Candidates join races

The filing period for the June 2 primary election ended March 9, and a few candidates filed at the end for local races.

Jennifer Fielder of Thompson Falls, a current state Senator for District 7, which includes Sanders County, filed for the position of Public Service Commissioner for Northwest Montana. “Frankly, I took a look at the other candidates that were running and I did not feel that any of the other candidates would do a good job of representing our area,” Fielder said. “The PSC has a really important function that affects almost every family in Northwest Montana.”

Fielder said she wasn’t planning on continuing her political career after her term in the state senate was up. “It’s important to know that I wasn’t angling for this. … I had contemplated it, but I was looking forward to stepping back and enjoying life not under the microscope. I had several constituents encouraging me to stay involved and keep speaking up for the people of Montana.”

Also filing for Public Service Commissioner were Daniel Arlino, Brett Rosenberg, Will Deshamps and Monica Tranel of Missoula and Champ Edmunds of Darby.

In the race for representative in House District 13, Colleen Hinds filed as a Democrat and will be on the ballot with Paul Fielder of Thompson Falls, a Republican, and Cade Stiles of Thompson Falls, a Libertarian candidate. Hinds has lived in Heron for more than 40 years and is a newly retired registered nurse. “I just felt that politics needs to bring compassion and caring back into it,” Hinds said. “Not your side or my side, but what we all can unite on.” She said the issues important to the area include having affordable and available health care, keeping access to public lands and keeping young people in the area.

In House District 14, Mark French of Plains has filed, joining fellow Republican and incumbent Denley Loge of St. Regis.