Alan Nolan

Alan Nolan is a member of the Mead School District School Board in Washington, representing District 2. He assumed office in 2023. His current term ends in 2027.

Nolan (Republican Party) is running for election to the Washington House of Representatives to represent District 6-Position 1. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. He advanced from the primary on August 4, 2026.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I moved to Spokane with my wife Wendy and our 3 children in 2015 after retiring from the US Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel. My 23-year Air Force career was spent flying helicopters in combat search and rescue as well as special operations, in F-16 and CF-18 fighter aircraft, and the T-6 primary pilot trainer where I commanded a flying squadron.

When we arrived, we opened a design/build construction business. Together, we have grown the business have won numerous industry awards for our projects. My expertise in the industry has led to my appointment to technical advisory groups responsible for writing energy code in the state. I was also nominated to the State Building Code Council, which oversees all building codes, and have also served on Spokane County Planning Commission.

In 2023, I ran for the school board to address problems in the direction of the school district. I defeated a 25-year incumbent and have worked in the last 2.5 years to remove culture war issues from the classroom, rein in the budget and return the focus on educational performance of students. We have successfully instituted policies to limit staff expression of personal views, ended the financial emergency declaration and balanced the budget. We have also reviewed and approved the first new curriculum in over a decade.

The success I've had on the school board, combined with my military and business experience, leads me to believe I can help fix problems in our state as your legislator.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Our state is headed in the wrong direction. The legislature is spending irresponsibly, with deficits despite $131B in new taxes over the last 8 years. It has undercut community safety by undercutting law enforcement and removing accountability. The current environment threatens the ability for business and families to succeed, and makes it unlikely our children will be able to own their own home due to cost increases caused by bad government policy.Change is possible through restoring accountability in government and in our communities. The state budget and taxes should be reduced along with regulations for operating business so that we can continue to be the crucible of innovation that produced Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks, Boeing and more. Housing production should be encouraged by expanding buildable land, reducing building code requirements and modifying zoning laws to allow for other housing options.I am a leader who has a track record of success in the military, as a small business owner and as a school board member. I had shown the ability to handle difficult and stressful environments, to work within bureaucracies to achieve results. I understand what it takes to run a small business and what our kids need to be able to compete in a 21st century economy.

When voting for a candidate, they should be able to show they are good at something. My background gives me an unmatched depth and breadth of experience to address problems in our state, working with a Democratic majority to change the conversation to improve Washington for all its citizens.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passiionate about both education and housing. It is why I volunteered for state and county-level positions to expand housing access and why I ran for the school board. Education is crucial to prepare our kids with the tools they need to compete in a global economy. Housing is crucial to building stable communities and growing wealth within and across generations.