FVCC cancels trustee election

Flathead Valley Community College has two new board of trustees and one returning after they were elected by acclamation.

The FVCC Board of Trustees unanimously voted to cancel the upcoming election for three trustee seats on Thursday, noting that the number of candidates filing for vacant positions equaled the number of positions up for election.

College officials estimated that cancelling the election will save taxpayers approximately $30,000.

The FVCC Board of Trustees is the governing body of the college. The trustees are charged with the primary responsibilities of establishing college policies and selecting a president to administer the operations of the institution.

The seven members are elected by Flathead County residents and serve three-year terms on a rotating basis.

State statute mandates the board can cancel elections if the number of candidates is equal to or less than the number of positions open and no one announced the intent to be a write-in candidate.

Monica Settles, clerk of the district, said it’s not abnormal to have to cancel an election.

“Last time we canceled one was last year,” she said. “Prior to that, for several years in a row, we had an election. It just depends on whether people choose to run or not.”

The board made the decision during a special meeting conference call between the trustees and FVCC President, Jane Karas.

Kelly Dowling Stimpson was elected for one of the three-year terms in the Bigfork, Columbia Falls and Whitefish High School district. She has more than a year of experience in the role since the board appointed her in 2016 to fill a vacant trustee position after longtime trustee John Phelps resigned.

Peter Akey of Whitefish replaced Tom Harding. Harding has served on the board since 1990 and chose not to run for re-election.

Stephanie Wallace was elected to a three-year term in the Flathead and Glacier High School District. She’s filling the seat left empty by Jeremy Presta, who decided not to run for a second term on the board.

The three recently elected trustee terms are set to begin in May.

Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at khoughton@dailyinterlake.com.