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Hillery returns to Havre City Council

Former Havre City Councilwoman Pam Hillery will return to her old office.

Hillery was elected on a 4-3 party-line vote by council Monday night to succeed Bonnie Parenteau, who resigned as Ward 1 councilwoman because she is moving to Helena.

The three councilmen who were elected as Republicans voted for Vernon Baker, one of the five people who applied for the vacant seat.

In addressing council before the vote, Hillery said she would be able to “hit the ground running” because of her eight years experience on council.

But she admitted she was surprised and delighted that so many others were interested in the position, and said she understood if council felt that it was a time for a new face.

Two of the candidates, Brown and Tricia Williams Ferry, spoke to the council before the vote.

Brown said he moved to Havre 12 years ago and “I immediately fell in love with it.”

He said be believed in community service and wanted to do his part.

Ferry grew up in Havre and graduated from Northern Montana College before moving to Shelby. She moved back to Havre because she wanted to return to her roots and let her children have the same opportunities she had.

Two other candidates did not appear at the meeting.

Under questioning by Councilman Brian Barrows, Ferry and Brown said they planned on running for the seat in 2015.

The term expires in December 2015, and candidates can file for the seat in May. Candidates in that race will run without party designation. Voters eliminated party designations in the 2013 election, but traces of partisanship remain on council.

Hillery, who has ALS and uses a motorized scooter to get around, said she didn’t think she would be feeling well enough to run and wouldn’t run in any event.

Hillery has been active in a variety of community activities and is a former vice chair of the Hill County Democratic Party.

In nominating Brown, Ward 4 Councilman Andrew Brekke said he was surprised and pleased that so many were interested in the seat, and hoped they would run for a four-year term next fall.

The Ward 1's other councilwoman, Terry Lilletvedt, asked the candidates where they were last year.

She said she filed for the seat the day of the deadline because no one else was interested.

She said she hoped the applicants would run next year.

 

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