College's election attracts no challengers

Only the incombents John Engebretson and Mark Holston filed for the two open seats on the Flathead Valley Community College Board of Trustees.

Engebretson has served since 1991 and Holston has held his seat since 2001.

Both seats are in the Flathead High School District and were scheduled for a decision in the May 4 school election. District Clerk Monica Settles said the election will most likely be canceled after April 8 to save the cost.

A few people expressed interest in pursuing the trustee seats before the filing deadline a week ago.

“We did send candidate forms to people who called and requested them,” Settles said. “They must have decided not to run.”

The college also canceled the 2009 election when incumbents Ralene Sliter and Thomas McElwain went unchallenged. The last competitive trustee contest was in 2008 when incumbents John Phelps and Thomas Harding garnered slightly more votes than Elna Darrow in a close race to represent the Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Bigfork high school district seats.

When candidates have no challengers, the board of trustees may exercise its option under Montana law to hold a special meeting to declare the single candidates elected by acclamation.