It's Lauman vs. Crowley in November

With all but a handful of ballots counted, Flathead County commissioner candidates Mark Crowley and Dale Lauman have been chosen to represent their parties in the November general election.

Crowley prevailed among the three Democratic candidates with 55 percent of the vote.

Lauman led eight Republican challengers late Tuesday, with 22 percent of the vote. He extended that slightly, to 23 percent, once absentee ballots were counted.

The final tally doesn't include a handful of ballots from Pleasant Valley, which came in Wednesday morning. However, election officials estimated that they only amounted to about 16 votes; they didn't expect to count them until today.

Almost 19,000 votes were cast during Tuesday's primary, including 1,900 absentee ballots, for an overall voter turnout rate of 35.6 percent. Republican voters outnumbered Democrats by almost a 3-1 margin.

Crowley attributed his victory in part to his experience with land-use planning and development issues.

"Growth is a big issue in the Flathead, and people are looking for a candidate with planning and construction experience. I can offer that," he said on Wednesday.

Crowley spent more than four years working as a planner, first in the Flathead County Planning Office and later in the Tri-City Planning Office. He previously served as the housing and flood mitigation program manager for Northwest Montana Human Resources and currently works as construction manager for the Kalispell Public Works Department. He also owns a tree farm in Smith Valley.

Between now and the general election, Crowley said he'll continue to educate himself about the county budget and the other challenges facing the commissioners.

"I'll continue to walk the neighborhoods and talk with people, listening to their concerns about the future," he said. "We're going to build on the momentum" from Tuesday's primary.

Lauman was the first person to declare his candidacy for the commissioner's position, but it wasn't until half-past midnight that he felt his victory was assured.

The six-month campaign "was tiring, but it was a lot of fun," Lauman said on Wednesday. "I think everyone ran a good campaign that focused on the issues. That made it enjoyable. We also rang a lot of doorbells in the last month, and only in Montana will people thank you for taking the time to stop and visit with them. If this campaign had been in Denver or New York, I don't think it would have been as pleasant an experience."

Lauman worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 30 years, including eight years spent traveling around the country running a management training program for postal employees that focused on conflict resolution, mediation and arbitration.

He retired as postmaster of the Bigfork Post Office. He's lived in Lakeside for the past 16 years and currently serves as chairman of the Lakeside County Water and Sewer District.

Like Crowley, Lauman felt the ongoing growth in the valley and the county's budget problems would be key issues in the general election campaign.

"I managed a large budget for the postal service and know how to make adjustments to address the critical needs," he said. "I'm willing to share that training and experience and bring something positive to the Flathead."

Lauman and Crowley will square off on Nov. 7. The winner will replace Commissioner Bob Watne, who is not seeking reelection after two terms in office.

Another major election that wasn't decided until the wee hours Wednesday morning was for Justice of the Peace, where the top two vote-getters advance to the general election.

Incumbent David Ortley and challenger Shawn Guymon were the only candidates for Justice of the Peace No. 1, so they'll both advance.

Paralegal Jerry O'Neil was the top vote-getter in the second JP race. However, the second-place finisher couldn't be determined until all the absentee ballots were counted.

Mark Sullivan ultimately prevailed with 25 percent of the vote, compared to 24 percent for Tom Muri and 23 percent for Lane Bennett. O'Neil and Sullivan will compete in November.

Reporter Bill Spence may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at bspence@dailyinterlake.com