Filing for local elections open

Filing for numerous local elections in 2022 is now open with some candidates already filed.

Seats are open for a number of significant county-level positions including a seat on the Hill County Commission as well as legislative seats.

Positions in Hill County include District 2 Hill County commissioner, a six-year position held by Diane McLean, county clerk and recorder, a four-year position held by Susan Armstrong, and Hill County sheriff/coroner, a four-year position held by Jamieson T. Ross.

Armstrong said Thursday that, at this point, she is not planning to run for reelection. She said she had no comment on the reason she isn’t running.

Hill County Attorney Lacey Lincoln, who was appointed by the commission last month, would have to run to retain her position, as would Hill County Superintendent of Schools Victoria E. Proctor, who was also appointed last year. Both of their positions are four-year terms.

The positions of Hill County auditor, held by Kathy I. Olson, Hill County public administrator, held by Monica G. Garrahan, Hill County treasurer, held by Sandy Brown, and Hill County justice of the peace Audrey Barger, are also up this year. All of these positions have four-year terms.

As of this morning Olson, Ross and Barger have all filed to run for their positions again.

On the legislative side, Rep. Josh Kassmier, R-Fort Benton, has filed for re-election in House District 27 as has Rep. Casey Knudsen, R-Malta, for House District 33.

Knudsen faces a challenger in Jordan Ophus of North Havre, who filed as a Democrat in the race for HD 33.

On the state level, only one candidate in elections with local impact has filed, with Public Service Commissioner Randy Pinocci of Sun River filing for re-election.

In congressional races, Republican Al “Doc’ Osszewski and Democrat Cora Neumann have filed as candidates in the race for U.S. House District 1 while Democrat Skylar Williams has filed in the race for U.S. House District 2.

Filing for these positions close March 14.

Voter registration for primary elections close May 9, with Election Day June 7, and registration for the general election closes Oct. 11 with election day Nov. 8.

Filing for local fire districts as well as water and sewer districts is also open until Feb. 7. The write-in candidate filing deadline is Feb. 28 at 5 p.m.

School districts elections are also open until March 24. March 31 is the last day candidates can withdraw and write-in candidates are required to file by 5 p.m. that day as well.

Regular voter registration for these district elections close April 4 with late registration beginning April 5. Election Day will be May 3.

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Havre Daily News editor Tim Leeds contributed to this story.