Early Voting About to Begin
Author: Hugh Van Sweringen
Early voting in Montana for the Nov. 8 general election is about to begin in what has been an unusually quiet campaign season in Broadwater County. Six county offices are up for grabs, but only two positions are contested. Voters already registered to vote by mail could receive their ballots next week. Angie Paulsen, county elections administrator, says about 80 percent of Broadwater County voters now cast their ballots by mail. As of Oct. 2, the county had 5,413 registered voters.
For those who wish to vote in person on election day, the county will have three polling places for its five precincts: For residents of Precincts 7, 11 and 12, Townsend School Library Community Room; Precinct 1, Winston Fire Hall; Precinct 13, Toston Fire Hall. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Broadwater County race drawing perhaps the most interest is the contest between incumbent Mike Delger and challenger Lindsey Richtmyer for the District 2 seat on the county commission. Delger is seeking his second six-year term on the three-member commission. Richtmyer is a political newcomer.
The only other Broadwater contested race is for county sheriff-coroner. Seeking the post are deputy sheriff Nick Rauser and Townsend businessman Josh Peters. The winner will succeed Wynn Meehan who did not seek re-election.
The other county offices to be filled and the candidates, running without opposition, are:
* Clerk & Recorder and Election Administrator, Angie Paulsen.
* Treasurer and Superintendent of Schools, Melissa Franks.
* County Attorney, incumbent Cory Swanson.
* Justice of the Peace, incumbent Kirk Flynn.
All county positions are nonpartisan, and all are four-year terms except for six years for commissioner.
Broadwater voters have only one state legislative position on the ballot. Incumbent Republican Julie Dooling, Helena, seeking a third term as state representative in House District 70. She is challenged by Democrat Jon Jackson, East Helena.
At the top of the ballot, is the four-way race for Montana’s Second District seat in the U.S. House. Incumbent Republican Matt Rosendale is running for his second term. Challengers are Democrat Penny Ronning, Billings; Independent Gary Buchanan, Billings, and Libertarian Sam Rankin, Billings.
Two Montana Supreme Court races are on statewide ballots. One pits incumbent Jim Rice against challenger Bill D’Alton. The other has incumbent Ingrid Gustafson meeting James Brown.
In other judicial balloting, voters will decide whether to retain unopposed First Judicial District Court Judge Chris Abbot for another term. The district covers Broadwater and Lewis & Clark counties.
Voters statewide will decide on two ballot measures.
* LR-131, referred to the people by the Legislature, is on the ballot as “The Born-Alive Infant Protection Act.”
* C-48, is a constitutional amendment proposed by the Legislature to protect electronic data and communications from unreasonable searches and seizures.
