A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.
Although formal filing for the 2016 election must wait until January, candidates are already announcing their interest, and formalizing fundraising, by filing C-1 statements with Montana’s Commissioner of Political Practices. Getting going now is smart. Here are the legislative candidates in Flathead and Lake Counties who have filed C-1s as of today.
Flathead County. Three Democrats have filed C-1s: Rep. Zac Perry, HD-3; David Fern, HD-5; and Lynn Stanley, HD-7. Fern is running to replace Ed Lieser, who is not seeking re-election. Perry is running for re-election. Stanley is running to replace Republican Rep. Frank Garner, who is expected to seek a second term. Stanley unsuccessfully challenged Rep. Steve Lavin in HD-8 in 2014.
Lake County. Incumbent Republican Rep. Greg Hertz filed a C-1 for HD-12, as did Democrat Susan Evans. In SD-6, now represented by Republican Sen. Janna Taylor, Carmine Mowbray, who briefly represented SD-6 before the 2012 election, filed as a Republican. Taylor can serve one more term, so this will be an interesting primary, probably with considerable Democratic crossover voting. In HD-93, now represented by three-term Republican Dan Salomon, Johanna Clark has filed as a Republican. As reported by the Bozeman Chronicle’s Troy Carter, Clark is running to oust Salomon as punishment for his vote to approve the CSKT water compact.
The Flathead Democratic Party apparently has endorsed Melissa Romano for Montana’s superintendent of public instruction, an office dating back to 1889. According to the Flathead Democrats’ website, “Melissa is a great candidate for this job and we are excited to support her.” There was a time when Democratic central committees did not make endorsements in primary elections. Evidently, primary neutrality is no longer in fashion.