By Josh Margolis
HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – The race for the seat on the Hill County Commission that Democrat Mike Wendland is vacating came down to the wire.
With one precinct left to go, Republican rancher from Inverness, Mark Wicks led behavioral health specialist, Democrat Jake Strissel of Rudyard, by 163 votes. Then, just after 3 AM, precinct 28 reported. Strissel won the precinct by a count of 438-26, giving him a 207 vote victory.
“I honestly wrote it off,” Strissel told New Media Broadcasters shortly after the results came in. “Going into the last precinct down 163, I honestly thought I’m done. And then that comes in, and I’ll tell you what, I gotta look at what precinct that is and send them all a thank you card because that is amazing.”
Strissel said he expected a competitive race and believes his outreach efforts may have been what put him over the top.
“Mark is a great candidate, and I knew I had my hands full with Mark. And throughout the night, the polls showed that, going back and forth between leads. And in the end, wow, I can’t even say how amazed I am. I knew it was going to be a tough race and I’m just happy to come out on top.”
COVID-19
During an exclusive interview with New Media Broadcasters, Strissel announced he had contracted COVID-19 about two weeks ago.
“So I was kind of down and out for about two weeks there, but I tried to come back and reach out to as many people as I could and y’know, I think it really paid off.”
Strissel says catching COVID-19 won’t change his decision-making on the Commission.
I always took COVID seriously. Unfortunately, I did catch it. Being in an election year, campaigning and talking with people, unfortunately I did catch it, being around a lot of people. I always took it serious and I knew there was a chance I could catch it, and I did. I still believe that it is a serious thing and I think we need to do as much as we can to flatten the curve. I think we can do.
Holding onto Blue Turf in a Red Wave
With Strissel’s win, Democrats will remain in the majority on the three-seat commission. But when it comes to the Commission, he says he will not base decisions on party affiliation, but rather what’s best for the county.
“I’m sad to see (House District 28 candidate) Krystal Steinmetz and those guys not win elections, but I’m going to do everything I can in my power, not only as a Democrat, but as a citizen of Hill County, to do what’s best for Hill County. No matter who holds the office, whether it’s Democrat or Republican, I’m still going to work with them to the best of my ability and do what’s best for Hill County.”
