Montana Secretary of State Linda McCulloch reported a record number of candidates registered for public office on opening day of the filing season, which runs from Jan. 14 through March 15. And while there is only one statewide office up for grabs in 2010, the Congressional seat currently held by Republican Denny Rehberg, there are a wide number of elected positions available in Flathead County – ranging from state senator to justice of the peace.
State senate seats currently held by Republicans Greg Barkus in Senate District 4 and Verdell Jackson in S.D. 5 are open. Barkus is term-limited but Jackson registered to run for another term.
House District 3, which encompasses Columbia Falls and the canyon is open due to the term-limiting of Republican Rep. Dee Brown. Democrat Gene Marcille of Columbia Falls, and Republicans Harm Toren of Columbia Falls and Sandy Welch of Martin City have filed to run for the H.D. 3 seat.
Derek Skees of Kalispell has filed to run for H.D. 4, where Rep. Mike Jopek, D-Whitefish is up for reelection. Rep. Bill Beck, R-Whitefish, is running for reelection in H.D. 6. Republican Carl Glimm of Kalispell has filed to run for the H.D. 8 seat, where incumbent Democrat Cheryl Steenson is not seeking reelection. Michael-John Davis, also of Kalispell, previously announced his intent to run for H.D. 8 as a Republican, though as of press time he has not yet filed. Rep. Scott Reichner, R-Bigfork, is running for another term in H.D. 9 and Rep. Mark Blasdel, R-Somers, seeks reelection in H.D. 10. Rep. Janna Taylor, R-Dayton, filed for H.D. 11.
In Flathead County races, Republican Pam Holmquist has filed to run for the seat on the county commission currently held by Democrat Joe Brenneman. Sheriff Mike Meehan, a Republican, is running for reelection, but has a challenge from Chuck Curry, also a Republican; both have filed. Clerk & Recorder Paula Robinson has filed as a Republican to run for reelection. Republican County Attorney Ed Corrigan also seeks another term. Superintendent of Schools Marcia Sheffels, a Republican, is running for reelection and so is County Treasurer Adele Krantz, also a Republican.
Created last year by the Legislature, a new, fourth Flathead district judge position is open, for which three candidates have registered: Kalispell Municipal Judge Heidi Ulbricht, Justice of the Peace David Ortley and attorney Phyllis Quatman. Paul Sullivan will challenge incumbent Mark Sullivan for one of two Flathead County Justice of the Peace seats open. The other justice of the peace seat is currently held by Ortley, and so far attorney Daniel Wilson is the only person to file as a candidate for it.