Most filing for state office occurs electronically in Montana, but candidates can file in-person at the Secretary of State Office. More than 60 legislative candidates had filed as of January 13, which was the first day candidates could file.

Rep. Denley Loge, HD 14, and Randy Mitchell, both from St. Regis, were a couple of the first to file for the position Loge has held for two terms.

Mineral County has several positions that will become available as the filing is accepted until Monday, March 14 at 5 p.m. The deadline for local government write-in candidates to file is Monday, April 4 at 5 p.m.

Kelann McLees, Mineral County Clerk and Recorder/Election Administrator, shared the open county positions and the 2022 Mineral County Elected Official Filing Fees MCA 13-10-202: County Attorney, $567.03. Clerk & Recorder (4-year term), $233.01. East End County Commissioner (6-year term), $129.33. Justice of the Peace (4-year term), $233.01. Sheriff/Coroner (4-year term), $269.21. Treasurer/Superintendent of Schools (4-year term), $244.97.

There are school elections McLees oversees once they have notified her of available positions and because these are volunteer director positions, there is no filing fee.

Arra Rausch, Alberton School District Clerk, reported that they will have two openings for the board. Each for a three-year term.

Superior School Superintendent, Scott Kinney, said, “We have two terms expiring and District Clerk Mrs. Autumn Schultz is our board election specialist. You can reach her at 406-822-3600 extension 217 and her email is aschultz@ssd3.us.”

Tina Hill, Business Manager of St. Regis School, also indicated an election for trustees was forthcoming.

“We have two terms expiring in May. The Declarations of Intent forms can be picked up at my office or they are available through OPI as well.”

Bylaws differ from one organization to the next so there isn’t a standard platform, but once McLees has been notified, she is available for questions pertaining to the other 17 under her watch. Those are: Mineral County Airport, Mineral County Cemetery District Numbers 1, 2 and 3 (these are 3 separate organizations), Mineral County Fair, St. Regis, Superior and West End Fire Districts (these are 3 separate organizations), Mineral County Library, Mineral County Planning, Mineral County Soil Conservation, St. Regis Resort, St. Regis Sewer, Tax Appeal, TV District and the Mineral County Weed Control. Their elections and openings vary so interested candidates should contact the boards respectively.

Mineral Community Hospital is another board she monitors and Stacy Conrow-Ververis, CFO/Director of Human Resources helps unravel their procedure.

“Once we have determined the need to call for an election based on expiring terms the hospital board would pass a resolution calling for an election. This must be done 85 days prior to the election and in this case is Feb. 3 for the election on May 5. These dates came from the Clerk and Recorders office."

She continued, “I can confirm that our board will have the opportunity to adopt this resolution at our meeting on Jan. 27 and that there are three expiring terms.”

Declaration for nomination forms can be picked up at the Clerk & Recorders Office and returned no later than Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, by 5 p.m. President of the MCH Board of Directors, Peggy Temple, is completing her first year in the position and shared that there are no special requirements for the positions, except a willingness to serve.

“If anyone is ever interested in learning what is going on at the hospital, they can certainly attend our meetings. They can even hop on by Zoom. Everyone is welcome,” said Conrow-Ververis.