COEUR d'ALENE - It's definitely one of the most economical races on the ballot in November, and arguably one of the most amicable races.

Democrat Shirley McFaddan, of Athol, is challenging incumbent Republican Kootenai County Assessor Mike McDowell, but she doesn't have a negative thing to say about him.

"I don't want to criticize Mr. McDowell. I think Mike is extremely well-qualified for the job, but there may be some people out there who don't feel that way," McFaddan said. "There may be people out there who want a choice. That's why I am still on the ballot."

McFaddan said she ran in the May primary election as a write-in candidate after a handful of Republicans decided to run in that election as Democrats.

"I believe the person on the primary ballot was there under false pretenses," McFaddan said, explaining she wanted to ensure the voters had a real Democrat to choose.

McFaddan has raised no money and doesn't plan to, but if she is elected she said the one thing she would change would be to improve employee morale.

"The employees of the assessor's office, and the whole county for that matter, are not being compensated fairly," she said.

McFaddan said recently a one-and-a-half-year employee of the assessor's office just took another job working for the assessor in Bonner County for $3 an hour more. She is doing the exact same job for which the Kootenai County taxpayers paid to train her.

"We are training employees just to have them move to an adjacent county to do the same jobs," she said, adding that has to stop.

McDowell agrees, and said he hopes that this election cycle will produce a county commission which will address employee compensation.

"We really need a board that understands this issue," he said. "Spokane County just loves us."

McDowell said that is the biggest issue facing the assessor's office and really, every department in the county.

"We need to be able to attract and retain the people that we've trained," McDowell said. "In order to do that we have to be competitive in the market."

Right now, McDowell said he is going to have a hard time replacing the employee McFaddan referred to because it was a specialized position.

He said the employee who quit worked in the department of motor vehicles and processed title transfers. McDowell looks to the auto industry to find the skill set to replace those employees.

"Auto dealers are paying pretty well right now," he said. "People work so they can pay their bills, so they are going to go for the money. We need to address this.

"There is no reason we cannot find out what the market is, and adjust our compensation."

McDowell said the other big issue for the person who wins this election will be dealing with an already planned technology upgrade next year.

"They quit servicing our current software, so we'll now have to upgrade," McFaddan said. "That will be a biggie for us, and it will be for the treasurer and the clerk as well."

Unlike McFaddan, McDowell is planning to campaign even though he has only raised $50 since the primary.

"I'll probably run a few ads and put out my signs, but that is about it," McDowell said.

• Watch a video of the candidates discussion some key issues: bit.ly/McFaddenMcDowellVideoCDAPress

• Mike McDowell

Age: 59

Profession: Assessor's office for 37 years

Educational Background: AA degree in applied drafting, 100s of hours of training in disciplines related to work

Public Service: Kiwanis Club, Idaho Association of Counties board member, Parks and Recreation Committee for city of Coeur d'Alene and Republican committeeman

How many years as a resident of your city: Fourth generation native.

Martial Status: Married for 34 years with two children and two grandchildren

Hobbies: Outdoors, camping, hiking, fishing and scuba diving

• Shirley McFaddan

Age: 60

Profession: Retired from telecommunications industry

Educational Background: Agricultural degree from University of Idaho

Public Service: Governor's Workforce Development Council

How many years as a resident of your city: Native Idahoan and Kootenai County resident for 16 years

Martial Status: Single

Family: No children

Hobbies: Dogs, hiking and amateur tree farming