Williams wins Hill County Commission seat

The executive assistant of the Hill County Commission took a victory in Tuesday's election, defeating the incumbent commissioner.

Democrat Sheri Williams won the commission election in a close race, with 1,880 votes to incumbent Republican Commissioner Diane McLean's 1,781.

Independent Les Odegard received 1,415 votes.

"I want to thank all the people of Hill County for the support they have given me, and I'm honored to be the new commissioner, come next year," Williams said shortly after midnight. "I hope to accomplish a lot, with the help of everyone in the county."

"I am clearly disappointed with the final results in my run for re-election," McLean said this morning. "Congratulations to my Democratic challenger in her win. The independent candidate made for an interesting and not unexpected, outcome in this race. Ms. Williams got 99 more votes than I did, but clearly 63% of Hill County did not support her election bid."

"I am excited to see that Montana will send two Republicans to Washington, D.C., in the House, and I am extremely pleased that Hill County will support the Beaver Creek Lodge in the park," she added.

Odegard said this morning he's going to take the results in stride and thanked everyone for voting for him, calling it a humbling experience.

He said he really wanted to do the job, but he believes that Williams is a great candidate and he wishes her well.

"I am disappointed," he said. " ... But I think Sheri will do a fine job."

Williams took an early lead as the Havre precincts were counted, but McLean later took the lead as precincts in other parts of the county came in.

But when all 17 precincts were counted, the unofficial results - results are not finalized until they are officially canvassed, 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18, in Hill County - gave Williams the 99-vote win.

Some provisional ballots remain to be counted in the final tally.

In Blaine County, Republican Shane Fox, who defeated incumbent Republican Commissioner Frank DePriest in the primary, won with 746 votes. Democrat Todd Jorgensen received 148 votes.

In Liberty County, Republican Justin Wickum defeated Democratic Commissioner Shane Gagnon, who was appointed to the seat when Commissioner Morb Wicks resigned in June to take the position of USDA Farm Service Agency Montana executive director. Wickum received 699 votes to Gagnon's 222.

Republican Liberty County Commissioner Joette Woods won her unopposed race with 802 votes.

In the nonpartisan race for Chouetau County justice of the peace, Seth Broesder defeated Sissy Felton 1,294-803. Incumbent Judge Susan Spencer did not run for reelection.

All other local county races were unopposed.

In Hill County, Democrat Lexis Dixon won the election for Hill County clerk and recorder with 3,672. Democrat Sheriff Jamie Ross won his re-election bid with 4,161 votes and Republican Hill County Attorney Lacey Lincoln 3,889, who was appointed to the position last year, won her attempt to retain the position with 3,889 votes.

Republican Hill County Superintendent of Schools Vicki Proctor won with 3,981 votes, and Democrat Hill County Auditor Kathy Olson won with 3.758 votes. Democratic Hill County Treasurer/Assessor Sandy Brown won with 3,906 votes, and Hill County Justice of the Peace Audrey Barger won her nonpartisan race with 4,323 votes.

In Blaine County, Republican Clerk and Recorder/Assessor Pauly Miller won with 1,520 votes, and Democratic Sheriff/Coroner John Colby won with 1,160 votes.

Democratic Blaine County Attorney Kesie Whitney Harwood won with 1,449, and Republican Blaine County Superintendent of Schools Valerie White won with 1,490 votes.

Democratic Blaine County Treasurer Tori MacLean DesRosier won her election with 1,534 votes and Blaine County Justice of the Peace Perry Miller won his nonpartisan race with 1,702 votes.

In Chouteau County, Republican Commissioner Clay Riehl won his re-election bid with 1,844 votes and Republican Clerk and Recorder Lana Claassen won with 2,043 votes.

Chouteau County Sheriff/Coroner Vern Burdick won with 1,855 votes, and Republican Chouteau County Attorney Stephen Gannon won with 1,890 votes.

Republican Chouteau County Treasurer/Assessor Toni Frieling Eckhoff won with 1,928 votes.

In Liberty County, Republican Clerk and Recorder Davin Buffington won with 762 votes, and Republican Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator Nickolas Erickson won with 739 votes.

Republican Liberty County Attorney Robert Padmos won with 683 votes and Republican Superintendent of Schools Kathy Armstrong won with 757 votes.

Republican Liberty County Treasurer/Assessor Denise Wanken won with 844 votes, and Christopher Case winning the nonpartisan Liberty County justice of the peace race with 744 votes.

Incumbent Liberty County Justice of the Peace Holly Frederickson did not run for reelection.