Tim Herzog says he has the broad experience necessary to fill the District 1 seat for Kootenai County commissioner.

The Post Falls Realtor who filed for candidacy last week said his history as a business owner, lobbyist and member of various community groups sets him apart from the seat's several other candidates.

"Besides the experience that comes with my age, I have wisdom," the 64-year-old said.

Herzog ran for the same seat four years ago, and lost the primary to Todd Tondee.

He is campaigning again because he hopes to address a number of issues at the county while remaining fiscally conservative, he said.

"I want the taxpayers to get their money's worth," he said.

Herzog, who has appealed his property valuations at the county and state levels, said he would coordinate with the county Assessor's Office to better educate the public on how property valuations and taxes are determined, he said.

He also promised to try to curb property taxes by encouraging taxing districts to "hold the line" on their budgets. Herzog would fight against impact fees charged to developers, too, which he considers a deterrent to new business.

The Chicago native favors some kind of jail expansion, though he isn't sure what that would look like yet.

He doesn't think the county should spend tax dollars and use manpower to ship out excess inmates to other facilities, he said.

"If we had more space, we could house our own inmates and house those from other areas for money," he said.

Herzog would not pursue creating a county administrator, he said, which he considers a needless level of bureaucracy.

He also objects to the current commissioners' pursuit of a board of professionals to take over property valuation hearings, which he considers the commissioners' role under statute.

"I'm totally against it," he said.

Herzog has worked over 40 years in manufacturing and automotive repair, he said. He currently owns his own real estate company.

He also lobbied for several years for motorcyclist rights, he said, during which he coordinated with state legislators. He serves on the government affairs committee for the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce, and was chair of an economic development committee for the city of Post Falls. He also created the city's Pachyderm club.

Herzog has been married three years to Jeanne, who has three grown daughters and four grandchildren.

"I've got solid business experience of many years and the political experience of being involved," Herzog said.