Candidate filing season underway

With three weeks elapsed in the 2016 election filing period, the candidate landscape still remains sparse in most races. 

The office of Lincoln County Commissioner for the Troy district remains completely open, as no candidates have filed for the office and incumbent commissioner Greg Larson has announced his intent to leave office when his term ends later this year. Incumbent Montana Representative Jerry Bennett, whose term also ends in December, cannot seek reelection to his seat in the House of Representatives as he has reached his statutory maximum tenure. The other legislative seat up for election in Lincoln County, House District 2, has just one candidate filed to date, incumbent Rep. Mike Cuffe. Herb Cargill is also unchallenged to date, as the only declared candidate for the office of Bull Lake Rural Fire District Trustee.

Two candidates have filed for the position of conservation district supervisor, as of Thursday morning. Former Libby City Councilman Gary Neff and Michael Justus of Eureka have declared their candidacy for the position.

Three candidates have already declared their interest in the position of Clerk of the District Court, seeking to replace current clerk Susan Farmer. Cyndi Miller, currently a legal assistant for the Lincoln County Attorney’s Office, Robin Schiferl, clerk at Lincoln County Justice Court, and Tricia Brooks, deputy clerk of the district court, have all filed for the seat.

Judge James Wheelis is expected to retire this year as well, and two attorneys have filed to replace him on the 19th Judicial District Court bench. Matt Cuffe, a partner in the Missoula firm of Worden Thane P.C., and William Managhan, with the Montana Office of the Public Defender, have both filed for the office.

The filing period opened Jan. 14 and closes March 14, although write-in candidates can still declare their intent to run in the primary election up to May 3. The primary elections, where necessary, will be held June 7.

Write-in candidates for the general election have until Oct. 4 to declare their intent and the general election will be held Nov. 8.