ATHOL - Howard Griffiths, who lives near Athol, will run as a write-in candidate in November's general election to challenge incumbent Phil Hart for the Idaho House District 3, Seat B, seat.

Griffiths owned Clean Check, which sold extendable backwater valves to wholesalers, until he and his partners sold out. Griffiths was also the first public works director for the city of Rathdrum.

While he has never been elected to a political office, Griffiths said he knows how government works and doesn't agree with how things are headed politically.

"I've worked with five different mayors through the years and I've seen the good side of politics and experienced negative politics," Griffiths said. "Now I'm ready to jump in the middle of politics. I'm tired of what I'm seeing.

"Some politicians forget who they are working for and think they're above the law."

While Griffiths, 62, won't have a party affiliation on the ballot as a write-in candidate, he's a registered Republican.

"I have conservative principles and am an honest person," he said.

Griffiths said he's running because he believes it's time to get back to Constitutional values.

"I'll entertain thoughts on any kinds of taxes," he said. "The stuff politicians are running down our throats seem to coincide with the minority. I think it's time be get back to democracy based on majority."

Griffiths is a former deputy for the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department and formerly worked in the fire department for the city of Fruitland, working his way up from firefighter to battalion chief. He also worked as an estimator for Coeur d'Alene Asphalt and was an assistant vice president for Riverland Excavating.

Griffiths is a Navy veteran and has been a member of the American Legion, Rotary and Idaho Public Works Professionals Association.