Will the new county government make a difference?

Kootenai County residents can smell change in the air.

Whether they're impressed by it is hard to say.

Reflecting on the election of Commissioner Jai Nelson and Clerk Cliff Hayes this week, ousting incumbents Rick Currie and Dan English, some locals are optimistic, others circumspect.

- Gary Lair, Coeur d'Alene:

Will the new county government make a difference: I certainly hope so. We just need to focus a little bit more on keeping services at a decent level, but at a decent budget.

County issues you want to see addressed: I prefer they concentrate funding on law enforcement and fire districts, as opposed to anything else.

What do you think of the state of the county: It's a good place to live. It has safe communities, and I think that speaks to why people are here.

- Ashlee Ducharme, Coeur d'Alene:

Will the new county government make a difference: I don't think it will. I think North Idaho is very narrow minded when it comes to politics.

County issues you want to see addressed: I think more money should go to school districts and public transportation. The Citylink buses are getting pretty nasty.

What do you think of the state of the county: I think people need to be more open minded about economics. Taxes aren't fun to pay, but we need them to get this country back to where it needs to be.

- Darwin Clark, Coeur d'Alene:

Will the new county government make a difference: I really hope so. We need a change. We need to see politicians more involved with civilians.

County issues you want to see addressed: Everyone is so wrapped up in the politics side, they're forgetting about individuals. It's all about politics, parties. They're forgetting about we the people.

What do you think of the state of the county: We're in a crisis. You look at the homeless, jobless in Coeur d'Alene. There aren't a lot of jobs out here at all. There are a lot of students at North Idaho College that have been looking for four or five months and aren't getting any calls back.

- David Reece, Coeur d'Alene

Will the new county government make a difference: You know, I don't think so. I really don't. Being a Republican state, it's not going to make much difference. We usually go for Republicans anyway.

County issues you want to see addressed: I'd like to see some roads addressed. It would be nice to see an increase in money to the public school system.

What do you think of the state of the county: As far as infrastructure, we're still moving along. As for jobs, there's no hope for that in the near future.

- Susie Mills, Post Falls

Will the new county government make a difference: I think it was time for a change. I think for a long time, the economy has been going steadily down, and people have been asking for certain things and being ignored.

County issues you want to see addressed: I feel the budgeting needs to be taken a look at. Some of our overspending needs to be curtailed.

What do you think of the state of the county: What we need is a realistic budget.

- Nancy Wright, Coeur d'Alene:

Will the new county government make a difference: I think it always helps to have new and fresh ideas.

County issues you want to see addressed: Not at the moment. I'm pretty satisfied with Kootenai County.

What do you think of the state of the county: I think the economy is a factor in county politics and the county, as well as everywhere else. Everybody needs to be tightening their belts.

- Marian Hayenga, Hayden:

Will the new county government make a difference: Truthfully, I didn't pay any attention (to the elections).

County issues you want to see addressed: There's not anything that bothers me about living here. I don't know much about the economy.

What do you think of the state of the county: I'd like to see the old part of Coeur d'Alene cleaned up. It's just so tacky down in there.

- Lucille Horton, Coeur d'Alene:

Will the new county government make a difference: I'm hoping. It's more even. Some Republicans went in, and some women. Women might have a little more different opinions, different wants.

County issues you want to see addressed: Basically the economy, of course. I'm mostly upset with all the national issues, more than the county issues.

What do you think of the state of the county: Our economy seems to be OK.

- Randall Owens, Coeur d'Alene:

Will the new county government make a difference: A lot of people are afraid of change, but I think it's good. Even bad change, because it teaches us lessons.

Issues you want to see addressed: Jobs. It's miserable to try to find jobs here. For people struggling to survive like myself, it's miserable.

What do you think of the state of the county: I think from the outside, it looks like we're doing well. But bureaucratically, I don't know.