Local candidates start filing for office

Candidates from across the state began submitting paperwork to the Montana Secretary of State's office Thursday, marking the official start of the election season.

Though campaigns have until March 14 to turn in their paperwork and pay the filing fees required to get on the ballot for the state's June primary election, most candidates along the Hi-Line chose to either make the long journey down to Helena Thursday to do the chore in person or file online.

In Havre, freshman state Rep. Stephanie Hess, R-Havre, filed her paperwork, making her bid for re-election to the House District 28 official.

"It has been my honor to serve in the Montana House of Representatives," Hess said. "I believe the highest calling an individual can have is that of servant," Hess said.

Jacob Bachmeier, a Havre High senior and the vice chair of the Hill County Democrats who so far is Hess's only challenger, didn't waste any time getting his forms filed, either. He too filed online.

A list of candidates provided by the Secretary of State's office also showed state Rep. Bruce Meyers, R-Box Elder, was among those who decided to file.

Meyers, who in 2014 stunned local political observers with his upset victory over then-state Rep. Clarena Brockie, D-Hays, has decided to run for the state Senate. Meyers submitted his paperwork to run for the Senate District 16 seat, now occupied by Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, who is unable to seek re-election because of term limits.

Though he did not file Thursday according to a list of candidates whose paperwork was processed, Windy Boy confirmed in a statement to the Havre Daily News that he is running to fill the seat in House District 32 being vacated by Meyers. Windy Boy began his legislative career in the House, serving three terms there before being elected to the state Senate in 2008.

"With all of the successes during my tenure, I also met some shortfalls with priorities I felt were important," Windy Boy said, identifying suicide prevention and Native language preservation programs as two such issues he wants to continue to build upon.

Efforts by Republicans to find a seat to replace outgoing term-limited state Rep. Roy Hollandsworth, R-Brady, in House District 27 have yielded at least one contender: Darrold Hutchinson.

Hutchinson, a farmer and pilot from Hingham challenged Hollandsworth in 2014 in the primary in a district that extends down from just south of the Canadian border to Cascade County.

No other candidates have yet emerged or submitted their paperwork in that race.

After two terms in the state's lower legislative chamber, state Rep. Mike Lang, R-Malta, has filed to run for the open Senate seat now held by Sen. John Brendon, R-Scobey.

Two political newcomers: Michael Burns of Glasgow and Casey "James" Knudsen of Malta, both Republicans, are vying to succeed Lange for the seat in the strongly Republican House District 33.

Outside of Hill County though, most candidates running for state office decided to put off their filing, waiting until after the crowds of the first day have abated and their entry into their respective contests can garner more attention.

"This is lower than in our previous years," said Blair Fjeseth, spokesperson for McCulloch.

Of all the statewide offices up for election in 2016, Fjeseth said, only 124 filed Thursday during the secretary's normal office hours, less than in 2012 and 2014 when that number stood at 155 and 139 respectively.

All but 13 of those who filed were for state legislative seats.

No candidates for governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor or superintendent of public instruction sent in their forms, according to the list provided by the Secretary's office of candidates who filed.

Neither Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., who occupies Montana's only House in the U.S. House of Representatives nor Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau, a Democrat seeking to unseat Zinke, filed today.

Spokespersons for both Juneau and Zinke said their respective candidates would file at a later date,

However, the campaigns of two presidential candidates: Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and billionaire real estate developer and former host of "The Apprentice" Donald Trump managed to turn in their forms which qualify them to be on the ballot in one of the nation's last presidential primaries of the year.

Thursday was also the day when those who want to run for office at the county level can also turn in their paperwork.

In Hill County, Hill County Clerk of District Court Kathie Vigliotti, of was the only candidate for any countywide office to hand in her paperwork for re-election, according to the Clerk and Recorder's Office.

The Clerk and Recorder's office said that, as of Thursday, nobody has turned in papers to run for Hill County District 2 commissioner. Incumbent Jeff LaVoi said he will likely not run for another term. Though he and fellow Commissioner Mark Peterson say they have heard that other people are mulling a run, but no candidates have done anything more than that.

All 17 precinct representatives will also be up this year and will be on the June primary ballot should any of those bids be contested.