Brenneman to face Holmquist

Incumbent Flathead County Commissioner Joe Brenneman overcame a Democratic primary challenge and will face Republican Pam Holmquist in the November general election.

Brenneman outdistanced Noel Gorton in the Democratic primary for the District 2 position. Brenneman, a dairy farmer, is seeking a second term as commissioner.

Brenneman pulled in 70 percent of the vote while Gorton received 23.5 percent. There were 2,606 voters who cast Democratic ballots, compared to 11,118 who cast Republican ballots.

Overall, voter turnout was 23.4 percent in Flathead County. Of the 13,724 voters in the primary, 7,400 used absentee ballots.

The Democratic contest featured two candidates from Creston with differing views on efficiency in county government and the controversial North Shore Ranch subdivision. Brenneman defends his vote against North Shore Ranch; Gorton said it should have been approved.

The commissioners' denial of the project led to a lawsuit and a $1 million settlement the county has to pay.

On the Republican side, Holmquist won a three-way primary contest against former Commissioner Howard Gipe and contractor Patrick Nickol.

Holmquist had 45.3 percent of the vote, Gipe received 36.5 percent and Nickol received 11.4 percent.

Gipe had been seeking his fourth term as commissioner. He previously served 18 years as commissioner.

Holmquist, 57, touted her business experience - she has owned and operated Rocky Mountain Marine for 32 years - as an asset in her bid for commissioner.

"I have a vested interest in this county, and the only way my family business survives is if Flathead County thrives," she said.

Jobs will be a major issue for the Flathead Valley in the coming years, she has said, noting that the county needs to court new business and supporting existing businesses. She would like to see a coalition of commissioners, mayors and legislators to represent collective interests in lowering taxes and bringing jobs here.

In the other contested county government race, incumbent Paula Robinson far outdistanced challenger Becky Eslick Savelle.

Robinson received 65 percent of votes in her bid for a third term. She will be unopposed in the general election.