COEUR d'ALENE — Judd Wilson has resigned as Kootenai County's election manager after just six months on the job.

"I appreciated the opportunity to serve the citizens of Kootenai County and am proud of how the elections staff and I managed the past few elections," Wilson said in a written statement. "I wish my successor all the best in future elections cycles."

Wilson gave his two-week notice July 23. His last day at work was Tuesday. He didn't comment on the specifics of his resignation.

Kootenai County Clerk Jim Brannon said he appreciates the work Wilson did.

"Judd resigned and I accepted his resignation," Brannon said. "He's an exceptionally talented individual and I know he will do well in whatever he chooses to do."

Brannon said he couldn't comment further due to it being a personnel matter.

"There wasn't a lot of discussion (after the resignation was submitted)," he said.

Kootenai County Commissioner Bill Brooks said he respects Wilson, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps from 2005 to 2009, and is curious why Wilson moved on after a short stint despite the county's generous benefits package.

Wilson oversaw the March 12 election that featured a recall effort in Dalton Gardens and funding proposals in four school districts.

He also shepherded the May 21 election for the Kootenai Hospital District and water and highway district races.

Wilson managed the department of four full-time employees, plus temporary staffers and poll workers during election seasons.

The Kootenai County elections leadership matter comes on the brink of the Aug. 27 election, which will include funding proposals in the Lakeland and Kellogg school districts.

Early voting runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Aug. 23 during the weekdays at the county Elections Office.

Wilson’s resignation comes after Carrie Phillips, the previous manager, who held the job for nearly 18 years, was asked to leave her position in December.

After the November general election, there was a 50-vote discrepancy in the absentee and early voting ballots from the original count versus what was submitted to county commissioners to make the vote official.

The mistake did not alter any of the race outcomes.

Phillips said she did not knowingly provide inaccurate numbers, nor did she act with malicious intent. She cited a strained working relationship with Brannon.

Brannon earlier said that a week after the vote was made official, an unnamed employee, someone other than Phillips, brought the ballot discrepancy to his attention.

"Human error is not unexpected," Brannon wrote in an earlier statement. "What is unexpected is that I was not informed of this discrepancy by management."

Brannon said there's no commonalities between the departures of Phillips and Wilson.

Brannon said a similar short-term scenario occurred with the finance director position.

"Sometimes what looks like a perfect alignment just isn't," Brannon said. "But I have nothing but good things to say about Judd. We wish Judd and his family all the best."

Brannon said, in the interim, he, Deputy Clerk Jennifer Locke and County Assistance Manager Shelly Amos will oversee the next election.

"Since it will be a small election, we will see how everything needs adjusted," Brannon said.