Cal Scott named interim commissioner

Cal Scott of Columbia Falls was appointed interim Flathead County commissioner Monday morning.

He is scheduled to be sworn in Tuesday morning and will participate in Tuesday's commissioners’ meeting.

Scott, 68, was one of three men nominated to serve as the District 1 commissioner, replacing Jim Dupont, who died March 19. Other nominees were Ben Stormes and Lyle Phillips, both of Whitefish.

Scott will hold office until November, Deputy Flathead County Attorney Tara Fugina said Monday. County voters will elect a commissioner in November to fill out the rest of Dupont’s term, which expires at the end of 2014. 

The new commissioner will be sworn in once the Nov. 6 general election results are certified, Fugina said. State law says an interim commissioner serves until the next general election, but an attorney general’s opinion clarifies that the interim position expires soon after the general election, not at the end of year.

Commissioners Dale Lauman and Pam Holmquist each spoke briefly before voting to appoint Scott to the position.

“We had three very good, qualified applicants for the position,” Lauman said. “Each has something they could bring to the commission.”

In an interview about an hour after the appointment was made, Scott said he was “very humbled” to have been chosen to fill the vacancy.

“I have to do a lot of study and research, talk to department heads and their boards and listen to the people of Flathead County” in the next few weeks, Scott said.

A self-employed businessman for 40 years, Scott says he always has read a great deal of material and is adept at assimilating information quickly. 

Scott is the founder and director of a Kalispell-based education and counseling organization, Enhancing The Homeownership Ideals for Communities.

He grew up in the Flathead Valley, attended elementary school in both Kalispell and Columbia Falls and graduated from Polson High School. 

He served in the Army and then enrolled at the University of Nevada where he earned a degree in civil engineering.

After a year of employment as an engineer, he said he realized that wasn’t the best career choice and launched a new career in real estate financing and development. He also has been a consultant and counselor on real estate issues and has taught at Flathead Valley Community College. 

He and his wife, Laurale, moved back to the Flathead in 2001, when Scott intended to retire. That plan didn’t last long, he said, and he founded his education and counseling business.

Scott is one of eight Republicans running for the District 1 commissioners’ spot in the June 5 primary election. Voters in the primary will narrow the Republican field to one candidate, who advances to the general election to face Democrat candidate Gil Jordan.

Other Republicans seeking their party’s nomination in June are Mike Shepard of Columbia Falls, Doug Adams of Whitefish, Rod Bernhardson of Whitefish, Glenn Kolodejchuk of Kalispell, Kirk Gentry of Columbia Falls, Chris Hyatt of Whitefish and Stormes. 

Reporter Shelley Ridenour may be reached at 758-4439 or sridenour@dailyinterlake.com.