It was clear from the results of the spring primary that Kootenai County voters are fed up with the status quo.

They’re tired of seeing the equivalent of small towns dropped into the rural areas by developers with deep pockets. They’re bothered by the effect those upscale subdivisions have on surrounding property values, taxes and infrastructure, from schools to roadways. They want commissioners to address growth.

Chances are good that the new county commission in January will offer more of the same. Republican Commissioner Rick Currie, who will be the only holdover commissioner, hasn’t distinguished himself as an agent for change. Rich Piazza, who is running unopposed after defeating incumbent Katie Brodie in the GOP primary, expressed concerns about out-of-control growth during his spring campaign but seems more interested in raising county employee wages and benefits. Republican Todd Tondee, who unseated incumbent Gus Johnson in the GOP primary, has concerns about growth, too. But no solutions.

The only commissioner candidate with a clear-cut plan to address growth problems is Independent Tom Macy. Macy wants the county commission to approve a temporary moratorium on growth until it can “unscramble the mess” and get back into compliance with land-use laws. The thought of a moratorium might frighten some. But plans for golf communities with thousands of houses and poor road access are scarier still. Macy has the right issue at the right time. He’s the right candidate for voters seeking a new approach to growth in the commissioners’ office.

In the remaining Kootenai County races, Treasurer Tom Malzahn and Assessor Mike McDowell, both Republicans, have earned second terms by virtue of their experience and accomplishments in office. Malzahn is facing a qualified challenger in Democrat Dan Duffey. McDowell has token third-party opposition.

Macy and Tondee both want to see county developers charged impact fees to help pay for growth. Macy, however, appears to have a better appreciation for what’s at stake if current growth in rural areas continues unchecked. In an interview with The Spokesman-Review, he compared developers to the fur traders, miners and loggers of yesteryear – groups that “grabbed a resource, made a huge profit and left a mess for locals.”

Macy, to his credit, played a role in forcing the Idaho Legislature to fix the local-option sales tax law after he and other plaintiffs found a fatal constitutional flaw in the original. Also, Macy appears to be in sync with residents in opposing Tondee’s call to reinstitute the county administrator’s position and by setting as a main priority, should he win, to resolve overcrowding at the county jail without spending some $55 million to expand the facility.

In the treasurer’s race, incumbent Malzahn has begun some of the good ideas raised by opponent Duffey, including setting up a system that allows property owners to pay their taxes online this fall. Malzahn deserves credit for cutting the size of his office and launching a program in which tax payments are deposited as they arrive, earning the county additional interest money. Hands-on experience as treasurer favors Malzahn.