecutors.

Police-shooting reviews formed another major dispute. Tarkenton wants an independent office to investigate and prosecute those cases, saying distance from the people involved can help produce a fairer process. She has focused on the 2024 death of 34-year-old Joshua Musselman, whose family sued the city and four officers earlier this year. The case includes text messages exchanged by officers; a department spokesperson said Sept. 2 that an internal investigation began after some messages came to light. McCollam has defended the prosecutor’s responsibility to assess cases objectively and said he will be transparent about his decisions. The debate is available through KSPS PBS’s website and YouTube page.