Havre gears up for city election 2015

Havre is in the beginning stages of planning for its 2015 municipal elections.

City Council Monday night gave routine approval to a request from Hill County Clerk and Recorder Sue Armstrong that the election be done entirely by mail-in ballot.

All voters will get ballots mailed to them before the Sept. 15. primary.

Armstrong noted that from earlier returns, it appears more people vote by mail than under the traditional go-to--the-polls method.

“I think we get increased turnout,” said Council Member Janet Trethewey, as she cast her affirmative vote.

This will be the first year that voters will select from a nonpartisan field. Two years ago, voters decided to conduct nonpartisan elections, ending a 125-year tradition of partisan elections.

While political parties may be involved in candidate selection, candidates will not be designated on the ballot as Democrat or Republican.

Four seats on City Council are open in this year’s election. They are:

Ward 1: Council member Pam Hillery has announced she won’t run for re-election.

Ward 2: Council member Brian Barrows said he has not made a decision on re-election.

Ward 3: Councilman Allen “Woody” Woodwick laughed off questions about his intentions, saying he usually doesn't make decisions until the deadline.

Ward 4: Council member Andrew Brekke said he hasn't made up his mind.

Candidates can start filing for office on May 4. The deadline is July 2.

There is a possibility the city will place its proposed multi-million dollar street repair project on the ballot during the primary.

City officials say they would like to have a September vote so the additional levy, if approved by voters, would be on the tax bills after this year.

But there is a chance that if no contests develop in the primary — and candidates have been reluctant to come forward in recent years — there may be no need for a primary.

They are reluctant to hold the vote on primary day if the levy is the only contest on the ballot, preferring to save money and wait until November.

Trethewey said she hoped the city would conduct a public relations campaign during the summer, informing people what the program entailed and how it would be paid for

Public Works Director Dave Peterson proposed an inexpensive public relations program.

"Just drive them around our streets," he said.