Two Community Council seats up for 2010 election

West Shore News

Two Lakeside Community Council seats will be up for election this year.

The election will be held May 4, but candidates for the two three-year term positions need to file by Feb. 18.

The council represents the community of Lakeside by acting in an advisory role to the county's decision-making boards.

It reviews applications for development, subdivision, zoning, variances and other planning issues and makes recommendations to the Flathead County Planning Board and the County Commissioners.

The council is also responsible for facilitating communication within the community and with those who govern Lakeside infrastructures, such as the Sewer and Water Districts, Somers Rural Fire District, the Upper West Shore QRU and the Lakeside schools.

The council meets on the last Tuesday of every month, usually at 7 p.m. in the Lakeside Sewer District Building on Bierney Creek Road in Lakeside.

Candidates for council positions must be registered within the boundaries of the Lakeside planning area which includes Spring Creek Road to the north, the Lake County border to the south, Flathead Lake to the east and U.S. Forest Service lands to the west.

Candidates, including incumbents who hope to serve again, must complete an oath of candidacy and petition of nomination form, supplying all information requested and must have at least five people sign an affidavit of signature gatherer form. Those who sign must give their local address and be registered voters in the Lakeside planning area.

These forms must be submitted to the Department of Elections, located at 800 S. Main Street in Kalispell no later than Feb. 18.

The Election Department will verify that the candidate and those signing the affidavit are, in fact, registered voters in the area.

Forms can be picked up from the Elections Department or can be obtained by contacting the Lakeside Community Council at lakesidecommunitycouncil@bresnan.net or P.O. Box 157, Lakeside, MT 59922.

If only two candidates file, no election will be held and the two candidates will fill the open seats. If no or only one candidate files, any positions left open will be appointed by the commissioners.

For more information about the council or its procedures, contact council chairperson Keith Brown at 270-6530 or keithtbrown@gmail.com.