2012 contest gets first candidate

The Daily Inter Lake

The election is almost two years away, but the 2012 Flathead County commissioner race already has a candidate.

Terry Kramer, owner of Kramer Enterprises in Kalispell, announced last week that he will seek the commission seat currently held by Republican Dale Lauman.

Lauman said he will not seek re-election.

Kramer, also a Republican, made the announcement at Friday's Pachyderm Club luncheon.

A longtime builder, Kramer, 55, started Kramer Enterprises in 2003, focusing primarily on commercial construction and custom home building. Among the many projects his company has completed are the Walgreens store in Whitefish, Swan River School, Crossroads Christian Church, the FedEx distribution center in Kalispell and the Whitefish Credit Union office in Thompson Falls.

Kramer and his family have lived in the Flathead Valley since 1987 and he has lived in commission District 3 for all but six months.

Kramer has been a civic leader for many years. He's just finishing his term as chairman of the board for the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and as president of the Flathead Building Association. He serves on the executive board of the Montana Building Association and recently was appointed to the Flathead Board of Adjustment.

His experience in land use, development and budgeting are assets he said he would bring to the commissioner job, he said.

"The best way to make a difference is to stand up and serve," Kramer said.

Kramer and his wife, Debbie, have four grown children and six grandchildren.