Field grows in county races

The June 3 primary election for Lincoln County offices is still more than four months away, but the field of candidates has grown as races for clerk, sheriff and commissioner have become a bit more crowded.

Presiding Commissioner Tony Berget on Thursday confirmed his intent to file, while Deputy County Clerk Robin Benson filed for clerk, and Detective Duane Rhoades filed for sheriff.

“Yes, I’m going run,” Berget said. “I was hoping to get the paperwork done today, but I’ll run.”

Candidates have until 5 p.m. March 10 to file. The general election is Nov. 4.

The race for commissioner is most crowded where Berget will seek to retain his seat against challengers Mark Peck and Russell Bache.

Deputy Clerk Benson will challenger her boss, Tammy Lauer, for the job as clerk and recorder.

Rhoades, who works for Bowe, has filed to run against his boss, too.

Stormy Langston and Jay Sheffield are running to retain their posts on the bench in Eureka and Libby. However, for budgetary reasons, the county will eliminate one justice of the peace. An election will determine who will retain their post.

So far, those are the only contested races.

Lincoln County Treasurer Nancy Trotter Higgins is running unopposed, as is Coroner Steve Schnackenberg and County Attorney Bernie Cassidy.

Two conservation supervisors’ terms expire and Wayne Maahs and Mark Romey have filed for those posts. Both men are from Libby.

Eight precinct committee post terms expire.

In Precinct 8 for Republicans, Rhoda Cargill has filed. No one has filed for the other vacancy in that precinct. In Precinct 12, Charles and Charlotte Woods have filed. Both are incumbents.

In Democratic Precincts 1 and 12, four seats will be open. Marianne Roose has filed in No. 1, and Eileen Carney has filed in No. 12. No one has filed for the other two open seats in those precincts.