School board write-in votes won't count

Joan Vetter Ehrenberg’s last-hour effort to earn a spot on the Whitefish School Board was over before it began.

Vetter Ehrenberg announced via email at 12:45 a.m. Sunday that she was entering the election as a write-in candidate, less than two days before ballots were due.

However, Whitefish School District business director Danelle Reisch said Monday morning that any write-in votes for Vetter Ehrenberg won’t be counted.

According to Reisch, Vetter Ehrenberg needed to file a declaration of intent as a write-in by April 9 because there already is a full slate of candidates on the ballot.

Write-in votes without a declaration of intent would only be counted if no one had filed for the positions, Reisch explained.

Reisch said she informed Vetter Ehrenberg of these requirements on Monday morning and provided the information from the district's election manual.

Three candidates formally filed to run for the two three-year terms open in Whitefish.

Board chair Pat Jarvi announced early on that she was campaigning for re-election. Marguerite Kaminski and Bob Auerbach also have entered the election.

Ballots are due to be returned by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5.