Most county- level candidates in area running unnopposed

Primary season has arrived in Montana, with filing for the upcoming ballot now closed and all non-write-in candidates now declared, though most candidates on the county level in this region are running unopposed.

In Blaine County, Republican Miles Hutton is running unopposed to maintain his seat on the Blaine County Commission, with Democrats Julie Campbell and Kendall Harwood both running unopposed for clerk of district court and county superintendent of schools respectively, the latter as an appointed incumbent.

Blaine County Justice of the Peace Jim Doyle, another appointed incumbent in a nonpartisan position, is running unopposed to maintain his position as well.

Incumbent Liberty County Commissioner Larry Hendrickson, a Republican, is running to keep his seat, and Liberty County Clerk of District Court Anne Seidlitz-Melton, also a Republican, is running as an incumbent as well, both unopposed.

The position of Liberty County Treasurer, however, will see a three-way primary with Republicans Laura Daily, Sharlys Davis and Patricia Tyler all running for the position.

In Chouteau County there will be a primary race between Republicans Robert Pasha, the incumbent, and Steven Birkeland for a seat on the county commission, but all other candidates are unopposed.

Those candidates include Republican incumbent Superintendent of Schools Rick Cook, Democratic incumbent Public Administrator Jodie Butler and Republican Waden “Eddie” Fultz, who is running to maintain the position he was earlier appointed to, Chouteau County treasurer/assessor.

As reported Tuesday, in Hill County, Democrat Bill Lanier and Libertarian Samuel Ayers will face off for a seat on the Hill County Commission, now held by Mark Peterson.

Hill County Clerk of Courts Kathie Vigliotti is running unopposed as a Democrat to retain her seat.