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Crowded year at the ballot box

by Richard Hanners For Pilot
| January 4, 2012 8:08 AM

It’s no secret that 2012 is an

important election year, but with so much media attention focused

on Republican presidential primary candidates and the 14-or-so

Montana gubernatorial candidates, some key elections here in the

Flathead deserve notice.

Presidential elections usually draw

more voters to the ballot boxes, but two other national races will

attract Montana voters. In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent

Democratic Sen. Jon Tester is being challenged by Republican Rep.

Denny Rehberg in what is turning out to be a hotly contested race

with national repercussions in Washington, D.C.

Rehberg’s move means Montana’s lone

House seat will be up for grabs. So far seven candidates have said

they want the job, including two Republicans and five Democrats.

Diane Smith, a Democratic businesswoman from Whitefish, is a local

contender.

The gubernatorial race is even busier.

With Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer term-limited out, 14

candidates so far have their eyes on the governor’s mansion,

including two Democrats, nine Republicans, one Libertarian, one

independent and one candidate with no declared party

affiliation.

Four of the Republicans are from

Helena, including Neil Livingstone, whose running mate is the

Republican state senator from Whitefish, Ryan Zinke. Also from

Helena and leading in contributions for both parties is Democrat

Steve Bullock, the Montana Attorney General.

Which leaves the state attorney general

seat up for grabs. So far one Republican and two Democrats have

expressed interest in that job. Two Republicans have shown interest

in the Secretary of State office, including Brad Johnson, who held

the office for one term before losing to incumbent Democrat Linda

McCulloch.

One Republican has declared interest in

the State Auditor job — Derek Skees, the Kalispell builder who

currently represents Whitefish’s House District 4. And one

Republican has her eyes set on the state Superintendent of Public

Instruction job — Sandy Welch, a former teacher and principal from

Martin City.

Tom Muri of Whitefish is currently the

lone candidate for House District 4.

On top of all that, there will be more

than half a dozen initiatives and referendums on issues ranging

from taxes, medical marijuana and supreme court elections to

abortion, eminent domain and denying services to illegal

aliens.

In Flathead politics, two Republicans

have announced their interest in Commissioner Dale Lauman’s job —

Gerald Scott and Terry Kramer, both of Kalispell.

But the three openings for district

court judge will probably draw the most candidates. The Flathead

got a taste of this in 2010 when four candidates vied for a newly

created district court position and six more vied for the two

Justice of the Peace positions. The rumor is that district court

judges Stewart Stadler and Katherine Curtis will not run for

re-election and that Ted Lympus will.

With Zinke running for lieutenant

governor, two local House veterans have announced their intention

to run for Zinke’s senate seat, which represents the north valley —

Republicans Dee Brown, of Coram, and Bill Beck, of Whitefish. The

House District 3 incumbent, Republican Jerry O’Neil, says he’s

running again.

Some local legislative races still have

no announced candidates, but a lot will change following the

opening day for registering on Jan. 12. The deadline for filing for

office is March 12.