COEUR d'ALENE - Jim Brannon was unanimously chosen Friday by the Kootenai County commissioners as the county's new clerk.

Work starts at 8 a.m. Monday for Brannon, who will be leaning on current Deputy Clerk Pat Raffee as he gets started. Brannon will serve out the last year of former Clerk Cliff Hayes' term after Hayes died last week.

Brannon was the overwhelming favorite after being the top of three potential picks forwarded by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee.

"I'm saddened that I'm here under these circumstances," Brannon said in an interview after being sworn in by Commissioner Todd Tondee.

Brannon said Hayes was a great public servant and set the bar high.

"It is shoes that I don't think that I could ever fill, but I'm going to work my best," Brannon said. "I consider him truly one of the straight-up guys in the community."

The commissioners conducted a public interview Friday with Brannon and the two other candidates forwarded by the central committee, which included Bjorn Handeen and Dean Isaacson.

During his interview with the commissioners, Brannon said he understands there will be a steep learning curve.

"It is imperative (the new clerk) come in full time, immediately, and get guidance from the deputy because obviously she's the most well-versed in the position right now since our clerk has passed," Brannon said. "The only time I would see that there would be any immediate personnel changes is if we found somebody doing something illegal."

Commissioner Jai Nelson focused on the central committee's pick of Brannon.

"I feel like a pseudo-appointment was made (Thursday) night," Nelson said. "Jim, you clearly received the vast majority, if not almost all, the first-place votes."

Commissioner Dan Green said he felt Brannon had the most supervisory and financial management experience. He also pointed to Brannon's experience running for Coeur d'Alene City Council.

Commissioner Tondee liked that Handeen didn't intend to run for clerk after Hayes' term was up at the end of next year, as Hayes himself didn't intend to run again. In the end Tondee chose Brannon, too.