County will name assessor replacement

The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee meeting next week will be to recommend three candidates to the Board of County Commissioners to replace the late county assessor Rich Houser.

By statute, the committee has 15 days from the time the office was vacated to provide the names to the BOCC. When an elected official’s seat is vacated before the end of a term, his or her political party will select three replacement candidates. The BOCC will interview and appoint a replacement. BOCC vacancies are appointed by the governor.

Commissioner Chris Fillios expects the board will be able to conduct interviews next week after the names are provided. The selected individual will serve until December 2022.

May 26 is the KCRCC's regular monthly meeting.

Houser, of Post Falls, was appointed to chief deputy assessor in January 2003, and elected assessor in 2019. He was known for volunteer efforts and service to community groups. He died Sunday at the age of 58.