Flathead-area candidates file for Legislature

The Daily Inter Lake

The Montana secretary of state has posted more filings for Flathead area legislative candidates.

As of Thursday afternoon, 14 candidates from the area were listed as candidates.

Senate Minority Leader Bob Keenan, R-Bigfork, has filed as a candidate in the Bigfork area's House District 9. Keenan, who is unopposed, could not seek re-election for his Senate seat because of term limits.

Rep. Dee Brown, R-Hungry Horse, has filed for re-election in House District 3. Also running for that seat is Democrat Doug Cordier, a Columbia Falls school counselor.

Rep. George Everett, R-Kalispell, is seeking re-election in House District 5. He is unopposed.

James Wheeler has filed as a Democratic candidate for House District 6, a seat held by Rep. Verdell Jackson, R-Kalispell, who cannot seek re-election because of term limits.

Jackson has filed as a candidate for Senate District 5, the seat held by Keenan.

Donald Loranger, a retired Air Force major general and Bigfork resident, will run as a Republican in Senate District 5, setting up a June primary election contest for that seat.

Also in the Senate District 5 race is Democrat Ric Smith, a Finley Point resident and small-business owner.

Keith Regier, a Kalispell school board member and a retired Evergreen teacher, has filed as a Republican candidate for the Kalispell core area's House District 8. Also in that race is Rep. Bill Jones, R-Bigfork, who is not seeking re-election for his seat in House District 9.

Democrat Randy Kenyon, the case management director at Opportunity Resources Inc., has announced that he will be a candidate in House District 8.

Steven Davidson, a former police dispatcher and Kalispell resident, has filed as a Democrat in House District 10, challenging incumbent Rep. Bernie Olson, R-Lakeside, who has filed for re-election.

There are no official filings in House District 7, but Kalispell attorney Dale McGarvey has announced that he will be a Democratic candidate. The incumbent, Republican Rep. Jon Sonju, intends to seek re-election.

Sen. Greg Barkus, R-Kalispell, is the only candidate to file in the Kalispell area's Senate District 4. And Sen. Aubyn Curtiss, R-Fortine, is the only candidate to file in the Eureka area's Senate District 1.