Candidate filing open for study commission for local government review

At the June 4, 2024, Flathead County primary election, a majority of the electors in the city of Whitefish voted in favor of having a study commission to examine the form of local government.

Candidate filing for local government study commission members opens June 18, and closes at 5 p.m. on August 12. The city of Whitefish is seeking five study commission members.

Study commission members will be elected at the Flathead County general election to be held on November 5.

Interested individuals can file as a candidate for the study commission with the Flathead County Election Office. There is no filing fee, and the race is nonpartisan. 

Candidates must be electors of the local government for which the study commission has been established and cannot be elected officials of the local government. A declaration for nomination form must be filed by interested candidates. The forms can be found on the Secretary of State’s website or by contacting the Whitefish City Clerk’s office.

The purpose of the study commission is to study the existing form and powers of the local government and compare them with other forms available under the laws of the state. The study commission members must write a report detailing their recommendations for changes to the local government. 

The final report of the study commission is presented to the voters of the local government for approval or rejection. The report must be presented to the registered electors for a vote no later than the 2026 General Election on November 3, 2026.

To learn more about Local Government Review, visit the Local Government Center, MT Voter Review webpage: https://www.montana.edu/extension/localgov/mtvoterreview/index.html, or  contact Michelle Howke, City Clerk, 406-863-2402, or mhowke@cityofwhitefish.org.