Incumbents retain seats in election

For the first time in 20 years the

Bigfork Water and Sewer District Board held an election and the

ballot’s two incumbents, Mike Houtonen and Robert Hand, retained

their seats.

Challengers Tim Calaway and Fred

Sterhan received 158 and 140 votes respectively while Hand was the

top vote-getter with 212 and Houtonen garnered 187.

The new treatment plant is nearing

completion and both reappointed boardmembers are glad to see the

job through with a theme of continuity heading into future

endeavors.

Houtonen is the current chair of the

board, which rotates on a routine basis. He gained his seat on the

board in the last public election in 1991 and said experience the

board’s strength.

“The fact that I was re-elected gives

me solace that we are moving in the right direction,” Houtonen

said, adding that the objective of the board is to provide quality

water and services to our customers at a fair value.

Hand was appointed in 2009 and was

board chair prior to Houtonen.

“We have a good working nucleus,” Hand

said. “I can only see it progressing from here.”

Julie Spencer, who has served as the

BWSD manager for 13 years, said it is helpful to keep the board

together during projects like the treatment plant. As for the

absence of elections, Spencer said there has not been a public

election since 1991 because they were uncontested and therefore

elected by acclimation which saves on election costs.

The election was held via mail-in

ballots sent to registered voters in mid-October. It concluded on

Nov. 8.