Races fill up including some primaries

With the last day of main-party candidate filing on the books, some local races have gone from uncontested to contested including some primaries, on the county and legislative level, with both the Democrat and Republican local chairs saying they are happy with their candidates.

In Hill County, former Democratic Treasurer Carrie A. Dickson has filed as a candidate and will face incumbent Democrat Sandy Brown, who defeated Dickson in the 2010 election.

On the legislative level, Carl Mattson of Chester filed Monday as a Republican candidate for Senate District 14, and will face Rep. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, in the primary June 3.

The winner of that primary will face Sen. Greg Jergeson, D-Havre, in the Nov. 4 general election. The newly drawn Senate District 14 includes Havre and stretches from the Canadian border in Liberty and western Hill County through Chouteau County and northeastern Cascade County.

And the incumbent representative in House District 27 that excludes Havre and makes up the rest of SD 14, Rep. Roy Hollandsworth, R-Brady, also faces a primary and a general election contest.

Darrold Hutchinson of Hingham filed as a Republican candidate in HD 27 Monday.

The winner of that election will face Democrat Rob Laas of Chester, who also filed as a HD 27 candidate Monday.

Hill County Republican Chair Andrew Brekke said this morning the Hill County GOP is pleased with its candidates.

"We were happy to get candidates in the legislative districts," Brekke said. "We feel our chances are pretty good."

The Hill County Republican Party does not endorse candidates in the primary election, he said.

He added that the lack of Republican challengers in the races for Hill County offices is not unusual - candidates often seem to focus on the legislative races.

Hill County Democratic Chair Brenda Skornogoski made almost identical comments about the upcoming election.

"I think the Democratic chances are very good," she said this morning. "I think we have some great candidates, and I am happy we have contested races."

She added that she has no preference in the contested treasurer's race - she knows both candidates and displayed both of their campaign signs in the 2010 election.

In other contested local races, Democratic City Council member Janet Trethewey faces Republican Stephanie Hess in the race for House District 28, the district comprising Havre and making up the rest of SD 14.

In House District 32, that runs from northeastern Chouteau County through Blaine County and includes part of Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy's Indian reservations, incumbent Rep. Clarena Brockie, D-Harlem, faces Republican Gilbert Bruce Meyers of Box Elder.

Incumbent Rep. Mike Lang, R-Malta, faces Democrat Floyd Russell Hopstad of Glasgow in the race for House District 33 from eastern Hill County through part of Valley County.

On the county level, other contested races are in Blaine County, where incumbent Commissioner Dolores Plumage faces Carletta Benson in the Democratic primary, and in Liberty County, where a general election contest is set for the commissioner seat now held by Rlynn Rockman of Chester. Rockman, a Democrat, has not filed for re-election.

Republican Tim Snyder of Chester and Democrat Maureen "Morb" Wicks of Ledger have filed as candidates for that position.

Angel Colbry and Rachelle Fenger Gage, both of Chester, have filed as Republican candidates for Liberty County clerk and recorder. Incumbent Democrat Rhonda Pimley is not running for re-election in that office.