Two levies pass while two fail

Voters gave a split decision Tuesday to school levy requests in Flathead County.

Whitefish and West Glacier voters approved levies while Somers-Lakeside and Kila voters defeated levy requests.

The largest levy request in Tuesday’s election, $200,000 in Somers-Lakeside, was rejected by a 440-367 margin.

The money would have been used to address aging facilities, personnel and make up for lost revenue due to declining enrollment and federal funding. 

District Clerk Diane Fetterhoff said the district will have to return to the drawing board and reassess priorities.

Whitefish voters approved a $36,000 general fund levy by an 845-644 margin.  

West Glacier School’s $9,420 technology levy passed 62-29. The money will be used toward maintaining, purchasing or renting technology equipment and networks and training personnel.

Kila voters turned down a $20,000 levy request 98-51.  

In the Kila trustee election, Erica Stevens with 100 votes and Wenzel Landowski with 69 votes won seats. Both will serve three-year terms.   Geraldine Landowski had 49 votes.

In the Whitefish trustee election, incumbent Ruth Harrison retained her seat with 812 votes. Nick Polumbus was elected to the board with 833 votes. Both will serve three-year terms. Candidate Karla West received 751 votes.

In Lincoln County, voters turned down a $350,000 levy request for Libby schools by a 1,149-936 margin.

Two incumbents won re-election to the Flathead Valley Community College Board of Trustees.

In the five-way race for two board seats, Shannon Lund was re-elected with 1,986 votes and Mark Holston retained his board position with 1,826 votes.

Both will serve three-year terms representing the Kalispell high school district.

Other FVCC candidates were Michael Hebert, 1,061 votes; Ursula Wilde, 649 votes; and Day Scovel, 566 votes.

Other trustee elections:

Bigfork

Two three-year terms

Zack Anderson 352

Paul Sullivan Jr. 327

Jill Reichner 261

Seth Jason Campbell 178

Smith Valley

One one-year term and two three-year terms

Sue Cameron (one-year term) 105

Doni Bennett (three-year term) 96

Frank Sutton (three-year term) 90

Eric Mitchell 63

Angie Brown 36

West Valley 

Two three-year terms

Helen Lyford 191

Stephanie Nadasi 157

Sharon Park 83

Todd Morstein (write-in) 2

Libby

(two seats open)

Les Nelson 1,283 

John Carlson 1,112

Sarah Crace 895