Before being appointed to his post late last year, Kootenai County Clerk Jim Brannon says he was a strong supporter of his predecessor, Cliff Hayes.

"What Cliff did with that office was really to focus on efficiencies and ways to keep the office moving forward," said Brannon, 60, a Coeur d'Alene Republican who is now running for the office.

Brannon said he has worked to make the office as efficient as possible. Though he is passionate about politics and is a self-described Republican activist, he said he operates the office in a nonpartisan way.

"I'm blessed with an excellent chief deputy, and she and Cliff were quite good friends," he said, speaking of Pat Raffee. "We work together better each and every day."

Brannon was appointed to the clerk post in December by the county commissioners.

He said his work experience includes time as an investment broker, insurance agent and executive director of Habitat for Humanity of North Idaho. He worked at the charity for three and a half years.

He said overseeing the clerk's 88 employees and five departments is something he is comfortable doing.

"I have the personnel skills and I have the numbers skills," he said. "I'm a fairly good communicator and I think that's important because people want to know what's going on in the clerk's office."

He said being more transparent and efficient handling of public records requests is a priority.

"I want to make sure that every citizen should be able to come forward and get the information," Brannon said.

He operates with a "consultation-style" of management, allowing staff members space and time to work and he provides "tweaks" as needed.

"I'm not a hands-off guy at all, but I believe it's kind of a consultation style," he said. "I believe a good manager gives credit to the team when they do a good job. I believe a good manager takes the heat when something isn't quite right."

In four months on the job, he said, it's clear county employees work hard.

"I don't see people propping their feet up on the desk," he said. "I will tell you that the county government is a pretty efficient run operation. We're constantly looking for ways to do it better."

Brannon has lived in Coeur d'Alene since 1991.

He has been active in local Republican clubs, serving as a board member of the Kootenai County Reagan Republicans and the Panhandle Pachyderms. He is a precinct committeeman for the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee.