Contested races coming up in local county elections

In addition to the federal elections for Montana’s now-two seats to the U.S. House of Representatives and for state legislative races, some contested primaries and general elections are coming up in Blaine, Chouteau and Hill counties.

As of this mornning, Liberty County has no contested elections.

In Hill County, incumbent Hill County Commissioner Diane McLean, a Republican, is facing a challenge in her bid for re-election by another member of the commissioners’ office staff.

Sheri Williams, the executive assistant to the Hill County Commission, has filed as a Democrat.

And in the Hill County Clerk and Recorder’s Office, two deputy clerk and recorders have filed as Democrats for the seat now held by Sue Armstrong.

Lexis Dixon and Tina Louise Salazar each have filed as Democrats in that race.

The other races have incumbents running unopposed as yet, including Hill County Justice of the Peace Audrey Barger in that nonpartisan race, Hill County Sheriff/Coroner Jamieson Ross has filed for re-election as a Democrat, Hill County Auditor Kathy Olson has filed for re-election as a Democrat, as has Hill County Treasurer/Assessor Sandy Brown a Democrat while Hill County Superintendent of Public Schools Vicky Proctor, who was appointed in August, has filed as a Republican to retain her seat.

In Blaine County, incumbent Commissioner Frank DePriest is facing a challenge in the Republican primary with both Kevin Mellville and Shane Fox filing in that race.

Incumbent Blaine County Sheriff/Coroner John Colby has filed for re-election as a Democrat and has no challengers as of this morning.

Pauly B. Miller has filed as a Republican in the race for Blaine County clerk and recorder/assessor. Incumbent Tammy Williams had not filed as a candidate as of this morning.

Tori MacLean DesRosier had filed as a Democrat for re-election to Blaine County treasurer and was unopposed as of this morning, as was incumbent Blaine County Attorney Kelsie Whitwood Harwood, who also is running as a Democrat.

Incumbent Blaine County Justice of the Peace Perry Miller also was unopposed this morning in his bid to retain the nonpartisan justice position.

In Chouteau County, Seth Broesder and Sissy Felton are candidates in the non-partisan race for Chouteau County Justice of the Peace, now held by Susan Spencer, who had not filed for reelection as of this morning.

The other races with candidates as of this morning in Choueau County were unopposed, including Republican Vern Burdick’s race for reelection, Republican County Commissioner Cley Rielh’s candidacy for reelection, Republican Clerk and Recorder Lana Claassen and Chouteau County Treasurer Toni Eckhoff, who also has filed for reelection as a Republican.

And incumbent Liberty County Sherriff Nick Erickson also is facing a challenge in his bid for reelection.

In the Republican primary, Erickson faces candidates Jim Hofer and Darbie Wentworth.

All of the other Liberty County races were uncontested as of this morning, including the nonpartisan race for justice of the peace, now held by Holly Fredreckson, with Chris Chase the sole candidate.

Also uncontested were the incumbents running for reelection, all as Republicans. Those are Liberty County Clerk and Recorder Davin Buffington, Treasurer Denise Wanken, County Attorney Robert Padmos and Commissioner Joette Woods.