Late filings fill election slate
Commissioner race swells to 12 candidates
As the deadline for filing in this year's Montana elections arrived Thursday, Constitution Party candidates made a rush in filing for local legislative seats, and it appeared that Democrats in the Flathead Valley pulled off something that hasn't been seen since the early 1990s.
Democrats managed to position a candidate in every local race, and in several races they had more than one candidate.
And the busy election slate for Flathead County officials got more crowded Thursday: Pamela J. Holmquist and Corey Pilsch filed as Republican candidates, and Don Hines filed as a Democratic candidate for county commissioner.
That means nine Republicans and three Democrats are seeking Bob Watne's commission seat.
New candidates also surfaced for county treasurer, justice of the peace and county superintendent of schools.
Much of the Democratic resurgence started with legislative candidates.
"I think the last 15 years has been really difficult for Democrats in the Flathead Valley, but I think we've really turned the corner," said John de Neeve, chairman of the Flathead County Democratic Central Committee.
A big reason for the renewed enthusiasm, he speculated, was the election of Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who has lent his support to Flathead Democrats.
Republican domination started with the great elephant stampede of 1994, when every Flathead County legislative seat was won by a GOP candidate. It had a lingering demoralizing effect on Democrats, with Republican incumbents often running unopposed and domination in the years afterward.
For several years, Rep. Tim Dowell was the only Democrat from the Flathead in the Legislature. That changed in 2004 with the election of Dowell, Rep. Mike Jopek, D-Whitefish, and Sen. Dan Weinberg, D-Whitefish.
"Two years ago we had three people win, so we made gains," de Neeve said. "I'm excited because I think we are going to gain more seats this time around, especially when the public starts meeting these candidates."
Six Constitution Party candidates entered legislative races Thursday across Northwest Montana. They include Russell Brown of Libby in House District 1; Freeman Johnson of Troy in House District 2; Tad Rosenberry of Columbia Falls in House District 3; Rick Komenda of Olney in House District 6; Kurtis Oliverson of Kalispell in House District 8; and Rick Jore of Ronan in House District 12.
Other candidates entering legislative races this week included Democrat Ray Jacobs of Eureka and Republican Leslie Hollopeter Galassi of Fortine in House District 2; Democrat Carla Augustad of Kalispell in House District 10; Democrat Coral Cummings of Libby in Senate District 1; and Democrat Gerald Reckin of Kalispell in Senate District 4.
In county government races, Gene R. Clark of Kalispell filed as a Democratic candidate for county treasurer, Shawn L. Guymon of Columbia Falls and Tom Muri of Whitefish filed as candidates for justice of the peace, and L. Susan Letz-Keedy of Kalispell filed as a Republican for county superintendent of schools.