Council election heats up

A last-minute filing has turned the Columbia Falls City Council election into a race.

Last Thursday —the last day to file — Shawn Bates had filled with the Flathead County Election Department to vie for a city council seat.

Also running are Matthew McConville and incumbents Michael Shepard and David Petersen. There are three open positions on the city council to serve four-year terms.

Besides Shepard and Petersen, Harvey Reikofski's term expires at the end of the year. Reikofski did not file for re-election.

Mayor Jolie Fish's term will also expire this year and she has decided not to run again. Councilman Don Barnhart has filed to run for mayor.

Because Barnhart is running unopposed he will likely be elected and leave his council seat open after November. If that happens, the council usually appoints a new member to fill the vacancy. That could mean whichever candidate is not elected could still be seated on the council.

The city election is Nov. 3.