COEUR d'ALENE - The big difference between the candidates running for Kootenai County Clerk in November is the way they believe the county should be managed.

"I think that the clear difference between me and my opponent is that he is happy with the current form of government," said Democrat Larry Belmont, who is challenging the recently appointed Republican Clerk Jim Brannon.

Belmont, who was the former director of Panhandle Health District, said the election process for administrative positions like clerk, coroner, assessor and treasurer are unnecessarily politicizing those functions of government.

He defines politics as: "The process by which we determine who gets what, when and how."

Belmont said those positions do not have policy-making authority, and should be held accountable to the board of county commissioners.

"Commissioners set policy and the administrators carry those policies out," he said. "It worked well with the health district, and I believe it would work well at the county."

If elected, Belmont said he would assemble citizen groups to revisit the idea of restructuring county governance. His leadership style will be trying to find the balance in decision-making.

He wants to try and foster a different attitude toward government.

"There is a saying: 'There is nothing wrong with the Army, it's just the people in it,'" he said, adding he views the government the same way.

"We complain but we don't do work toward any solution," Belmont said. "A lot more discussion of the issues - that is what I will bring to the office."

Brannon, whose appointment to the position of county clerk 10 months ago was somewhat controversial, said he is working on improving the management potential of the existing government structure.

"The most important thing is to make what we do more efficient," Brannon said. "If I am fortunate enough to get elected, I will strive to do that in all five of the departments the clerk oversees."

Brannon said that his predecessor, Cliff Hayes, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year, set the clerk's department on the path of change.

Brannon said he intends to keep that momentum going, and use his leadership style to allow people to express their ideas to get things done more efficiently.

"It's been joked around that the clerk's job is everything nobody else wants to do," Brannon said. "I don't see it that way."

Brannon said the office has several functions which require constant focus and attention. He said during the upcoming legislative session he plans to be working on election law reform.

"Election law is constantly evolving," he said. "We are working to ensure our elections are 100 percent accurate and above reproach."

He said this budget cycle should go smoother this year because the clerk's department started the process by giving the commissioners an analysis on historic spending trends along with the preliminary budget.

He prefers the bonus pay process Hayes introduced rather than increasing salaries across the board. The merit-based system allows department heads to incentivize performance and mitigate the fact that they are earning less than their counterparts in similar-sized counties.

"If we go pay $3 an hour more in wages, we won't be able to use the bonus system," Brannon said.

He said the auditor's office needs some process improvement, but the county assistance department needs work too.

He said the county went 2 percent over budget this past year on paying for medical bills for the indigent population. He budgeted for an increase in the next budget cycle.

"We just don't know what is going to happen with Medicaid expansion and the mental health facility," he said. "Those are political hot potatoes, so we had to put more money in the budget just in case.

"It is the largest part of the clerk's budget," he said, adding his budget is nearly $8 million a year.

• Online — Watch a video of the candidates discussing some of the key issues: bit.ly/BelmontBrannonVideoCDAPress

• Larry Belmont

Age: 78

Profession: Retired

Educational Background: BA in Psychology, masters in Public Health, Masters in Public Administration and a graduate certificate in environmental management.

Public Service: Board member of the Idaho Forest Owners Association, and member of Who's Who in the World

How many years as a resident of your city: 44 years, and 3 in Spokane

Martial Status: Married 48 years with four children and eight grandchildren

Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, wood carving, tree farming and gardening.

• Jim Brannon

Age: 61

Profession: County clerk and former investment broker

Educational Background: Degree in communication

Community Service: Volunteers at church and used to belong to several civic organizations

How many years as a resident of your city: 23 years

Martial Status: Married 26 years with one child

Hobbies: Date nights with wife, ice fishing and golf