POST FALLS - Bryan Crabtree will challenge incumbent Lynn Humphreys for the sub-district 3 seat of the Post Falls Highway District during Tuesday's election.

The sub-district's boundaries are Stateline to the west, Signal Point to the south, Highway 41 to the east and Prairie Avenue to the north. However, all voters within the district can vote.

Humphreys, a farmer, has been chairman of the district's board for the past 16 years. He is seeking a fifth term.

"I want to run again because there are projects in the works that I have knowledge of that I would like to see finished," said Humphreys, using the Prairie Avenue widening project and traffic mitigation at McGuire and Prairie as examples.

Humphreys has lived in the area for 61 years.

"I understand what the local needs are," he said.

He considers himself a fiscal conservative.

"I understand the value of a dollar," he said. "I know how to get the biggest bang for our buck."

Humphreys said that, as the president of the state association of highway districts, he has earned the respect of taxpayers and other districts.

"I'm one of only 30 people who have been bestowed that honor," he said.

Humphreys said the district has had several accomplishments with him as chairman, including connecting Interstate 90 with Highway 53 with Pleasant View Road, widening a portion of Prairie, rebuilding the Seltice Way bridge between Coeur d'Alene and Huetter, a safety project in Hidden Valley and mobility improvements at Greensferry and Highway 53.

Humphreys said he considers the entire district when prioritizing projects.

"You have to have an overall vision of what the community needs," he said. "I'm not afraid to ask the questions required to make an intelligent decision."

Crabtree said he decided to run because he has the time to serve - he's retired - and he believes his background in construction and engineering would be a valuable asset to the board.

"I need to give back to society some of what I've been blessed with," he said.

Crabtree, who has lived in the area for five years, worked for the Arizona Highway Department, California Department of Water Resources and owned both a machine shop and a sand blasting company.

"I've helped build power plants, highways and bridges and have laid pipelines and utilities," he said.

Crabtree said that experience taught him how to work with environmental agencies, engineers and project designers.

"One thing you find out, when you work for the government, is that there are a lot of entities involved with doing a project," he said.

Crabtree said he believes the Post Falls district should be going out to bid more for projects and supplies.

"They're renewing contracts they've had - and that may or may not be a good thing - but they're not allowing the competition to bid in some cases," he said. "We owe it to the taxpayer that the district is making sure it's getting the biggest bang for its buck."

Crabtree believes safety should be the biggest factor when considering projects and maintenance.

"I've seen school buses slide through intersections, and it wasn't because they were driving too fast," he said.

Crabtree said it's important to him that the public be allowed to speak as often as possible at meetings.

"It really bothers me if things are not right or fair," he said.