Former chief deputy assessor Allyson Knapp flattened incumbent Kootenai County Assessor Béla Kovacs in Tuesday’s Republican primary election, winning the race with 65% of the vote and 17,451 votes overall. 

“So many people have reached out today to say they voted, sent encouraging messages or shared their support and that truly has meant a lot to me,” she said before the polls closed Tuesday night. “When you work on something for so long and so hard, you really never know how it’s going to go, so it’s been encouraging to see the response from the community.” 

Knapp is a former chief deputy assessor for Kootenai County with 30 years of appraiser experience. 

County commissioners appointed Kovacs to the position in 2022, after the death of his predecessor, Rich Houser. Kovacs won the 2022 Republican primary with 57% of the vote and received 75% in the general election against a write-in candidate. 

Kovacs’ tenure has been rocked by controversy, including missed deadlines, a $53 million assessment error and the revelation that Kovacs had secretly recorded his conversations with county staff and officials. 

Last fall, county staff expressed concern when Kovacs implemented a policy that granted him the authority to fire employees who ran for his position or assisted his political rivals. 

In January, after Knapp announced her intention to run against Kovacs, he deemed her ineligible for a homeowner’s exemption on the Rathdrum property she owns and suggested she’s not a Kootenai County resident. Knapp refuted the allegation and commissioners blocked the move, upholding Knapp’s exemption. 

Kovacs did not return a request for comment Tuesday. 

In the Republican primary race for Kootenai County Commissioner District 1, Julie Hensley beat John Padula, receiving 56% of the vote and 15,850 votes in total. She’ll run unopposed in November. 

Hensley expressed gratitude Tuesday night. 

“I want to thank everybody involved,” she said. “It has been great to see support from all different avenues.” 

Padula said he’s grateful for the community’s support, as well as for the challenges that come with running for office. 

“Whether I win or lose, I’m so thankful for all of the support and for people starting to do their own research instead of just trusting other people’s research,” he said before polls closed. “It’s great that there are so many new informed voters. That has been a great blessing this year.”   

In the District 2 commissioner race, incumbent Bruce Mattare received 76% of the vote and 20,761 votes in total, besting challenger Steve Em. He’ll run unopposed in the general election. 

Mattare had a message for voters Tuesday night. 

“I want to thank them for their support and having confidence in me,” he said. 

There’s no manual for how to be a county commissioner, Mattare said, and no easy answers for pressing issues like growth. He said he learned from his first term in office and feels well-prepared for a second term. 

“Hopefully I’ll have the opportunity to really start to implement the policies that I have promised the citizens that I was going to do,” he said. 

Em wasn’t watching the results roll in Tuesday night; he was working a night shift at his job at Spokane Waste Management. 

“It’s been an interesting run,” he said. 

Though he was unsuccessful in the primary election, Em said he’s not going anywhere. 

“I’m still going to be a voice,” he said. “People know that I will be out in the community.” 

Carlos Zamora won the Republican primary election for county treasurer, defeating Teresa Mallery with 57% of the vote. He’ll run unopposed in November. 

“I’m very proud to represent the county and do my best for the taxpayers,” he said Tuesday. 

Zamora is a retired finance professional and political newcomer. 

“I think the best part of this process was meeting some fabulous people,” he said. “I’ve made some awesome friends. In that respect, I’m very grateful.”   

Mallery is a treasury specialist accountant who has been with the treasurer’s office for nearly 20 years. 

“Tonight’s results are not what we hoped for, but I leave this campaign with gratitude and appreciation,” she said. “I want to thank God for his blessings and thank my family, friends, supporters and campaign team for their unwavering encouragement and belief in me.” 

Incumbent Kootenai County Treasurer Jennifer Locke won the Republican primary election by a wide margin, defeating challenger John Samuelson with a whopping 85% of the vote and 23,352 votes overall. Locke was first elected in 2022 and will run unopposed in November. 

“Thank you to all who voted in this election,” she said. “It has been a privilege to serve the citizens of Kootenai County as clerk for the last three years and I look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of this great county in the future.” 

    Knapp
  

    Kovacs
  

    Hensley
  

    Padula
  

    Mattare
  

    Em
  

    Zamora
  

    Mallery
  

    Locke