With only two candidates vying for local government study commissioner positions in Whitefish and no candidates in Columbia Falls, write-in candidates likely will determine who serves on the study commissions in the two North Valley cities.

During the primary election in June, Whitefish and Columbia Falls voters gave the go-ahead for an independent, citizen-led review of their local governments.

The Montana Constitution requires that residents statewide get this opportunity every 10 years.

The intent of the review is to give citizens a once-in-a-decade opportunity to evaluate how effective their local governments are and whether any changes are needed. Once voters decide to conduct such a review, a three-person commission is elected in the general election.

In Whitefish, Turner Askew, a former Whitefish City Council member, and Rebecca Norton, a Whitefish businesswoman and community leader, are running for nonpartisan commissioner seats. The third member of the commission will be the person with the most write-in votes.

As Whitefish City Manager Chuck Stearns pointed out, with any election, write-in candidates also could exceed the votes obtained by the two named candidates. It’s unlikely that would happen but it’s a possibility, Stearns said.

If there are no write-in votes in Whitefish, the City Council will appoint a third member to the commission, Stearns said.

The city of Columbia Falls has no one on the ballot for its local government study commission, so write-in candidates more than likely will determine who serves on that commission.

Columbia Falls City Manager Susan Nicosia advised the City Council recently that if the commission seats are still empty after the Nov. 4 general election, the city may advertise for volunteers to be appointed by the council.

Kalispell and Flathead County voters opted not to conduct the local government review.

Study commissions have two years to complete their reviews.

In 2004, Whitefish was the only local government where voters narrowly favored a review and accompanying levy. It passed 459 to 418. After a yearlong review, the Whitefish study commission, which included Sarah Fitzgerald, Shirley Jacobson and Norm Nelson, recommended increasing the term for mayor from two to four years, which was done.

The commission also recommended City Council members be paid, but that recommendation was turned down.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.