Primary race ahead for county commissioner

Among Friday’s filings for elected offices, several Democrats filed for local legislative seats that had been uncontested and a second Democrat has filed for county commissioner race, raising a June primary election for incumbent Commissioner Joe Brenneman.

Noel Gorton, a Creston-area business owner, filed Friday afternoon with the county Election Department.

Republicans Howard Gipe and Pam Holmquist previously filed for the county commissioner race.

The deadline for filing for state and local races is Monday at 5 p.m.

A Democrat who ran in 2008, Scott Wheeler, has jumped in the House District 6 race to once again challenge Rep. Bill Beck, R-Kalispell. Also in the race is Constitution Party candidate Keith Sibbert.

Democrat Mary Reckin has filed as a candidate in Senate District 4, challenging Republican candidate Jon Sonju, who currently represents House District 7. Sen. Greg Barkus, R-Kalispell, currently represents Senate District 4 but cannot seek re-election because of term limits.

In House District 5, James Henry Mahnke filed as a Democratic challenger to incumbent Rep. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell.

Another Republican, Damon Pace, has filed in the Whitefish area’s House District 4. Pace will contend against Republican Derek Skees in the June primary election. Also in the race is the incumbent, Rep. Mike Jopek, D-Whitefish.

Michael-John Davis, a Republican, withdrew from the House District 8 race Friday. Other candidates in the race are Republicans Carl Glimm and Steve Lavin, Democrat Bryan Schutt and Independent Bill Jones.

Also at the county level, former Kalispell City Attorney Glen Neier has filed as a candidate for Justice of the Peace, Department One. The other candidate in the race is Daniel Wilson.