About Jennifer

My name is Jennifer Locke. I have been married to my husband Ken for 22 years and we have four children. My family moved to Hayden in 2010.  I have been grateful for the opportunity to raise our children in Kootenai County. I have a BA in Economics from the University of Southern Maine. 

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Appointed by Clerk Jim Brannon in 2017, I served as the Chief Deputy Clerk of Kootenai County for 6 years. In 2022, I was elected to the Clerk's Office, and I have been serving as Clerk for over 3 years. The Clerk’s office oversees five departments — Auditor, District Court, Elections, Recorder, and County Assistance — and is comprised of 106 employees. Prior to serving as Chief Deputy Clerk, I founded and operated a small online business for eight years, selling a USA-manufactured product to both individual and corporate customers and fulfilling customized orders ranging from 100 to 1,300 units.

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I possess the experience and knowledge to manage 106 employees, oversee the budget process, administer elections, and successfully fulfill the diverse responsibilities of the Clerk's Office. As Clerk and Chief Deputy Clerk, I have implemented processes in compliance with state law to achieve greater efficiency and cost savings for the citizens of Kootenai County. During my time with the County, I have helped downsize departments and their budgets and, when needed, reallocated resources to areas experiencing increased demand for services, such as District Court, where filings and court cases have risen. I will continue to ensure continuity and stability in our County Government. I emphasize to all my departments that we work for the taxpayers and citizens of Kootenai County. Our mission is to operate efficiently and cost-effectively while delivering excellent customer service that best serves the people 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.

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