A dearth of candidates so far this year
With the March 10 filing date quickly approaching, there’s a noticeable lack of candidates for elected positions in Flathead County.
As of March 2, the lone candidate for the District 1 county commissioner seat, representing the north valley, was Republican Phil Mitchell, a former Whitefish city councilor and current Whitefish School Board member.
Cal Scott, who was appointed to represent District 1 after commissioner Jim Dupont died in March 2012, was elected in November 2012 to fill out the remaining two years of Dupont’s term. Scott has not filed for re-election.
In three other partisan county races, the Republican incumbents are running unopposed — Treasurer Adele Krantz, County Attorney Ed Corrigan and Sheriff Chuck Curry.
Flathead County Justices of the Peace Dan Wilson and Mark Sullivan are seeking re-election for Departments 1 and 2 and running unopposed for the non-partisan positions.
No candidates have filed for the Flathead County Superintendent of Schools position currently held by Republican Marcia Sheffels. Sheffels announced earlier she plans to retire.
One county position, Clerk and Recorder, has drawn three Republican candidates — county grant writer Debbie Pierson and former Clerk and Recorder employees Char Terry Sherman and Rebekah Eslick Savelle. Current Clerk and Recorder Paula Robinson is not seeking re-election.
In past years, as many as eight Republicans and four Democrats have run for a single county commissioner seat in the primary election. Races for sheriff and justices of the peace have also had contested races.
In local legislative races, incumbent Rep. Jerry O’Neil, R-Columbia Falls, and challenger Zac Perry, D-Martin City, have filed for House District 3, and incumbent Rep. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, is the lone candidate for House District 4.
The house districts have been realigned somewhat. House District 4 was formerly House District 5 and part of Senate District 3. The two Columbia Falls area house districts are now part of Senate District 2, and incumbent Sen. Dee Brown, R-Coram, is not up for re-election this year.
The primary election will be held Tuesday, June 3, and the general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 4.
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Deadlines near for school elections
Members of the public who want to serve on the Columbia Falls, Deer Park, West Glacier of Flathead Valley Community College school boards have until March 27 to file for the May 6 election. Candidate must live within the school district they are running in.
School boards considering asking voters to approve a tax levy have until April 11 to get their request on the May 6 election schedule.
Columbia Falls — Three 3-year board positions will be up for election. The terms for Dean Chisholm, Scott Emmerich and Lyle Mitchell will expire this year. Candidate petitions are available at the School District 6 administrative building, 501 Sixth Avenue West, in Columbia Falls. For more information, call district clerk Dustin Zuffelato at 892-6550 ext. 430.
Deer Park — Three board positions will be up for election, two 3-year terms and one 2-year term. The terms for Gary Anderson, Cynthia Barnes and Diane Taylor will expire this year. Candidate petitions are available at the Deer Park School office, 2105 Middle Road. For more information, call district clerk Peggy Martin at 892-5388.
West Glacier — Two board positions will be up for election, one 1-year term and one 3-year term. The terms for Kristin Dorman-Johnson and Dawn Lafleur will expire this year. Candidate petitions are available at the West Glacier School office, 160 Old Bridge Road, in West Glacier. For more information, call district clerk Tracy Click at 888-5312.
FVCC — Two three-year board positions will be up for election representing the combined Columbia Falls, Whitefish and Bigfork high school districts. The terms for Thomas Harding and John Phelps will expire this year. For more information, contact FVCC election coordinator Monica Settles at 756-3801.