Casazza, Hanson withdrawn from state election

Two Flathead County candidates for the state Legislature will not appear on the November ballot after failing to file required documents, according to state officials.

Democrat Cody Casazza of Columbia Falls in the Senate District 2 race and Libertarian Shannon Hanson of Whitefish in the House District 6 race have been withdrawn, said officials with the state Commissioner of Political Practices.

Casazza had been facing incumbent Republican Dee Brown in the Nov. 8 election. Hanson was running against incumbent Republican Carl Glimm and Democrat Lisa Morrow.

Commissioner Jon Motl in a letter last week notified the Secretary of State’s office that the candidates had not submitted legally required reports to his office.

In the letter, Motl said the candidates do not “appear to wish to remain on the 2016 general election ballot” as his office made multiple contacts with the candidates in attempts to secure the required forms.

Two other candidates in the state were also withdrawn from ballots. Democrat Tracy Heilman of Billings in the House District 54 race and Democrat Mary Meyer of Townsend in the Senate District 35 race.

There are no multidistrict or statewide candidates who have failed to file required statements or reports, according to Motl.