Candidates join races as filing closes

The list of candidates for Sanders County races grew as the filing period came to a close on Monday afternoon.

Six candidates have filed for Sanders County Sheriff. Current sheriff Tom Rummel notified his staff earlier this year that he would not be seeking re-election. Candidates who will be on the ballot for the June 7 primary include Mark French and Shawn Fielders of Plains, Lanny Hensley and Roy Scott of Thompson Falls, Christopher Stough of Heron and Corey Wheeldon of Noxon.

Additional candidates have also filed for the two county commissioner posts up for election this year. For District 2, Randy Arnold and John Holland of Plains, as well as Don Detienne and Mahlon Lee of Hot Springs, have filed. In District 1, Adam Bache and Dan Rowan of Plains and Daniel Moore of Thompson Falls have filed for the commissioner position which was vacated when Carol Brooker retired at the end of 2021. Claude Burlingame of Thompson Falls was appointed by commissioners Glen Magera and Tony Cox to fill Brooker’s seat through 2021.

Nichol Scriber of Plains has filed for re-election for the combined office of County Clerk and Recorder, Treasurer and Superintendent of Schools. Kathleen “Katy” French of Plains also filed for the position. Two candidates also have filed for the four-year term of Sanders County Coroner, including incumbent Pat Barber of Trout Creek and Martin Spring of Plains.

Sanders County Attorney Naomi Leisz has filed for re-election, and will run uncontested. For the position of Justice of the Peace in Sanders County, Doug Dryden of Plains filed for re-election. Carl Marquardt of Trout Creek also has filed for the position.

School board candidates have until March 24 to file. In Dixon, three candidates have filed for two open positions. Those candidates include Marsha Hettick, Kadilyn Roragen and Janita Vonheeder. Hot Springs School Board has one open position, with Jennifer Christensen and Julie White filing. In Noxon, four positions are open and two candidates – Tamra Weltz and Jen Fratzke – had filed as of Tuesday. Ramona Jacobson and Lisa Ruen have filed for the one open position on the Thompson Falls School Board. In Plains School District, there are five candidates so far for the one position on the ballot, including Amy Carey, Beau French, Mary Halling, Brian Meaden and Karrie-Shinnick-Lulack. And in Trout Creek, one candidate has filed for each of the three open board positions thus far, including Michael Linderman, Alicia Myers and Carolyn Nesbitt.

In state representative races, Paul Fielder of Thompson Falls has filed for re-election in House District 13. Colleen Hinds of Heron also has filed as a candidate. In House District 14, Denley Loge of St. Regis has filed for re-election, and Randy Mitchel of St. Regis will also be on the ballot.

The filing deadline for special district elections has also passed, with several races being cancelled by the districts as candidates are running unopposed. Races canceled and the candidates who have filed include: Dixon Rural Fire District - Douglas King and Dennis Smith; Hot Springs Rural Fire District – Charles Neiman; Noxon Rural Fire District – Teri Wilkinson; Plains/Paradise Rural Fire District – Craig Fowler; Trout Creek Rural Fire District – Zarach Epperson; Eastern Sanders County hospital District – Debra Pier; Noxon Water and Sewer District – Joseph Campbell, John Johnston, Jared VanVleet; Woodside Park Water and/or Sewer District – Katrin Cottingham.

Special districts with contested races that will hold elections May 3 include the following candidates. These races will be decided on May 3.

Heron Rural Fire District (two three-year positions): Clarence “Chuck” Goetz, Christine Knodle, Timothy Lindeman and Peggy Niesen.

Thompson Falls Rural Fire District (one three-year position): Steven Davis and two write-in candidates.

Noxon Heron Public Hospital District (one three-year position): Carolyn Carter, Timothy Jones.

Sanders County Sewer District at Paradise (two four-year positions): Janice barber, Pernel Chapman, Janie McFadgen.

Sanders County Water District at Paradise (two four-year positions): Terry Caldwell, William McFadgen, Lee Ann Overman.

The Green Mountain Soil and Conservation District has three four-year positions and one two-year position up for election this year. These races will be featured on the ballots for the November general election. Filing for four-year terms are Nancy Mehaffie and Sean Moran of Thompson Falls, as well as Keren Rash, Mary Reed, Melinda Ferrell and William Naegeli, all of Trout Creek. Edward “Bud” Scully and Kristen Wing of Thompson Falls have filed as candidates for the two-year position.

In the Eastern Sanders County Conservation District, two candidates have filed to serve on the board, which has three open positions. Candidates include Ron Warren and John Marrinan, both of Plains. The primary election for those races will be able to be canceled if no additional candidates file as write-ins.

While the Sanders County Democratic Central Committee appoints their committee men and women for the 2022 primary election, the Republican Central Committee will select committee representatives in precincts 5 and 6 in the June primary. In precinct 5, Paul Fielder of Thompson Falls is running unopposed for the committeeman position, while Jennifer Fielder of Thompson Falls and Linda Hohenstein of Plains have filed for the committeewoman position. In precinct 6, Jon Dishaw and Charles French have filed for the committeeman position, while Amy Dishaw is the only candidate for the committeewoman position.

Ballots for school board and special district races will be mailed April 13 by the Sanders County Elections Office.

Election Deputy Bobbi Christenson recommends that if voters have not received their ballots by April 20, to call the office at (406) 827-6949 and verify their information. Residents can also validate their information, including mailing address, at the state My Voter Page, https://app.mt.gov/voterinfo.

School board and special district ballots must be received by mail or dropped off in person by 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, at the county elections office in the Sanders County Courthouse in Thompson Falls. With the number of elections being run by the county, ballot envelopes will include a color-coded label, Christenson said. “Each school and each special district will have their own color so they can be sorted quickly.” Along with reminding voters to validate their address to ensure ballot delivery, Christenson also adds that voters need to be sure and sign the affirmation envelopes before mailing or dropping them off in the included return envelopes. Ballots for the June 7 primary election will be mailed May 13.