COEUR d'ALENE - The coin landed tails up, the candidates shook hands, and so concluded the final race from the May primaries.

Jimmie Masters, who declined to call the flip before its launch, won.

"Now I know my schedule," said Masters, Republican Committeeman for Precinct 8, who just wasn't feeling lucky enough to make the call. "We have two meetings coming up tomorrow and I don't know how many after that."

Ralph Noyes didn't complain.

The financial investor went with his gut, which was heads, heads, heads.

"I couldn't lose, that was a great choice," he said of the top side of the commemorative coin provided by Kootenai County Clerk Dan English's son. English's son earned the military coin after serving his first tour of duty in Iraq. Heads was the outline of Iraq, with the American stars and stripes in the background. Tails was the army unit's insignia, with cannons.

But tails it was.

Now, Noyes said, "I'll have more time."

The precinct race ended in a tie May 25, with both candidates splitting the 246 votes at 123 each. It's the first time it has happened that either the elections office or the county clerk's office can remember, and it enacted a little-known rule that the final outcome is decided by the flip of a coin.

"This is hilarious," Noyes said, waiting for everyone to show up for the afternoon gathering at the Kootenai County Elections Office on Third Street. "I'm just trying to have some fun."

Others too.

One man brought a sign that said, "Go Ralph," on a piece of paper. A friend of Masters asked the candidate, "How come you always end up in stuff like this? My gosh."

"What would really make the news is if the coin ended up like this," Masters said, indicating on its side with his flat hand.

It could have been any coin, but English used his son's special coin to commemorate the big event.

"Like they do in the Super Bowl," the county clerk said.

English caught and covered the coin before lifting one of his hands to reveal the result.

He said he didn't want to let it fall to the ground for the final call, because it could rattle and roll its way under something inconvenient.

"It would be my luck it would roll under one of the cabinets," he said.

It didn't, and precinct No. 8 has its new committeeman.

Masters, a retired insurance agent who ran for office for the first time this year, is in charge of organizing and educating voters about political issues and events inside the district.

"Congratulations, Jim," said Noyes, gracious in defeat. "Well done."