Candidate filing starts on the Hi-Line

Editor’s note: This corrects the spelling of the last name of Liberty County Attorney Robert Padmos

Havre Daily News staff

A flurry of candidates filed in state and county elections this morning, the opening day for candidate filing, included a contested Senate race in the district that includes Havre.

Havre business owner and Republican activist Brad Lotton filed today with the Montana Secretary of State to challenge state Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester in June's Republican primary for Senate District 14, with Bear Paw Development Corp. Executive Director Paul Tuss filing as a Democrat in that race.

Tempel filed for re-election in the race and will face Lotton in the June primary. No other Democrat had filed as of this morning.

State Rep. Jacob Bachmeier, D-Havre, filed to run for a second two-year term. Bachmeier, 19, defeated incumbent incumbent Stephanie Hess, a Republican from Havre, for the District 28 seat in the 2016 and became the nation's youngest state lawmaker.

In Hill County races, Hill County Deputy Attorney Karen Alley filed as a Democrat for the county attorney position, while several incumbents have filed for re-election

Susan Armstrong has filed for re-election to Hill County clerk and recorder as a Democrat; Justice Audrey Barger has filed for re-election in the nonpartisan race for Hill County justice of the Peace; Jamie Ross has filed for re-election as a Democrat as Hill County sheriff and coroner; and Sandy Brown has filed as a Democrat for re-election as Hill County treasurer and assessor. Incumbent Mark Peterson has filed for re-election as a Democrat for the District 3 seat on the Hill County Commission.

Incumbent Hill County Attorney Jessica Cole-Hodgkinson had not filed for re-election as of this morning.

In Blaine County, Undersheriff Frank Billmayer has filed as a Republican in the race for Blaine County sheriff and coroner and John Colby has filed as a Democrat in that race. Democrat Tammy Williams has filed to run for Blaine County clerk and recorder/assessor. Tori McLean has filed as a Democrat for treasurer.

In Chouteau County, former county commissioner and current Republican Rep. Jim O'Hara has filed as a candidate in District 3 for Chouteau County commissioner. No candidate had filed in the House race as of this morning. Republican Sheriff Vern Burdick has filed for re-election.

In Liberty County, Republican incumbent County Attorney Robert Padmos has filed for re-election, and incumbent Republican County Treasurer Denise Wanke has filed for re-election as, as has incumbent Republican Sheriff Doug Riggin and incumbent Republican Clerk and Recorder Angel Colbry.