The city of Kalispell is looking for a new judge.

Municipal Judge Heidi Ulbricht was elected Tuesday as a district court judge, so  Kalispell is conducting a search for a person to appoint to Ulbricht’s city judge position.

Ulbricht and Robert Allison hung onto their late-night leads and won two judge openings in Flathead District Court in Tuesday’s elections.

Ulbricht, who has served as Kalispell Municipal Court judge for 18 years, won by a 63 to 37 percent margin over local attorney Vanessa Ceravolo, according to unofficial final results from the Flathead County Election Department.

Ulbricht will fill the Department 3 district judge seat being vacated in January by Judge Stewart Stadler, who chose not to run for re-election after 12 years in office.

Allison, a private attorney in Kalispell, won by a 53 to 47 percent margin over Daniel R. Wilson, a Flathead County justice of the peace and former deputy county attorney.

Allison will fill the Department 2 district judge seat being vacated by Judge Katherine Curtis, who chose not to run for re-election after 16 years in office.

Incumbent District Judge Ted Lympus was unopposed in both the primary and general elections. He has served in the position since being elected in 1992. 

Kalispell is taking applications until Nov. 21 for a replacement for Ulbricht.

Kalispell Municipal Code says a municipal judge must have the same qualifications as a district court judge, except a municipal judge need only be admitted to practice law in Montana for three years prior to appointment or election.

Applicants will be scored by an evaluation board with the highest-ranked recommended to the Kalispell City Council for appointment.

Whoever is appointed must stand election in 2013 if he or she wants to remain in office. Statements of qualifications are due to the city clerk by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21.

More about the position and required qualifications is available online at www.kalispell.com/clerk/projects_open.php.