Judge races get crowded

Several more candidates have filed for Flathead Valley election races over the last week.

Kalispell attorney Rich De Jana has thickened the race for the fourth Flathead County District Court judge position created by the Legislature last year.

Also in that race are Kalispell attorney Phyllis Quatman, current Justice of the Peace David Ortley and Kalispell Municipal Judge Heidi Ulbricht.

Eric Hummel has joined the race for the county Justice of Peace Department 2 position. Also in that race are Travis Bruyer, Paul Sullivan and the incumbent Justice of the Peace, Mark Sullivan.

Steven Thompson has filed as a Republican candidate for House District 7. Thompson, a Kalispell native who has worked for Semitool for the last seven years and currently serves on the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce board of directors, is concerned with the current business climate in Montana.

“Jobs are number one right now and we need to remember that businesses create jobs, not government,” he said in a press release announcing his candidacy Friday.

“At the state level we need to be cutting back on spending and reducing the burden that has been placed on the people of Montana. Families and businesses have been cutting back and doing more with less, it’s time for government to do the same.”

There are no other candidates so far in House District 7, which is currently represented by Rep. Jon Sonju, R-Kalispell.

Sonju filed on Friday for Senate District 4.

That seat is currently held by Sen. Greg Barkus, R-Kalispell, who cannot seek re-election because of term limits.

Mark Peck, who is resigning as county director of emergency services, has filed as a Republican candidate for House District 3 in the Columbia Falls area.

Republican Sandy Welch of Martin City also has filed for House District 3.

Also in the race are Republican Harm Toren and Democrat Gene Marcille.

The seat is currently held by Rep. Dee Brown, R-Hungry Horse.

Polson resident J. Garth Cox has filed as a Republican challenger to Rep. Janna Taylor, R-Dayton, in House District 11.

Michael-John Davis has filed as a Republican in the Kalispell area’s House District 8. Also in the race is Republican Carl Glimm. The seat is currently held by Rep. Cheryl Steenson, D-Kalispell, who has announced that she does not plan to seek re-election.