CHINOOK, Mont. (NMB) – The filing deadline for this year’s municipal elections in Blaine County has passed, and there will be several contested races.
The biggest field will be in the race for Mayor of Harlem, where there are four candidates: Edward Joseph Patrick-Wertz, Kim Hansen, Jennifer Ann Owens, and Douglas Stuart. Incumbent Ralph Schneider will not be seeking re-election.
In the race for Mayor of Chinook, incumbent Keith A. Hanson will be competing against Glenn Huestis.
The other contested races in Blaine County are for spots on the Chinook City Council. For Ward 1 Councilperson, incumbent Robert Smith will take on Mike Radovich. For Ward 2 Councilperson, incumbent Mitch Haider will face off with Shannon R. Sattleen.
For Harlem, no candidates filed for the spot representing Ward 1 on the City Council, a position currently held by Joseph Patrick-Wertz. For the four-year term up for election representing Ward 2, incumbent Rodney J. Donahue filed for re-election. For the race to complete the unexpired term in the other Ward 2 seat on the Council, incumbent Chris Green filed. That seat will be back up for election in 2023.
Since no candidate filed for the Ward 1 seat up for election on the Harlem City Council, the City can appoint a person for that spot if there are no declared write-ins by the August 30th deadline.
All races are non-partisan. Although the nomination deadline has closed, people can still enter races as a declared write-in.
There will be a primary in the race for Harlem Mayor on September 14th, since there are four candidates. The two people with the most votes will move onto the the general election, which is set for November 2nd.
