Big Sky Times

Commissioners Cancel Certain Special District Board Elections, Declare Board Members Elected by Acclamation

The Missoula County commissioners on March 2 voted to cancel certain special district board 

elections and elect unopposed candidates by acclamation. 

Write-in candidate filing for the 2023 special elections closed on Feb. 27. While the Missoula 

County Elections Office received many valid candidate filings, several positions remain unfilled

(see list below). When the number of candidates equals the number of vacant positions, the 

candidate is elected by a process of acclamation and no election is held for that particular race. 

The May 2 special election will still be held for some school and special district positions and a 

ballot issue on whether to establish the Clinton Community Council. More information for levies 

and positions related to school districts can be found online.

The commissioners are seeking applicants for positions that no candidates filed to run for.

These positions will become vacant May 31. Applicants must be residents of Missoula County 

and at least 18 years old. Additional residency requirements may apply for specific positions. All 

board positions are served on a volunteer basis.

Applications for vacant positions are available online. Submissions may be filed electronically by 

emailing klehnerz@missoulacounty.us. The deadline to submit applications is 3 p.m. Thursday, 

March 30.

Per resolutions adopted by the county commissioners on March 2, 2023, the following 

Special District Elections have been canceled:

Big Flat Irrigation District: No candidates filed for election.

Commissioners are seeking applicants to fill a vacant seat through May 31, 2026. At that time, if 

the board member wishes to continue serving, they will need to file as a candidate in the special 

district elections.

Bonner-Milltown Community Council: No candidates filed for election.

Commissioners are seeking applicants to fill a three-year term that runs through May 31,

2026, and the remainder of a vacant three-year term through May 31, 2025. In addition, 

there is one alternate seat that will remain vacant until filled. At that time, if the board 

member wishes to continue serving, they will need to file as a candidate in the special 

district elections. Council members act as a liaison between the citizens of Bonner-Milltown 

community and the county commissioners, providing information deemed useful, beneficial

and helpful in decisions that affect the community. Applicants must be residents of the 

Bonner-Milltown community. 

Clinton Irrigation District: Candidate Patrick Bryne was elected by acclamation to a new 

three-year term.

Clinton Rural Fire District: Candidate Marcene Coburn was elected by acclamation to a 

new three-year term.

Commissioners are seeking applicants to fill the remainder of one three-year term that runs 

through May 31, 2025. At that time, if the council member wishes to continue serving, they 

will need to file as a candidate in the special district elections.

East Missoula Community Council: Candidate Sue A. Holden was elected by acclamation 

to a new three-year term. 

East Missoula Rural Fire District: Candidates Cynthia Winchell and Diana E. Fuentes

were elected by acclamation to a new three-year terms.

Evaro-Finley O’Keefe Community Council: No candidates filed for election.

Commissioners are seeking applicants to fill two three-year terms that run through May 31,

2026. In addition, seeking to fill the remainder of two vacant three-year terms that run 

through May 31, 2024, and May 31, 2025. In addition, a three-year term of June 1, 2023,

through May 31, 2026; At that time, if the council members wish to continue serving, they 

will need to file as a candidate in the special district elections. Council members act as a 

liaison between the citizens of the Evaro-Finley-O’Keefe area and the county 

commissioners, providing information deemed useful, beneficial and helpful in decisions that 

affect the community. Applicants must be residents of the Evaro-Finley-O’Keefe community. 

 

Frenchtown Irrigation District: Candidate Gyla Steiner was elected by acclamation to a 

new three-year term.

Frenchtown Rural Fire District: Candidate Lauren Cochrane was elected by acclamation 

to a new three-year term. 

Commissioners are seeking applicants for a new three-year term of June 1, 2023 through 

May 31, 2026. At that time, if the board member wishes to continue serving, they will need 

to file as a candidate in the special district elections.

Greenough-Potomac Rural Fire Service Area: Candidates John D. (Jack) Mulcare, Gary 

Burnett were elected by acclamation to a new three-year terms. Connie Ployhar was elected 

by acclamation to a one-year term. 

 

Lolo Community Council: Alternate Candidate Paul Rossignol was elected by acclamation 

to a three-year term.

Commissioners are seeking applicants to fill the remainder of a three-year term through May 

31, 2025. In addition, there is one alternate seat that will remain vacant until filled. At that 

time, if the board member wishes to continue serving, they will need to file as a candidate in 

the special district elections.

Missoula Irrigation District: (Division 1 and 4) No candidates filed for election.

Commissioners are seeking applicants for two new three-year terms of June 1, 2023,

through May 31, 2026, for Division 1 and Division 4. At that time, if the board member 

wishes to continue serving, they will need to file as a candidate in the special district 

elections.

Missoula Rural Fire District: Candidate Larry Hanson was elected by acclamation to a 

new three-year term.

Seeley Lake Community Council: Candidates Sally L. Johnson and Sharon S. Teague 

were elected by acclamation to new three-year terms.

Commissioners are seeking applicants to fill the remainder of a three-year term through May 

31, 2025. In addition, there is one alternate seat that will remain vacant until filled. At that 

time, if the council member wishes to continue serving, they will need to file as a candidate 

in the special district elections. Council members act as a liaison between the citizens of the 

Seeley Lake area and the county commissioners, providing information deemed useful, 

beneficial and helpful in decisions that affect the community. Applicants must be residents of 

the Seeley Lake community. 

Seeley-Swan Hospital District: Candidates Twyla Johnson and Suzanne Philippus were 

elected by acclamation to new three-year terms. 

 

Swan Valley Community Council: Candidate Grace Siloti was elected by acclamation to a 

new three-year term.

Swan Valley Fire Service Area: Candidate James D Boyd was elected by acclamation to a 

new three-year term.

West Valley Community Council: No candidates filed for election.

Commissioners are seeking applicants to fill the remainder of one three-year term through 

May 31, 2025, and one full three-year term of June 1, 2023, through May 31, 2026. At that 

time, if the council members wish to continue serving, they will need to file as a candidate in 

the special district elections. Council members act as a liaison between the citizens of the 

West Valley area and the county commissioners, providing information deemed useful, 

beneficial and helpful in decisions that affect the community. Applicants must be residents of 

the West Valley community. 

These elections were canceled pursuant to the following state statutes: MCA 7-5-2101, 

MCA 85-7-1702(3) and MCA 13-1-304.

Original source can be found here.