Ballots mailed Friday for school and special district elections

Ballots will be mailed tomorrow, April 18, for school board and special purpose districts, and must be returned via mail or in person to the Lake County Election Administrator by Tuesday, May 6.

Arlee voters will choose among six trustees to fill two seats on the board. Incumbent Brian Johnson-BigSam has filed for reelection; he’ll face Kevin Howard, Arthur (Hank) Adams, Kelly Pierre, Cammie DuPuis-Pablo and Samantha Lytie.

Arlee voters will also decide whether to pass 10-year tech levies of $35,000 each for the elementary and high school. If passed, funds would be used buy, rent, repair and maintain equipment, including computers and technology infrastructure. If approved, each levy would raise taxes on a home valued at $300,000 by about $22.50.

Charlo voters will choose between four candidates to fill two three-year slots, currently held by Adrian Roylance and Stephanie Smith. Matt Hout, Latham Blevins, Kelsey Farrand and Dion Carey are vying for the those openings.

In Ronan, Jennifer Rolfsness and Christopher Morigeau are seeking to fill the remaining two years of Dan Decker's unexpired term, and Diana Luke and Kevin Detwiler have filed to retain their positions on the board.

Polson and St. Ignatius voters have no trustee elections this year, since just one candidate filed for single openings in each district. Nathaniel Netzer and Devon Cox filed for two three-year terms in the Polson Elementary District, and Tony Incashola Jr. is the sole candidate for a three-year term in Mission. Likewise, the only candidate for Valley View is Amanda Jackson and for Swan Lake is Mary Hendrickson.

However, the North Lake County Library District has four candidates for three four-year terms: Clelia Tilford and incumbents Brooke Wegner, Allen R. Bone and Maggie Newman. The Polson Rural Fire District has two vying for a three-year term: John Doty and Paul Laisy.

The Upper West Shore School District is asking voters to approve a general fund levy to raise $54,377 a year (about 4.23 mills) to increase staff wages at the elementary school in Dayton. If approved, the levy would increase taxes on a home valued at $300,000 by just over $17 a year.

Ballots must be returned by mail or in person to the Election Office at the Lake County Courthouse no later than 8 p.m. May 6. For more information, call 406-883-7269 or visit www.lakemt.gov/170/Elections.

Aspiring voters who missed the regular voter registration deadline of April 7 may still register for the election by appearing in person at the Lake County Election Office until 8 p.m. on election day.

In other election news, filing opens today for municipal elections in Polson, Ronan and St. Ignatius, and closes June 16. The election is Nov. 4. 

Polson has an opening for mayor and commission seats in Wards 1, 2 and 3. Ronan's mayoral seat is also open, as are the positions of city judge, and commissioners in Wards 1, 2 and 3. St. Ignatius also has openings for mayor and town judge, as well as for two at-large council members. 

Find applicable forms and more information at www.lakemt.gov/175/Candidate-Filing-Information.