Krueger declared winner in commissioner primary race

Gary Krueger was declared the winner of the Republican primary race for the Flathead County District 3 commissioner seat following a recount of ballots on June 25.

The final count, after 25 people spent five hours rechecking the Republican ballots by hand, showed Krueger with 3,662 votes and Jay Scott with 3,639 votes.

Final election numbers were posted by the county elections office about two weeks ago had Krueger up by 30 votes, 3,665 to 3,635.

Flathead County Clerk Paula Robinson said she’s never seen the outcome of an election change after a recount, but “there’s always a few ballots difference after a recount.”

Because the number of votes separating Krueger and Scott was below the threshold specified by state law, the county paid for the recount out of the Clerk and Recorder’s Office budget, Robinson said.

Krueger, 53, previously ran Flathead Valley Concrete and helps out his son Ryan, who now runs the business. He also works on the family farm.

Scott, 58, who managed the county fairgrounds for 12 years before the Fair Board opted not to renew his contract, said he was urged to request a recount by his many supporters, but he also didn’t want to appear as a sore loser.

As the victor in a five-candidate race for District 3, Krueger advances to the Nov. 6 general election where he will face Democrat Clara Mears-LaChappelle. The winner of that election will succeed Commissioner Dale Lauman, who did not seek re-election.