Filing deadline nears for election

Bigfork Eagle

The deadline is approaching to file to run for political offices up for the November election.

The deadline for all candidates to file a declaration of nomination for placement on the primary ballot with the Montana Secretary of State or county election office is 5 p.m. Monday, March 15.

Primary elections will be held June 8 to determine the candidates in the Nov. 2 general election.

County

In Flathead County there will be numerous county races, with terms expiring for Sheriff Mike Meehan, County Commissioner Joe Brenneman, Clerk and Recorder Paula Robinson, County Attorney Ed Corrigan, Treasurer Adele Krantz, Superintendent of Schools Marcia Sheffels and Justices of the Peace David Ortley and Mark Sullivan.

Currently, the following candidates have filed for election:

Robinson has filed for re-election and will run against Rebekah Eslick Savelle.

Two candidates have filed for the open county commissioner seat – Pam Holmquist and Howard W. Gipe.

Corrigan, Krantz and Sheffels are all running again and are unopposed.

Former Undersheriff Chuck Curry will run for Flathead County Sheriff against incumbent Meehan. Patrol Sgt. Lance Norman has also announced his intent to run.

In one of two county races for justice of peace, incumbent Judge Mark Sullivan filed for re-election. Paul Sullivan, Eric Hummel and Travis Bruyer have filed as challengers for the position.

So far, only Kalispell attorney and former prosecutor Daniel Wilson has filed as a candidate for the other justice position.

For a new fourth Flathead County District Court judge position, Kalispell attorney Rich De Jana, Kalispell attorney Phyllis Quatman, current Justice of the Peace David Ortley and Kalispell Municipal Judge Heidi Ulbricht have all thrown their hats in the ring.

The position was created by the Legislature last year.

For more information on county races, go to http://flathead.mt.gov/election.

State

In state races, seats are available in all 100 Montana House districts. As of Monday, 274 candidates had filed for both the legislative and non-legislative races.

Rep. Scott Reichner, R-Bigfork, has filed for re-election in House District 9, as have Rep. Mark Blasdel, R-Somers, in House District 10 and Rep. Janna Taylor, R-Dayton, in House District 11. J. Garth Cox of Polson, a fellow Republican, has filed to run against Taylor.

In Flathead County, state Senate seats currently held by Republicans Greg Barkus in Senate District 4 and Verdell Jackson in Senate District 5 will be up for grabs.

Jackson, R-Kalispell, has filed for re-election. Jon Sonju, a Republican, has filed for Barkus' seat.

Candidates may file electronically via the Secretary of State's online candidate filing service, in person at the Secretary of State's office, by mail or by fax. Forms postmarked by the deadline, but not received by the deadline, cannot be accepted.

The deadline for every candidate to file for office is March 15, regardless of party affiliation.

The deadline for certain candidates, including those from independent and minor parties, to submit the petition to county election administrators was Monday, March 8.

However, the time period for those candidates to collect additional petition signatures and submit them to county election offices is March 15.

For more election information, go to the Montana Secretary of State Web site at http://sos.mt.gov.