First day for filing attracts few candidates

The Daily Inter Lake

Opening day for the 2006 election filing period attracted a trickle of legislative candidates from the Flathead Valley.

Although several people have announced their candidacies, only a few from the Flathead have been officially recorded by the Montana Secretary of State's Office.

Filings were posted just after 5 p.m. Monday, only three candidates were listed for House seats in the Flathead Valley.

Rep. Bill Jones, R-Bigfork, filed in the Kalispell core area's House District 8, a shift from the Bigfork area's House District 9, where he was elected in 2004. Jones has an opponent in the June primary election, with Republican Keith Regier also running for the House District 8 seat.

Rep. Bernie Olson, R-Lakeside, filed for re-election in the Lakeside area's House District 10.

Rep. Verdell Jackson, R-Kalispell, has filed as a candidate for the Senate District 5 seat, as has Democrat Ric Smith. The incumbent in that district is Senate Minority Leader Bob Keenan, who cannot seek re-election in the Senate because of term limits.

Sen. Greg Barkus has filed for re-election in Senate District 4.

The filing period for state and local races closes March 23.