A Superior Court judge ruled that Hamilton failed to meet residency requirements for a Spokane City Council seat and prohibited his name from appearing on the general election ballot in November.

With the ruling, incumbent Councilwoman Amber Waldref is now unopposed in her re-election bid, the first time in 40 years a council candidate has not had an opponent. Her name will still appear on the ballot, in case a challenger mounts a write-in campaign as Hamilton hinted he might do as he left the courtroom.

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The ruling by Judge Ellen Kalama Clark came after a half-hour of legal arguments and about 15 minutes of deliberation.

“Mr. Hamilton’s own evidence is contradictory,” Clark said. “He did not meet the burden of proof to show he met the residency requirement.”

Throughout his legal problems and attacks on his integrity, Pastor Mark Hamilton continued to campaign.

Despite significant questions about Hamilton’s candidacy, he has been able to raise sizable amounts of campaign cash. According to the state’s Public Disclosure Commission, he has spent $5,200 of the $8,300 he has raised.

Contributions have come from Spokane City Councilman Steve Salvatori, council candidate and former state legislator John Ahern, Spokane County Treasurer Rob Chase and former Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders, among others.

Hamilton Still Defiant

Waldref who was happy with the decision said she will nevertheless continue to campaign.  This is perhaps because Mark Hamilton has not yet given up.

Hamilton, who left the courtroom quickly after the decision, said he was considering continuing as a write-in candidate.

“A write-in campaign would probably work,” he said. “There are enough resources behind me. … I really believe I would win.”