POST FALLS - Joe Malloy never has been one to pass up on an opportunity.

And the 34-year-old sees his future on the Post Falls City Council as just that.

In a day when young blood serving on local boards can be rare, Malloy said a desire to make a difference drove him to step up to the plate.

"I think there's a sense with my generation that, no matter what you do, it doesn't affect anything," he said. "But I believe we can make a difference and, the more we get involved now, the better."

Malloy, who received 70 percent of the votes in last month's race that denied Scott Grant a sixth term on the council, will take office on Jan. 3.

"In the back of my mind, I hadn't planned on running this round, but several people encouraged me to do so," Malloy said. "If an opportunity falls in your lap, I'd be negligent not to take it."

Malloy, who will be the youngest council member, was recently hired as a project coordinator for Energy Products of Idaho, which designs and manufactures biofuel power plants. Prior to that, he worked in sales for Idaho Veneer, which his family has owned for nearly 60 years.

Malloy, who is single, has dabbled in politics, serving as the Republican Party's precinct committeeman for Precinct 32 in the Black Bay Park area and the party's District 5 legislative chairman. He was previously the party's youth committeeman in the county.

But Malloy still considers himself as a political novice.

He has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Washington State University with an emphasis in international business. While at the college, he co-founded the Entrepreneurship Club and was the scholarship chairman of his fraternity.

It's when Malloy went to China for a semester to study that he took an interest in politics.

Malloy believes his business and sales background will come in handy on the council, especially come budget time.

Among his ideas to trim the budget - which will be expected again next year - are to sever the city's ties with Post Falls Days, quit sending the color parks and recreation catalog to households and to have new police officers pay for their own training.

Malloy said some of the savings from not funding officers' training could be used for increased starting salaries to avoid having them move on to greener pastures.

"That way Post Falls wouldn't be paying to train Spokane's (future) police officers," Malloy said. "Turnover costs a lot of money."

Malloy said some agencies have gone to requiring officers to pay for their own training before coming on board.

"Doctors don't show up at hospitals expecting them to pay for their education," he said.

With the recreation catalogs, Malloy believes sending one to every household in the city is a waste. He said a stack could be kept at the recreation department for citizens to pick up - as they currently are - or a note on water bills could direct interested citizens to the city's Website or City Hall for the information.

With Post Falls Days, Malloy questions whether cities should be in the business of sponsoring such festivals.

Malloy, who plays for the North Idaho Osprey men's rugby club and coaches for North Idaho College's rugby club, said his sports experience has taught him the value of being a team player and how to endure hard knocks.

"I can take a hit," he said, referring to both the playing field and on the council.

Malloy plans to listen and learn, especially early on.

"At this point, I have more questions than answers," he said. "There's going to be a learning curve. Being the new guy is a bit intimidating, but it's also exciting to have experienced people on the council because they'll teach me a lot."

Malloy hopes his fresh perspective will be an asset to the council.

"I've grown up in a different era than most people in government, and I don't have any old habits to break," he said.

He said he's been pleased with how Post Falls has been run in recent years.

"There is always room for improvement, but information is open and easy to find, they don't throw away a lot of money, everybody seems to work together and I don't see hidden agendas," he said.