Darrow falls short for FVCC board; Primaries coming up

BY ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle

Bigfork's Elna Darrow fell just under 100 votes shy of unseating one of two incumbent candidates in Tuesday's election for the Flathead Valley Community College Board of Trustees.

John M. Phelps and fellow incumbent Thomas K. Harding, both of Whitefish, retained their seats on the board for another three-year term slated to end in 2011.

The final tally was Harding — 1,370 votes; Phelps — 1,213 votes; and Darrow — 1,130 votes.

Darrow said she was dissapointed in the outcome but felt that she "gave it a good shot."

"I was fairly successful, even if it didn't result in another meeting to go to," she quipped.

In the Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee election, John Bourquin, Gary Ridderhoff and Chuck Gough will remain on the board. Al Johnson, who was publicly supporting Ridderhoff, also garnered some votes. Gough was appointed earlier this year to fill in for Mary Jo Naive, who resigned recently. Gough will now serve out the remaining two year's of Naive's original three-year term. Bourquin and Ridderhoff will both have a full three-year term.

Final tallies were Gough — 111 votes; Ridderhoff — 100 votes; Bourquin — 91 votes; and Johnson — 55 votes.

Ted Weaver unseated incumbent candidate Jim Sticka for a seat on the Bigfork Fire Department Board of Trustees, winning 71 votes to 67. Sticka has served one full term on the board and was elected its chairman last year. Bob Hand also received two votes.

The Bigfork School District Board did not hold an election because only three people filed for the three vacant seats. Dave Carlson and Paul Sandry were incumbents that will remain on the board, joined by newcomer Doug Fraley.

Voters will have an opportunity to cast their ballots in Montana's primary elections on June 3. The two Bigfork area polling paces are Bethany Luthern Church and Swan River School.

The church is for voters registered in precinct 38 and the school for those in precinct 42.

Voters on the Lake County side of the line can vote at the Ferndale Sewing Club in Ferndale, the Bear Dance Clubhouse south of Woods Bay and the State Forest Headquarters at Goat Creek Ranger Station near Swan Lake.

Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The primaries will include races for County Commissioners, State Senators and Representatives, Governor and Lt. Governor, U.S. Senate and House as well as U.S. President.

Montana's primary, along with South Dakota, is the last in the nation.