POST FALLS - Scott Grant has seen a lot of change during his 21 years on the Post Falls City Council.

That time will come to a close in January when the retired Idaho Department of Correction employee will be replaced by Joe Malloy, a 34-year-old whose name is synonymous with Idaho Veneer Company, a local family-owned firm for nearly 60 years.

Malloy soundly defeated Grant 1,228-531, taking 70 percent of the votes and denying Grant a sixth term.

"I'm grateful to have served that period of time," Grant said. "Post Falls is a great community. Cities are like people - we've grown and we're older and more mature now. I've gotten the opportunity to work with some really great people. I know the city will be well taken care of."

Grant hesitated to speculate on whether his support of a 2 percent tax hike this year was a factor. He said Malloy, who recently left Idaho Veneer to work for an energy products firm, was a formidable foe.

"Joe is well-informed and well-spoken," Grant said. "I credit (the defeat) as time for a change, and I think it's a good one."

During his service, Grant has served as the council's liaison on several boards, including at Jobs Plus, the library, parks and recreation, emergency medical services, 911 Joint Powers and strategic and downtown planning.

"You never stop learning, and that's what I've enjoyed the most," he said.

Grant built a reputation as being a quiet leader on the council, filling in for Mayor Clay Larkin at meetings several times as the council's president.

"Serving on the council has never been about me," Grant said. "It's not an ego thing; it's about serving and giving back to the community you live in. I like to think that I always did my homework and was prepared to make a decision."

Ron Jacobson, who has served on the council with Grant for the past 13 years, said he has admired Grant for respecting both sides of issues.

"In my opinion, he has been the most consistent, knowledgeable person on the council," Jacobson said. "Scott has always studied and evaluated items that have come before us and voted in what he considers to be in the best interest of the city.

"In an election year, he could easily have voted to not increase taxes to appeal to the public, but again, he felt that an increase was needed and he voted accordingly. To me, that is one of Scott's real strengths. Scott's leadership, insight and experience will be missed."

Larkin called Grant a "true gentleman."

"He asked pertinent questions regarding annexations and where the city was headed and what we wanted to be when we grow up," Larkin said. "His main concern is what really benefited and helped the citizens."

Post Falls grew from about 7,000 people to 27,000 during Grant's service. The city built a new library, police station and City Hall during that time.

While the city still needs to work on closing the gap between residential and commercial to help the tax base, Post Falls has grown to stand on its own.

"We don't have to leave town for all our shopping needs and we're not just dependent on one industry," he said.

Grant said he doesn't plan to run for public office again, but he's not ruling out serving on a board. He said he'll consider returning to work on a contract or temporary basis with pre-sentence investigations for the IDOC next year if he's needed.

"Serving on the council has been a good part of my life," he said. "I take pride in that Post Falls has become a progressive city."