Kaercher files in PSC race

Havre Clerk/Finance Director Doug Kaercher filed with the Montana Secretary of State's office Tuesday to run as a Democrat for the open district 1 seat on the Montana Public Service Commission.

"I am looking forward to a new challenge, but mostly I can see some places where I think I can work across the aisle with the current commissioners to make sure we have affordable rates for the citizens of Montana," Kaercher said.

District 1, represented by Commissioner Travis Kavulla, R-Great Falls, who is unable to run for re-election because of term limits, spans from the North Dakota border west to Toole County and south to Cascade County.

As of this morning, Kaercher is the only Democrat who has filed to run for the seat, the Montana Secretary of State's website says.

State Rep. Rob Cook, R-Shelby; former state Rep. Randy Pinocci, R-Sun Belt; Cory McKinney of Great Falls and former Libertarian U.S. House candidate Mark Wicks of Inverness have all filed to compete in the June 5 Republican primary for the district.

The winner of the primary will advance to the Nov. 6 general election.

Kaercher, a former Havre City Council member, Hill County commissioner and administrative judge on the Montana Tax Appeal Board, said he believes his experience in local government will be useful to the PSC.

He said the current commission has not done enough about alternative energy sources.

Though current sources of electricity such as coal are important, Kaercher said, technology changes rapidly and at some point other energy sources might be a better bet for the state.

In other new filings, in Liberty County, Rachelle Fenger has filed to challenge County Treasurer Denise Wanken in the Republican primary.