Still recovering from the wee hour watch of Tuesday's primary results, candidates in Kootenai County were reflecting on the races and planning their next moves on Wednesday.

Encouraged by his strong Republican primary win, county Commissioner Dan Green said he hopes to take on the next four years helping the county government transition into possible structure and campus changes.

"I feel very flattered," Green said of his victory over two challengers with 5,517 votes, 45 percent of the votes, which will leave him unopposed for the District 3 seat in November. "I look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Kootenai County."

A priority will be helping with the restructure of county government, he said, if voters approve the county's November ballot initiative to do so.

"If that vote were to be successful, there will be a lot of work to do implementing that decision," he said of the initiative that will propose adding a county administrator position, and making some elected officials appointed. "It's not just like flipping on a light switch and it's going to work. There will be a transition period."

Green also anticipates finalizing the county's proposed Facilities Master Plan, aimed at consolidating county operations. The plan could involve building a new justice building and parking garage totaling more than $27 million, to be funded with a bond or local option tax.

The commissioners will conduct a cost analysis, Green said, to determine "is this something we should bring forward to the voters, that would be a good return on our investment?"

Scrutinizing employee compensation packages is another goal, said Green, who aims at rewarding hard work, preventing abuse and saving county dollars.

"I don't know if I can do all three, but I'm going to try," he said.

Commissioner Todd Tondee expressed gratitude for his win on the GOP ballot, where he defeated four opponents with 4,548 votes, 37 percent of the votes.

His District 1 seat will also be uncontested in November.

Tondee hopes to finish various county projects in his following two-year term, he said.

"Just to make sure the land use ordinances get done, and get those implemented and corrected," he said of the county's ongoing rewrite of its land use laws. "Making sure they're refined."

Having the same commissioners in office will make a difference in pursuing county projects, Tondee acknowledged.

"Bringing somebody else up to speed of all the things we do, and we do so many different things, it's a big learning curve," Tondee said, adding that the current three commissioners have a respectful working relationship.

Maj. Ben Wolfinger, who defeated the other two Republican candidates for sheriff, said he is poised to continue his campaign for the November election.

"I'm just going to do what I've been doing. Talking to people, listening to people," said Wolfinger, who has been with the sheriff's department since 1983. "I've been doing it for a long, long time. That's me just being part of the community."

Wolfinger took in 43 percent of the votes on Tuesday. He will face three Independent candidates in the general election.

Wolfinger's goals if elected still include addressing the overcrowded jail, he said, improving the sheriff's relationship with the commissioners and retaining staff.

"The retention of staff in general, not just sworn officers, is vitally important," he said.

Ed Morse, a Hayden Republican and real estate appraiser who toppled controversial Rep. Phil Hart for District 2 Seat B, was grateful his message was well received by voters.

"I think my message was well received, which is jobs, more workable ethics oversight down in Boise, a smaller more efficient government and I heard from many people that they didn't feel that Phil Hart's agenda were issues that were important to them," he said.

Morse received 1,984 votes in the four-way race - 35.45 percent of the total and four percentage points ahead of Hart.

He said voters wanted a different choice in light of Hart's pursuit of "fringe issues," like bucking federal income tax and his desire to implement a gold standard in Idaho.

"We worked hard and gave the voters a choice and we're gratified they voted for me," Morse said.

Hart did not return messages from The Press Wednesday.

Ron Mendive and Jeff Tyler also could not be reached. Mendive defeated Tyler by nine votes for the District 3A state legislative seat in the Republican primary.

Barry McHugh, Kootenai County prosecuting attorney, said he didn't have additional comments about his victory in the Republican primary.

McHugh kept his seat with 7,591 votes, or 62.6 percent of the votes, defeating his only challenger, Donald Gary. McHugh's spot will be unchallenged in the general election.

Although McHugh does have plans for his second four-year term, he said, he preferred not to divulge them on Wednesday.

"I need to talk to my staff and go over what I'd like to see happen over the next four years," he said.