By Patrick Winderl/Havre Daily News/pwinderl@havredailynews.com
School board and levy elections will be held Tuesday in a number of north-central Montana communities.
In Havre, the polling place at Havre High School gynasium will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Four candidates are running for two three-year seats on the Havre school board.
The candidates are incumbent barbershop owner Bonnie Benson; Mike Ley, a nontraditional-student recruiter at Montana State University-Northern and Stone Child College; incumbent Kathie Newell, public relations manager for Northern Montana Hospital; and Montana Department of Transportation area lab supervisor Norman Proctor.
Incumbent board member Jim Heberly is not seeking re-election.
Voters will also be asked to approve a tax increase of about 3.22 mills in Elementary District 16 and an increase of about 6.32 mills in High School District A. The levy would raise about $47,200 for the elementary district and about $107,200 for the high school district. For someone with a $100,000 property inside the boundaries of both districts, that would mean a tax increase of about $22 a year.
Havre Public Schools Superintendent Kirk Miller said the increase is necessary to help the district cope with rising energy costs, the rising cost of textbooks and other supplies, general building maintenance, and to help it competitively recruit and retain teachers.
Three candidates are vying for a single three-year spot on the Rocky Boy school board. The candidates are Matthew Denny Sr., Larry Morsette Jr., and Thelma Stanley. Voting will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Rocky Boy Elementary School gym.
In the Box Elder school district, incumbent Ernest Friede has been declared the winner by acclamation, as he was running unopposed, district clerk Alvina Friede said.
In Chinook Public Schools, four candidates are running for two three-year seats. The candidates are incumbent Scott McIntosh, Carla Neibauer, Richard Stuker and Vanessa Surber. Voters will also be asked to approve a levy of 2.68 mills to raise $20,487 for basic operating and maintenance costs.
In Bear Paw Elementary District 67, incumbent Blanche Kellam is running unopposed.
Voting will take place at Chinook High School and at the Zurich, Bear Paw and Lloyd schools between noon and 8 p.m.
In Hays-Lodge Pole Public Schools, seven candidates are competing for two three-year terms. The candidates are John F. Doney, Brenda Essert, incumbent Arleen Gardipee, Tesha Holley, incumbent Gerald Martin, Lois Morin and Brian Wing.
Voting will take place at Lodge Pole Elementary School and Hays High School between noon and 8 p.m.
In Kremlin-Gildford Public Schools, incumbent Dave Stevenson is unopposed for a three-year term.
Voters will be asked to approve a levy of 6.75 mills in the elementary school district and 11.08 mills in the high school district.
