COEUR d'ALENE -Kevin Ratigan has some changes in mind if he becomes Kootenai County commissioner.

Better budgeting for one, he said, as well as fostering job growth to keep educated youth working here at home.

But beyond that, he also knows what to keep the same, he said.

"The Comprehensive Plan is pretty important to individuals right now. They want the tenor of it to protect the way of life we have up here," Ratigan said. "The county itself is a bastion of why we live here in the first place. Clean air, clean water, open skies. Beautiful trees. And the Comprehensive Plan should be a document that protects that."

It's all part of a new attitude of service that Ratigan, who filed to run for the District 3 seat, plans to bring to the position.

Another goal would be making cuts to ease taxes, he said.

"I'll go over the budget with a fine-tooth comb," the 51-year-old said. "Every kind of budget, I don't care whether it's government or corporate, has fluff in it. We need to ease the burden on the people."

The Republican said he doesn't think the current commissioners are listening to voters, and cited how the officials pushed a jail expansion again last year, even though voters had rejected such a proposal twice before.

"It's not the commissioners' job to override the voters," he said. "I will sustain what the voters said."

He said he would consider alternatives to expanding the facility.

"I would look at options like how many non-violent inmates do we have when we could put them under house arrest and have them helping the community in ways like picking up trash?" he said.

Ratigan would also try to end the controversy over whether the county will be shutting down rural dump sites, he said.

"If it is true (they aren't shutting down the sites), then the county commissioners need to sign a new resolution so people don't have the same fears and frustrations," he said.

Born and raised in Miami, Fla., Ratigan earned a bachelor's degree in construction management from Brigham Young University. He has owned property in Kootenai County for 14 years, and moved here permanently three years ago.

The Hayden resident owns Windsor Classic Homes, and is the founder and president of North Star Publications that specializes in children's picture books.

His business background has groomed him for the responsibilities of commissioner, he said.

"When you run a business and have employees, you know what it means to run a budget," he said. "It's shown me how to have financial responsibility and be concerned for those I serve."

Ratigan has been married 24 years and has five children.

As commissioner, he said he would listen to all constituents' needs.

"I want to hear them (county residents) say 'Yes, they helped me achieve this goal,'" he said.