COEUR d'ALENE - Kootenai County commission candidate Terry Lee Wall announced Friday afternoon he is dropping out of the race.

Wall, of Coeur d'Alene, had filed to challenge incumbent Jai Nelson, who now will face David Stewart in the May 20 Republican primary.

Wall, 64, has pledged to support Stewart, who shares his views on property rights and limited and efficient government.

"With me out of the race, David Stewart has a much better chance," Wall told The Press.

"After long discussions with David Stewart, we have determined that we are in agreement with the issues facing the taxpayers and the best direction to take in solving those issues," Wall said in a written announcement.

Wall, who is retired, flew helicopters and worked in management in the aviation industry during his career. He also worked for a time in the 1970s as an undercover narcotics officer in Tennessee and Florida. Additionally before retiring, he owned a construction company and built commercial buildings in Kentucky.

He has traveled to more than 100 countries, much of it for work, he said.

He has been a resident of Kootenai County for two years, but has been a property owner for 30 years and has owned a home in Coeur d'Alene for the past 13 years, he said.

This was the first time Wall had entered a political race. He said he plans to try again in the future, likely as an East Side Highway District commissioner.