Field trimmed to seven for Senate post

The Lake County Commissioners have yet to receive the names of three finalists for a state Senate seat that opened up with the Nov. 29 resignation of John Brueggeman.

Commissioner Paddy Trusler said Wednesday that the Flathead and Lake County Republican Central committees initially received applications from 15 people and that number has since been narrowed to seven.

State law says the committees are supposed to advance three finalists to the commissioners within 45 days of the resignation.

Trusler said the names of the finalists will be released and he hopes the commission will select a new state senator before the legislative session convenes on Jan. 3.

Although part of Senate District 6 is in Flathead County, the Lake County Commission will make the final selection because roughly 90 percent of the district’s voters are in Lake County.