Mayor Verner Biography
Mary B. Verner was sworn in as the 43rd Mayor of the City of Spokane on Nov. 27, 2007, following her election in early November 2007. She will serve in this position through 2011.
In Spokane, the Mayor is the City's Chief Executive Officer, directing the activities of the City's 2,000 employees and managing a $600 million annual budget.
Mayor Verner was born and raised in the southeastern U.S. She settled as a young adult in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where she was a high school teacher, legal assistant, and eventually an Environmental Programs Manager in the Territorial Government.
While completing her Master's Degree back on the mainland, Mary was offered a position in Natural Resources Management with the Spokane Tribe of Indians. Mary moved to the Spokane area in 1992, and immediately immersed herself in her community as an active citizen and volunteer. She attended Gonzaga Law School while working full-time, and achieved her law degree in 1999.
Before being elected to the top post at the City, Mayor Verner served on the Spokane City Council for four years, representing Council District 2, south of the Spokane River.
Until taking the job of Mayor, Mayor Verner served as Executive Director of the Upper Columbia United Tribes, which serves the five federally recognized Indian Tribes with reservations in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.
The Mayor has a broad range of experience in business, law, planning, policy development, program design, and management. She has a law degree from Gonzaga University, a master’s in environmental studies from Yale University, and a bachelor’s from Davidson College.
The Mayor has two children: a daughter, Diane, who is married and living in Spokane with her own small children; and, a son, Daniel, who attends Franklin Elementary School. Mary likes to spend her free time with family, friends and neighbors, enjoying the Spokane area's beautiful natural environment.
Community Service
Mayor Verner has taken an active role in the Spokane community. She has served on the following boards, commissions, and community groups:
- City Council Finance Committee
- Firefighters Pension Board
- Human Rights Commission
- Lodging Tax Advisory Board
- City Council Public Safety Committee
- City Council Public Works Committee
- Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority
- Spokane Regional Health District Board
- Chase Youth Commission, Teen Advisory Council liaison
- Native American Alliance for Policy & Action
- School system volunteer teacher/tutor
- Organizer and participant in community outreach choirs.
- Speaker/panelist for civic, school, and community groups.
- Kiwanis International
- Native American Bar Association
- Washington State Bar Association
- Experimental Aircraft Association
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