Familiar foes: O'Neil will square off against Perry in House race

A longtime Republican lawmaker will once again square off against House District 3 Democrat Zac Perry in the general election.

Last week Jerry O’Neil announced he was once again seeking office. O’Neil was the House District 3 representative, which includes the City of Columbia Falls and the Canyon, in 2011 and 2013. Perry, a Democrat defeated O’Neil in 2014 and beat GOP outsider Taylor Rose in 2016.

A previous Hungry Horse News story about the race erroneously reported that Perry would square off against Neil Duram of Eureka. Duram is actually in House District 2.

In the race for Flathead County sheriff, three candidates have filed to replace retiring Sheriff Chuck Curry. All Republicans, Jordan White, Calvin Beringer, Keith Stahlberg and Brian Heino are running for the position. No Democrats filed for the job.

In the District 3 commissioner seat, incumbent County Commissioner Gary Krueger is running for a second term as a Republican. He is facing a challenge in the primary from Republican Gerald “Jay” Scott, who lost to Krueger in the June 2012 primary. Two other Republican candidates Randy Brodehl and Ronalee Skees have also filed for the seat.

Democrat Tom Clark is also running for commissioner and will face the winner of the Republican primary in the general election in November.

A few uncontested races for county positions have also shaped up.

Travis Ahner has filed to run for County attorney after current County Attorney Ed Corrigan chose not to seek re-election.

Debbie Pierson is running for re-election as clerk and recorder. Adele Krantz is running for another term as county treasurer and Jack Eggensperger is running for another term as county superintendent of schools.

In the nonpartisan races, incumbent Eric S. Hummel is the lone contender for the Department 1 Justice of the Peace position. In the Department 2 race, William L. Managhan and Paul Sullivan will face off for the justice position currently held by Mark R. Sullivan.

Flathead County District judges Amy Eddy, Robert B. Allison and Heidi Ulbricht are all running unopposed for re-election.

Races for the state Legislature have also come together.

In House District 5, incumbent Democrat Dave Fern faces Libertarian challenger Cindy Dyson.

In House District 6, Whitefish Democrat Mary Custer has filed to run against Incumbent Republican Carl Glimm of Kila.

In House District 4, which includes rural Columbia Falls, Republican incumbent Matt Regier is being challenged by Democrat Kwen Shirley.