City races finalized

Filing deadline passes for next election cycle

The races are on.

By the time the Flathead County Election Department closed on Thursday - the final day to file for city council or mayor - Shawn Bates added his name to those vying for a city council seat in Columbia Falls.

He was the last to file for municipal elections this year, and the only candidate to file on Thursday. His filing assured that Columbia Falls, Kalispell and Whitefish voters all will decide contested races in the Nov. 3 elections.

Bates threw his hat in the ring along with Matthew McConville and incumbents Michael Shepard and David Petersen, who all are seeking to serve four-year terms.

The four men are hoping to be elected to one of the three open positions on the Columbia Falls City Council. In addition to Shepard and Petersen, Harvey Reikofski's term expires at the end of December. Reikofski did not file for re-election.

But the elections there will be made interesting this year by the mayoral race. Mayor Jolie Fish has decided not to run again, but council member Don Barnhart declared his candidacy for mayor. Because he is the only person running for mayor, he almost certainly will be elected and leave a vacancy for his council seat after November's polling.

In that event, council members typically appoint a new member to fill the vacancy after the council reorganizes in January. It could mean that whichever candidate did not win re-election still may be seated on the council.

In Kalispell, the mayor's position and two council seats are being contested while two other council incumbents are running unopposed.

Mayor Pam Kennedy will defend herself against a bid by Kalispell attorney Tammi Fisher to unseat the mayor, who is seeking her third term in office. The mayor's term is for four years, as are council members.

Bob Hafferman in Ward 1 and Tim Kluesner in Ward 4 both are facing no opposition in their bids for re-election.

But in Ward 2 incumbent Hank Olson is facing a challenge from Jeff Zauner, and in Ward 3 Marc Rold filed to run against incumbent Jim Atkinson.

Kalispell Municipal Judge Heidi Ulbright also has filed for re-election.

In Whitefish, five people - Bill Kahle, Chris Hyatt, Philip B. Mitchell and incumbents Nick Palmer and Frank Sweeney - are vying for three council vacancies.

The terms of Palmer and Sweeney and Nancy Woodruff expire at the end of the year. Woodruff did not file for re-election.

Whitefish City Judge Bradley Johnson is running for Whitefish's new municipal judge position, a job with expanded duties.