What exactly is a local government study commission?
Ebola continues to dominate the headlines, but a different malaise is plaguing America: Election Fatigue.
As campaign machines cough and kick down the stretch, most voters’ minds are already made up. But one race on the local ballot has voters scratching their heads.
By narrow margins, Troy and Lincoln County voters decided in the June primary elections to conduct local governmental studies. Now, voters must decide who will conduct the study, and that is proving problematic.
In the Lincoln County race there are 13 candidates on the ballot, many of them largely unknown. In Troy, there are no candidates. Voters will be asked to pick as many as three write-in names.
“Voters don’t know who these people are,” Lincoln County Clerk and Recorder Tammy Lauer said. “It’s a mess. And people don’t know what the governmental review is.”
A uniquely Montanan opportunity, voters are given the chance to conduct a local governmental review once every 10 years. This year, 11 counties and 38 municipalities voted for a review.
“This is a great opportunity for towns facing challenges or unique circumstances to rethink how they go about business,” Dan Clark, director of the Montana State University Government Center, said. “This is a year of studying and meetings. Hopefully, the people elected to represent their area will take charge and give ideas of processes and options. You don’t want to alienate the existing form of government and it is important to engage the citizens.”
Clark said commission members might consider changing the elected status of certain county jobs to appointed positions.
The review process begins Dec. 8 when study commission members travel to Bozeman for a two-day conference led by Clark. The event will discuss various forms of local government and provide representatives with an understanding of how different approaches operate. Ultimately, the commissions will be given the opportunity to form a recommendation for change to their current format of local government. Voters will decide if they want to adopt that recommendation during the 2016 election.
Lincoln County observes a commission form of local government. Both the executive and legislative duties fall to county commissioners.
Troy adopted a charter form of government in 1987. The charter allows Troy to do everything state law requires and more. For example, state law does not explicitly state that a municipality may not own a power department. The City of Troy owns City of Troy Electric Utility.
Lincoln County voters supported the review by a narrow margin: 2,208 for and 2,074 against. Troy voters initiated the review after 139 voters supported the idea and 122 voters did not.
“I think the topic was misunderstood when people voted in the primary,” Troy City Clerk Tracy Rebo said. “We have put aside $10,000 for the review.”
Lincoln County put aside $35,000 for the review. The top five vote getters in Lincoln County will be asked to participate. Should someone decline to participate, Lauer said it was her belief that county commissioners could appoint someone else.
Candidate
Contact Info
Candidates for public office are asked to provide a phone number. In the interest of informed voters, below is the contact number provided by each of the 13 candidates for Lincoln County Government Review Board.
Alvin R. Benitz, 406-293-7950
Stephen L. Curtiss, 406-297-2641
Mark A. Draper, 406-889-5944
Ginny Emerson, 406-889-5141
Alan Kahnt, 406-293-2421
Ruby Kahnt, 406-293-2421
Michael Lancaster, 406-889-5919
Josh Letcher, 406-249-8909
Tracy McIntyre, 406-778-3703
Lori Ramesz, 406-889-5660
Doug Roll, 406-293-9200
Bobbi Stoken, 406-882-4447
Rita Windom, 406-293-6764.