A new face has entered a hotly contested race for the state Legislature.
Sarah Beth Singer of Havre filed as a Democrat Tuesday in the race for House District 34 in northern Hill and Blaine counties.
She will face retired nurse and Family Planning Director Karen Sloan in the Democratic primary.
Rep. Wendy Warburton of Havre is the only candidate for the seat so far on the Republican side.
Taking back the seat from Warburton, a two-term incumbent, is a high priority for the state Democrats. The seat in traditionally Democratic Hill and Blaine counties had been held by state Democratic powers Ray Peck and John Musgrove before they termed out and could not run for re-election.
Sloan announced several weeks ago she intended to run and filed Feb. 7.
Singer had not returned a call asking for comment by deadline this morning. No other new candidates had filed in north-central Montana races this morning.
