The Flathead County commissioner race has grown into a real horse race, as nine candidates filed last week for the late Jim Dupont’s seat on top of the six candidates already running for Dale Lauman’s seat.

Filing for the North Valley commissioner’s seat opened after Dupont died of an apparent heart attack on March 19. Filing ended three days later, March 22 at 5 p.m.

Eight Republicans threw their hats in the ring for Dupont’s seat — current Columbia Falls city councilor and 911 Administrative Board co-chairman Mike Shepard, Columbia Falls Realtor Cal Scott, Columbia Falls outfitter and guide Kirk Gentry, current Whitefish city councilor and former Habitat For Humanity executive director Chris Hyatt, former Whitefish city councilor and landscape contractor Doug Adams, Kalispell excavating contractor M. Glenn Kolodejchuck, Whitefish backcountry instructor Ben Stormes and Whitefish construction contractor Rod Bernhardson. The lone Democrat filing for Dupont’s seat is Gil Jordan, of Coram, the executive director of the Museum at Central School.

Five Republicans filed earlier in March for Dale Lauman’s seat — Gary Kruegger, Terry Kramer, Mike Schlegel, Bob Herron and Gerald Scott, all of Kalispell. The lone Democrat is Clara Mears-LaChappelle, of Kalispell.