COEUR d'ALENE -

Kootenai County commissioners have set a meeting to fill the county clerk's position on Friday if the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee is able to nominate three people for the position.

Idaho law requires the central committee to nominate three qualified people for the position within 15 days of the vacancy. The county commissioners have 15 days after that to select one of the three nominees.

If the central committee cannot nominate three candidates within the 15-day time period, the county commissioners will have five days after that to appoint someone to fill the vacant seat.

Former County Clerk Cliff Hayes passed away on Thursday, so the county commissioners discussed the process they will use to fill the vacancy on Friday.

Commissioner Todd Tondee said he spoke with Neil Oliver, central committee chairman, and discussed the process for filling the position.

"They have set a meeting for Dec. 19 to nominate three names, so we set our meeting for Dec. 20," Tondee said.

Oliver said any registered Republican living in Kootenai County who is interested in filling the position for one year should contact their precinct committee person to nominate them.

The only names that will be considered must be nominated by a committee person, he said.

"That's about all I have got right now," Oliver said, adding there are some challenges to putting a process in place on short notice.

"This central committee hasn't had to do this much, so we are working on a method that will help us do this efficiently," he said.

Hayes was elected as county clerk in 2010, and took office in 2011. His term would have expired in December of 2014.

Whoever is selected to replace Hayes would serve out the remaining term. A permanent replacement will be elected in November of 2014, and take office in January of 2015.