Another seat is up for candidacy with the Lakeside Community Counil. LCC member Craig Koontz’s position recently became available after he accepted employment out-of-state.

Koontz’s term would normally expire May 31, 2014. Ultimately the county commissioners appoint a replacement to complete this term of a little more than a year. The process for consideration is to send a letter of interest and resume to the county commissioners. Residents are encouraged to apply and/or write letters of recommendation to the commissioners for candidates they support.

The terms of two other members of the Lakeside Community Council, David Fetveit and Gene Shellerud, expire May 31 this year and the local district elections are to be held May 7. Incumbents may choose to run again and other new candidates are encouraged to run for these seats.

Time commitment is minimal: one evening meeting per month on the last Tuesday of each month.

SCHEDULE

• Candidate filing period opened Dec. 24, 2012.

• Candidate filing period closes on Feb. 21 at 5 p.m.

• Regular voter registration closes on April 8 at 5 p.m.

• Election will be on May 7.

• Elected council members take office on June 1.

PROCESS

Candidates must reside within the Lakeside Planning area, between Spring Creek Road and the Lake County boundary and between Flathead Lake and U.S. Forest Service lands which includes all of Precinct 13 and some eastern and southern parts of Precinct 24.

Candidates must file with the Department of Elections in the courthouse by Feb. 21:

1. A petition of nomination signed by at least five electors who also must also reside in the planning area and voting precincts.

2. An affidavit of the person circulating and gathering the signatures for the petition.

3. An Oath of Candidacy.

The Department of Elections will then validate residencies of both the candidates and those signing their petitions.

If only two candidates file, there will be no election and those candidates will fill the vacancies.

If more than two candidates file, the election will take place May 7 and the two with the highest vote count will fill the vacancies.