County Attorney Corrigan seeks re-election

Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan filed Tuesday for re-election.

Corrigan, a Republican, has held the job for four years, moving up in 2003 from the deputy county attorney post he held for 16 years.

He has graduate and undergraduate degrees in economics from Washington State University and was a 1983 graduate from the University of Arkansas law school.

Corrigan, 50, was a prosecutor for Hill County from 1984 to '86 before moving to Kalispell.

Among his accomplishments during his term as county attorney were the successful murder prosecutions of Joseph Buck and Troy McGarvey, he said. Also important was the sex-crimes conviction of Dick Dasen, prosecuted by Dan Guzynski and Lori Adams.

Corrigan gives the nine attorneys and office support staff credit for being dedicated and professional.

"This office has enjoyed a great deal of success," he said.

Having talented staff members means they are in demand by the private sector, which can offer significantly higher wages than government jobs. Corrigan said he would not like to see talented attorneys siphoned off by the private sector.

Another challenge his office faces is dealing with the increasing number of crimes related to methamphetamine, Corrigan said.

He said he's happy with the way the office is going.

"We have restored the public's trust in this office and will continue our rapport with law enforcement.

"I think it'll be a good four years."

Corrigan and his wife, Sue, have a college-age daughter.

The only other election filing Tuesday was David Reynolds, who became the sixth Republican in the race for county commissioner.