Republicans dominate Flathead Valley races
Bigfork Eagle
The outcome of the 2008 general election was anything but boring on the national and local levels. However, while Democrats retook control of the nation and the state, Republicans had a strong showing in local races.
Republican Jim Dupont pummeled his democratic challenger Steve Qunell in Tuesday's election for Flathead County Commissioner, winning by a two to one margin. Dupont will take outgoing commissioner Gary Hall's seat.
The final tally in that race was 27,696 votes for Dupont, 14,028 for Qunell.
Republican Scott Reichner won House District 9, handily defeating his challenger Edd Blackler.
"It was a hard fought race and I thank everybody for all their support," Reichner said. "It's sort of humbling on one side and a little validating too. I'm anxious to get to work for the people of Montana and represent Bigfork."
Reichner took 61 percent of votes cast, and though he was up by barely 100 votes in Lake County, the margin in Flathead County was about 1,200.
On the West Shore, Rep. Mark Blasdel, House Dist. 10, and Rep. Janna Taylor, House Dist. 11, retained their seats in the Montana House of Representatives, each winning by sizable margins.
Blasdel defeated Democratic opponent Carla Augustad by 2,753 votes, receiving 4,365 votes (73 percent) to Augustad's 1,612 (27 percent).
Taylor defeated her opponent, Democratic candidate Pat Estenson, by 759 votes in Lake County and by 463 votes in Flathead County.
Altogether, Taylor received 3,394 votes (61 percent) to Estenson's 2,172 (39 percent).
Blasdel said he was pleased with the outcome of both his own race and many of the races around the state, where Republicans did well, especially in local races.
"I think the Republicans had a good showing here," Blasdel said. "We were really fighting against the odds. The Republicans were heavily outspent — the Democratic Party outspent Republicans by four times more — but I think we have a great core group of candidates who worked hard to make this a good election."
In Senate District 6, incumbent Republican senator John Brueggeman retained his seat against Constitution Party candidate M. Neal Donohue by 3,943 votes. Brueggeman received 6,027 votes (74.3 percent) to Donohue's 2,084 votes (25.6 percent).
911 squeaks by, Open Space bond defeated
After being too close to call on election night, the $6.9 million 911 Call Center bond was approved by a scant 206 votes, with 20,237 for and 20,031 against. The $10 million open space bond was defeated by a significantly wider margin; voters rejected the bond 22,566 to 17,756.
State, national races
In statewide races, Governor Brian Schweitzer soundly defeated challenger Roy Brown to hold his seat. Congressman Denny Rehberg (R) and Senator Max Baucus (D) also safely took their races against relatively unknown challengers Bob Kelleher and John Driscoll.
Steve Bullock (D) held off Republican Tim Fox in the hotly contested Attorney General race and current Superintendent of Public Instruction Linda McCullough ousted incumbent Republican Brad Johnson as Secretary of State.
Democrats Monica Lindeen and Denise Juneau won the State Auditor and Superintendent of Public Instruction races.
Constitutional Amendment 44, which would allow for a portion of state funds to be invested, was soundly defeated by voters likely leery of such a proposal in light of the financial sector's woes, while I-155 to expand CHIP and Medicaid for children and the 6-mill levy to support the Montana University System were both passed.
Nationally, Barack Obama defeated John McCain to become the nation's first black president. His wide margin of victory was all but assured early in the evening after carrying the swing states of Ohio and Florida. Though the race was close, McCain carried Montana and its three electoral votes.