Ex-Post Falls police chief to run for county clerk

POST FALLS - Cliff Hayes has had enough of retirement.

The former longtime Post Falls police chief and Republican wants to return to the public eye as county clerk, opposing Democrat incumbent Dan English.

"I've had seven months of retirement, and I've gone to my kids' homes in Hawaii, Washington, D.C., and California," Hayes said. "I have truly separated myself from the PD and believe it's time to get back involved."

Hayes was Post Falls' police chief for about 22 years and worked for the department more than 26.

He believes that experience would be valuable in the county clerk's seat.

"It's an administrative responsibility," Hayes said of the county position. "I oversaw 70 people at the PD and had a $3 million budget. It was my job to oversee what went on, and the same thing holds true at the county clerk's office."

Hayes said he isn't running on any particular platform and said it's too early to discuss any possible changes needed at the department.

"I couldn't offer any suggestions for change until I'm in there," he said. "There's two sides to every story, and the side I have is the outside. You need to be inside to evaluate how the office is running."

Hayes, 58, said he believes it's important for voters to have a choice in any election, and English ran unopposed during the last election.

Hayes said he sees some parallel between the county clerk's job to his police chief experience in addition to administrative and budget responsibilities. For example, he worked with court clerks through law enforcement.

Elections and politics have been an interest of Hayes, who has helped organize election night parties as a member of the Post Falls Community Volunteers.

"I have been around the commissioners and state officials and have picked up a lot of knowledge from those interactions," he said.

Hayes was hired as a Post Falls dispatcher in 1983 before becoming a patrol officer in 1984, detective sergeant in 1986 and chief in 1988.

Hayes also served as acting city administrator in 1990, 1993 and 1996.

He served on the Public Employer Retirement System of Idaho board, Idaho Chiefs of Police Association, Idaho Public Safety and Security Information System and Kootenai County 911 User Advisory Board.

If no other Republicans file for the clerk's seat for the May primary, Hayes will challenge English in November's general election for the four-year term.