A lively primary season lies ahead as deadline for filing passes

Hungry Horse News

The House District 3 legislative race drew another candidate as the deadline to file came and went Monday.

There are three candidates vying for House District 3 — Republican incumbent Braxton Mitchell, Democratic challenger Andrea Getts and Republican Lorena Wood.

Wood and Mitchell will square off in the primary.

Getts and Mitchell are Columbia Falls residents, while Wood shows a Kalispell address.

House District 3 covers Columbia Falls and the Canyon. The Flathead County Commissioner District 2 race is a four-way race between Republicans Brian M. Freiss, John (Jack) Fallon, Jason Parce and incumbent Pam Holmquist.

The Justice of the Peace District 1 race features incumbent judge Eric Hummel against challenger Nicholas Ramlow in a nonpartisan race.

There’s also a race for Flathead County superintendent of schools between Erin Arneson and Cal Ketchum, both Republicans.

In statewide races, Mitch Heuer of Whitefish, Matt Jette of Missoula, Al “Doc” Olszewski of Helena, Mary Todd of Kalispell and Ryan Zinke of Whitefish are all Republican candidates for U.S. House District 1 for Congress.

On the Democratic side, Monica Tranel of Missoula, Cora Neumann of Bozeman and Tom Winter will square off in the primary. John Lamb is running as a Libertarian.

For District 5 Public Service Commissioner it’s a race between Republicans Derek Skees of Kalispell, Joe Dooling of Helena and Ann Bukacek of Kalispell, Dean Crabb of Marion and Democrats John Repke of Whitefish and Kevin Hamm of East Helena.County attorney Travis Ahner, Justice of the Peace Paul Sullivan (District 2) , Sheriff Brian Heino, and County Treasurer Adele Krantz, are running unopposed.Incumbent Clerk and Recorder Republican Debbie Pierson is being challenged by Republican Madelene Howard.

The list will be pared down after the June 7 primary.