With its many functions and responsibilities, the county clerk’s office is a bit like a Swiss Army knife. 

That’s how Kootenai County Clerk Jennifer Locke described her office in a sit-down interview with The Press.

After her 2022 election, Locke is seeking a second term, facing challenger John Samuelson in the May 19 Republican primary. The winner will run unopposed in November. Samuelson did not respond to requests for an interview. 

Locke has been with the clerk’s office since 2017, when three-time Kootenai County Clerk Jim Brannon, now retired, brought her on as chief deputy clerk. She described herself as a working manager who can do the same work as her employees and never hesitates to pitch in. 

“I don’t try to be a perfectionist, because you sometimes have to get out of the way and let your managers and staff manage and learn the job,” she said. “But I’m willing to always find an answer and never give up.” 

The office of the clerk includes the district court, the auditor’s office and the elections office, as well as the recorder and county assistance. 

The auditor handles the county’s payroll and distributes money to the taxing districts and urban renewal districts, while the recorder handles marriage licenses, titles, passports and more. 

When it comes to elections, Locke said she relies on a strong five-person team. Though the number of registered voters in Kootenai County has grown from about 38,000 in 2013 to more than 110,000 today, the elections staff has stayed the same size. 

“We’ve been able to really look at systems and see how we can be more efficient and more accurate,” she said. “That office shines throughout the state in efficiency and making sure we’re servicing voters across the 74 precincts that we serve on election day.” 

Locke said employees across all departments understand the importance of being responsible with public resources and dollars. 

“The directors and managers that we have see the vision and work toward it,” she said. “I’m really proud of all the managers and directors I have over these departments. They really have the mindset that we serve the public.” 

If elected to a second term, Locke said she’ll prioritize adding a second site for early voting, possibly near Rathdrum. More than 16,000 walked through the doors of the elections office in 2024 to vote early, she said, making the demand obvious. 

“I’m excited to see if we can expand it up north so we have more options to vote early,” she said. 

Locke said she’ll focus on improving process efficiency and spending so the clerk’s office “can do more with less.” With employee insurance costs skyrocketing, for example, she’ll continue to emphasize cross-training among employees in her departments to reduce the number of positions as employees retire. 

“I have the heart and the mindset of serving the taxpayers and making us more efficient,” she said. “I have such an amazing team. I enjoy working with them every day. I think we’ve been doing a lot of good things for the citizens of this county.”