Flathead County cancels May special-district elections; commissioners to fill multiple water and fire board vacancies

Flathead County commissioners on May 2 signed documents canceling scheduled May 6 trustee elections for multiple small special districts after too few candidates filed, and they set out a process for appointing trustees to fill vacancies, county elections staff said.

County elections staffer Dorey said the cancellations reflect filings during the candidate period: "these individuals filed within the candidate filing period," and because the number of candidates was equal to or less than the number of open positions, the elections were canceled and some trustees are deemed elected by acclamation, while other vacancies must be filled by the Board of County Commissioners.

The moves affect dozens of small fire districts, county water and sewer districts and advisory committees across Flathead County. For several fire districts (for example, Big Mountain Fire, Evergreen Rural Fire, Hungry Horse Rural Fire, Olney Rural Fire, South Kalispell Rural Fire, and West Valley Rural Fire), commissioners will advertise and appoint trustees to terms listed in the notices. For many water and sewer districts — including Eagle Ridge Estates, Emerald Heights, Essex County Water District,…