A Nez Perce County detective is on track to join the county commission in January after securing the Republican primary for the District 2 seat and facing no Democratic opposition in November’s general election.
Nick Woods, who currently serves as a detective with the Nez Perce County Prosecutor’s Office, captured just over 60 percent of the vote Tuesday night in the Republican contest, defeating Keith Havens, a former KLEW weather reporter. With no Democratic candidate having filed for the general election, Woods is effectively assured of taking the seat when results are certified following the November vote.
An Open Seat and a Clear Mandate
The District 2 opening came after longtime Commissioner Doug Havens announced his retirement earlier this year, creating a competitive primary field but leaving the general election uncontested. Woods’ margin in the primary — more than three-fifths of Republican ballots cast — gave him a clear mandate heading into the fall.
Woods said his campaign focused on listening to residents across the county before taking positions, a deliberate approach for someone whose professional background is in law enforcement rather than elected office. He spoke with current commissioners Joe Gish and Hannah Liedkie and attended community meetings throughout the district to get a sense of local priorities.
“I need to understand what the residents are feeling and how we can better serve them,” Woods said in a public statement about his campaign approach.
That outreach, he suggested, shaped the platform that resonated with Republican primary voters. “Ultimately, at the end of the day, they voted for that idea,” Woods said of the response to his community-first approach.
A Law Enforcement Background Heading to the Commission
Woods brings a professional profile that differs from many county commission candidates. Working within the Nez Perce County Prosecutor’s Office as a detective, he has spent his career navigating the legal and investigative systems that intersect with local government — experience that could prove valuable on a commission that oversees everything from county budgets to public safety funding.
County commissions in Idaho carry broad responsibility. The three-member board governs county finances, sets property tax levies, administers road and bridge infrastructure, and works alongside elected officials such as the sheriff and prosecutor. For a county the size of Nez Perce — with Lewiston as its county seat and communities stretching from Lapwai to Culdesac — the commission plays a central role in daily life for residents.
Fiscal accountability has been a recurring theme across Idaho county government in recent months. A state audit of Kamiah’s city finances earlier this year uncovered significant documentation gaps in municipal spending, with the matter ultimately referred to the Attorney General — a reminder of the scrutiny local governments face when financial controls are weak. Woods’ background in evidence-based investigative work may align well with demands for rigorous oversight at the county level.
The Nez Perce County Commission has also faced regional economic questions, including ongoing debates about the Snake River and its role in local commerce. A recent economic study examining dam removal impacts in Nez Perce and neighboring Asotin County found the financial effects on county revenues would be limited — though the broader policy debate over the river’s future continues to draw attention from farmers, tribal communities, and Port of Lewiston stakeholders alike.
What Comes Next
With no Democratic challenger in the race, the November general election is largely a formality. Barring any significant write-in effort or other development, Woods will be certified the winner and is expected to take his place on the Nez Perce County Commission in January.
He will join commissioners Gish and Liedkie on a board that manages one of north-central Idaho’s most significant county governments. The transition period between the November election and the January seating will give Woods time to prepare for the policy and budget work that awaits, including reviewing the county’s ongoing financial obligations and any capital projects moving into the new year.
For Nez Perce County residents in District 2, the election outcome means a familiar face from local law enforcement is headed to the commission table — one who says his priority will be responsive, community-driven governance.