Flathead County Commissioners last week selected North Forker and Democrat Debo Powers to replace Zac Perry as the House District 3 representative.

Perry resigned in September to pursue his master’s degree.

The district is large — it encompasses the city of Columbia Falls, and all of the Canyon Communities to Marias Pass.

Powers was selected over Gene Marcille and Jill Rocksund, two longtime Columbia Falls residents.

Under state law, when a legislator resigns, the party choses candidates as a replacement and the county commissioners then pick one.

Powers is a retired educator. She lives full-time up the North Fork, off the grid.

She said she decided to put in the for the post because she loves history and government.

“I majored in U.S. history in college and taught it in high school for many years,” she said.

Powers taught in Florida for 20 years and was principal of an charter school for 13 years, but she’s been coming to and living in the North Fork summers for 40 years, since first visiting in 1979.

She retired from education in 2011 and is now a full-time North Fork resident, living in a home north of Polebridge. Her house has solar for electricity and she heats with wood.

She’s been past president of the North Fork Landowners Association and is president of the North Fork Preservation Association. She’s also served on the Flathead National Forest’s Resource Advisory Council and was a member of the Whitefish Range Partnership.

All of those boards, she noted, require compromise and collaboration to function. She said she hopes to bring those same qualities to Helena.

Powers said she plans to run for the House District 3 seat in 2020. In the meantime, she said she hopes to get on interim legislative committees.

Folks with issues can reach out to Powers via email at [email protected].