☑ Experienced ☑ Dedicated ☑ Conservative
Re-Elect Jennifer Locke for Kootenai County Clerk
3 Years Serving as Elected Clerk and 6 Years as Chief Deputy Clerk
Working Daily for Efficient and Cost-Effective Government that Best Serves the Citizens of Kootenai County
"It has been a privilege to work alongside the dedicated employees of the Clerk’s Office, and I am proud of all we have accomplished together for the citizens of Kootenai County. I would be honored to continue serving the citizens of Kootenai County for another term as County Clerk." Jennifer Locke
Recognition
CDA Press Columnists - Serving the Voters
"I can shine a light on Kootenai County Clerk Jennifer Locke. As clerk, she has one of the most diverse roles of all elected officials in the county. She’s Chief Elections Officer, Auditor, Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, Clerk of the District Court and Recorder.
In recent weeks I had occasion multiple times to access the Kootenai County Elections website and found it to be not only user-friendly but filled with information the public is seeking. Jennifer is very responsive, as are those in her employ.
I’m an election-day voter by preference and habit, but last week, I voted in advance at the elections office on Third Street. As I made my way to the polling table I noticed a bit of a line for information. One of the people patiently and knowledgeably answering voters’ questions was the Kootenai County Clerk herself, Jennifer.
So kudos to Clerk Locke for being a great example of dedication to the public she serves and to everyone who cast a ballot in this election." Read More....
Kerri Rankin Thoreson - May 22, 2024
May 13, 2026
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....
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 68,000 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 19,000 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.” Read the full article here...
Staff Writer | by KAYE THORNBRUGH