Danny Tarkenton

Danny Tarkenton grew up in Spokane, served in the Army during the Iraq War, and is completing a Master's in forensic psychology. She holds a philosophy degree from Gonzaga and graduated summa cum laude from EWU with a degree in psychology. At Gonzaga Law, she earned Pro Bono Distinction, then joined the Spokane County Prosecutor's Office under a limited law license until she returned with a law license, and later served as a deputy prosecutor, managing over 568 misdemeanor cases as the only attorney in her District Court courtroom. She also handled Involuntary Treatment Act cases in the Civil Division, where law, medicine, and ethics intersect.

Danny is running as an Independent because she believes this office should serve the Constitution and every member of the community — not a political party. Her priorities are accountability and integrity within the prosecutor's office, community-centered prosecution, and evidence-based approaches to reduce recidivism, jail overcrowding, and the county's ongoing behavioral health and drug crisis. Drawing on her background in psychology, she's focused on justice that addresses root causes and breaks cycles, rather than just reacting to the same people cycling through the system again and again.