Four Whitefish men file for open commissioner seat

Nine people have filed to run for the Flathead County commissioner two-year term that will begin in January. Among those who filed for the vacant District 1 seat by Thursday were four Whitefish residents.

Voters will select from the candidates to fill an open seat that was created when Commissioner Jim Dupont died March 19. The new commissioner will serve until his term would have ended, at the end of 2014.

Voters will choose candidates in both the primary and general elections.

Candidates who filed for the position include one Democrat and eight Republicans.

They are:

• Democrat Gil Jordan, of Coram, is executive director of the Northwest Montana Historical Society and the Museum at Central School.

• Republican Doug Adams of Whitefish, president of Design Turf Technologies, a company that installs synthetic turf on golf course putting greens and ball fields.

• Kirk Gentry, a Republican from Columbia Falls, an outfitter and guide, and owner of the Gentry River Ranch bed and breakfast.

• Republican M. Glenn Kolodejchuk of Kalispell, with Dirt Works Inc.

• Republican Mike Shepard of Columbia Falls, currently a member of the Columbia Falls City Council and co-chairman of the county 911 board.

• Republican Ben Stormes of Whitefish, a backcountry skills instructor with Whitefish Backcountry, a backcountry education venture.

• Republican Rod Bernhardson, of Whitefish, owns Landcastle Limited Remodelers, a construction, landscape, project management and property management company.

• Republican Chris Hyatt is currently a member of the Whitefish City Council and is managing partner for Circle Arrow Partners, a director for the Center for Remote Integration and president for Montana Firearms Institute.

• Cal Scott of Columbia Falls filed as a Republican. Scott is the founder and director of Enhancing The Homeownership Ideals for Communities education and counseling organization, based in Kalispell.

The multiple filings mean that voters will choose from multiple candidates in both elections.

Voters will narrow the Republican candidates to one in the June 5 primary. The winner of the primary will face Jordan in the general election Nov. 6.

Until the election can be held an interim commissioner is expected to be appointed prior to the primary election. The county Republican central committee is expected to submit three nominees to the current commissioners for selection.

County voters will also elect a new District 3 commissioner. Commissioner Dale Lauman is retiring from the position.

Five Republicans and one Democrat have filed for that seat. The field of candidates will also be narrowed in the primary race.

Democrat Clara Mears-LaChappell advances to the general election.

Voters  must select a candidate on the Republican side in the primary choosing from Bob Herron, Terry Kramer, Gary Krueger, Mike Schlegel and Jay Scott.