Dupont goes back to school

The Daily Inter Lake

Flathead County Commissioner-elect Jim Dupont was one of 30 new commissioners from throughout Montana who recently attended County Commissioners Certification School in Helena.

Dupont, a Republican and former Flathead County sheriff, won handily in the general election over Democrat Steve Qunell.

He will be sworn in at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the commissioners' chambers in the main courthouse annex.

Longtime Clerk of Court Peg Allison also will be sworn in for a new term. She was unopposed in this year's election.

Dupont replaces departing Commissioner Gary Hall, whom Dupont defeated in the primary election.

The Local Government Center, based at Montana State University, provided the school's program on behalf of the Montana Association of Counties.

Commissioners earn certification after completing 40 hours of instruction over a two-year period.

The curriculum includes classes on budget, finance and taxation, intergovernmental relations, human resource management, special boards governance, courthouse relations, reappraisal and disaster declarations and mill levies.