Eggensperger seeks another term as county super

Two more candidates filed for Flathead County races this week.

Jack Eggensperger, 68, is officially seeking another term as Flathead County Superintendent of Schools, responsible for supervising the county’s schools and serving as a liaison between its 23 independent school districts, taxpayers, and state government.

Eggensperger was first elected to the post in 2014.

“I feel pretty confident about how the first three years have gone and I just want to see it continue,” he said.

He expects the Flathead Valley’s growing population will continue to challenge school districts in coming years, and that recent state funding cuts will pose an added difficulty. He made clear that, while coping with these cuts will fall to individual school boards, “I will provide whatever advice and guidance I can.”

Eggensperger is currently unopposed. He holds a master’s in school administration from the University of Montana and has worked in a variety of education-related posts. In addition to his job as superintendent, he serves on the United Way Board of Directors, the Gateway Community Center Advisory Board and the Flathead Best Beginnings Community Council.

Also this week, Republican Keith Stahlberg filed as a candidate for county sheriff and coroner. Currently a sergeant for the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Stahlberg had been widely anticipated to run.

In November, he told the Daily Inter Lake that “All of my 17-plus years in law enforcement has been on patrol. I have a pulse on the valley because I am directly involved in it.”

Reporter Patrick Reilly can be reached at preilly@dailyinterlake.com, or at 758-4407.