Candidate filings: County Commission seat a three-way race

Two Republican candidates have stepped up to vie for the Lake County Commission’s District 2 seat currently held by Commissioner Steve Stanley, according to the most recent county filing report.

Stanley, a Republican, was appointed last year to replace Commissioner Dave Stipe. He has filed for re-election and will face challenges from Max Krantz and Roy Anderson, who both filed to run as Republicans.

As of Tuesday morning, 14 people had declared their candidacies for county offices during the filing period that began Jan. 13 and closes Monday, March 14.

So far there are three candidates to replace Lake County Justice of the Peace Randal Owens, who had not yet filed for re-election as of Tuesday.

Polson City Judge Michael Larson filed for the office in late January. Since then, current Polson City Commission member Tony Isbell and former Montana game warden Rick Schoening also have declared their candidacies.

Justice of the Peace is a nonpartisan position.

There also will be a contested race for sheriff in Lake County this year.

Ronan Police Sgt. Corey White has filed to challenge incumbent Lake County Sheriff-Coroner Don Bell in the Nov. 8 general election.

White, a native of the Mission Valley, joined the RPD in 2016 after previously serving as undersheriff/deputy coroner for Golden Valley County in central Montana.

Bell has 30 years of experience in public safety and was first elected to serve as sheriff and coroner in 2015.

Both candidates for sheriff are running as Republicans.

Current Chief Criminal Deputy County Attorney James Lapotka, a Republican, has announced his intention to run for county attorney. No one else has filed for the position. If successful, Lapotka will replace current County Attorney Steve Eschenbacher, who is not expected to seek re-election.

Three other republican incumbents also have filed for re-election: Clerk and Recorder Katie Harding, Superintendent of Schools Carolyn Hall and Assessor/Treasurer Robin Vert-Rubel. None of the three have a declared challenger so far.

There are three positions available with the Lake County Conservation District, and two candidates have declared for those positions — Sigurd Jensen of Elmo and Susan Gardner, who has served the district since 1996.

All the county positions on the ballot are four-year terms beginning in 2023, except the Lake County Commission seat, which is a six-year term.