Fisher, Blasdel to face off in primary

There was an early surge of candidates filing Thursday for this year’s election, with a couple of contested primary races shaping up already in Flathead County.

Fourteen people officially filed as Flathead Valley legislative candidates on Thursday, the opening day for filing with the Secretary of State’s Office.

Speaker of the House and Somers businessman Mark Blasdel filed as a Republican in Senate District 4, a seat currently held by Sen. Jon Sonju, R-Kalispell, who is not seeking re-election and is endorsing Blasdel, his longtime friend. 

Blasdel will face a primary challenge from former Kalispell Mayor Tammi Fisher.

“I have had the privilege to represent the fine citizens in Kalispell, Somers and Lakeside over my tenure in the Montana House,” said Blasdel, who is term-limited in the House. “Kalispell needs someone who can take the voice of small business owners and employees to the state Legislature.”

Fisher has said that Kalispell forms the core of Senate District 4 and she hopes to represent the same Kalispell voters in the state Senate that she represented as mayor over the last four years.

Another primary race is set up in House District 7, with former Kalispell Police Chief Frank Garner and Ronalee Skees both filing as Republican candidates. Skees is the wife of former Whitefish Rep. Derek Skees, who filed his candidacy Thursday for the Montana Public Service Commission.

There will be a contested race in House District 8 with Montana Highway Patrol Trooper and incumbent Rep. Steve Lavin, R-Kalispell, filing as a Republican and Lynn Stanley filing as a Democrat. 

Stanley, a 24-year Kalispell resident who recently retired from a 40-year publishing career with Oxford University Press, is a co-chairwoman for Citizens for a Better Flathead.

Incumbent Rep. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, filed for re-election in House District 4. 

Bigfork resident Mark Noland filed as a Republican in House District 10, the seat currently held by Blasdel.

Rep. Carl Glimm has filed for re-election in House District 6, and he will be challenged by Democrat David Fischlowitz of Whitefish.

Rep. Randy Brodehl, R-Kalispell, filed for re-election in House District 9, and Rep. Jerry O’Neil, R-Colubmia Falls, filed for re-election in House District 3.

Somers resident Mike Herbert filed as a Republican in House District 11. The seat is currently held by Rep. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, who is now running for the House District 12 seat currently held by Rep. Dan Salomon, R-Ronan.

At the county level, four incumbents filed for re-election by the end of Thursday.

Adele Krantz filed for treasurer; Dan Wilson filed for Justice of the Peace, Department One; Mark Sullivan filed for Justice of the Peace, Department 2; and Ed Corrigan filed for County Attorney.

Superintendent of Schools Marcia Sheffels told the Inter Lake on Thursday that she will not be seeking re-election this year.