GOP's Waldron withdraws in 4th Ward race

Havre City Council candidate Bob Waldron is withdrawing from the 4th Ward race.

Waldron cited personal reasons.

His decision leaves Matt Boucher as the only Republican candidate in the 4th Ward race. He will oppose Democrat Karen Datko in the fall election.

Walrdon’s name will still be on the primary ballot because he has missed the deadline set by state law for withdrawing, Hill County Clerk and Record Darla Dahl said.

“It will be his responsibility to spread the word that he is not running,” she said.

The Waldron-Boucher race was the only contested primary in either party.

State law requires that there be a citywide primary if there is a contest in just one ward.

Had Waldron withdrawn from the race prior to the deadline, the entire primary could have been called off, she explained.

But because his name is still on the ballot, primary ballots will be mailed out throughout the city.

That will remain the case, even though Waldron’s candidacy is now just a formality.

“We checked with the Secretary of State’s office,” she said.

Dahl said she didn’t have the cost of holding a citywide election, but added “it’s pricey.”

Costs include printing ballots, mailing them out, having them returned and counting of ballots.

Citywide, Republicans will have a choice of voting for mayoral hopeful Bob Rice or no one.

While there are two candidates in Ward 4, Republicans failed to field candidates on wards 1, 2 and 3.