Election results posted for schools, library and fire districts
KRISTI NIEMEYER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 3 months AGO
Arlee high and elementary schools will benefit from two technology levies passed by voters. (Max Dupras/Leader)
Kristi Niemeyer learned her newspaper licks at weekly newspapers, beginning at the Mission Valley News in 1981, then at the helm of the Ronan Pioneer and, eventually, as co-editor of the Lake County Leader until 1993. She launched and co-published Lively Times, a statewide arts and entertainment monthly, before returning to the Leader in 2022, and serving as its editor until July 2026. Reach her at [email protected] | May 15, 2025 12:00 AM
Across Lake County last week, a smattering of mail ballots – 3,665 in all – were cast for school board, library and fire district trustees, as well as three school levies.
Voters in Arlee approved two 10-year tech levies of $35,000 each by margins of 261-189 for the high school district and 246-194 in the elementary district. Also in Arlee, voters chose Samantha Lytle (231 votes) and incumbent Brian Johnson-BigSam (184) to fill two vacancies on the school board. Other candidates were Hank Adams (127), Kevin Howard (98), Kelly Pierre (81) and Cammie Dupuis-Pablo (58).
Charlo voters chose Matt Hout (161) and Dion Carey (150) to replace incumbents Adrian Roylance and Stephanie Smith, who did not run for reelection. Also vying for the two seats were Latham Blevins (110) and Kelsey Farrand (94).
In the Ronan School District, Jennifer Rolfsness received 532 votes vs. Christopher Morigeau’s 315 in a race to fill the remaining two years of an unexpired term, while Kevin Detwiler (631 votes) and Diana Luke (540) retained their positions on the board for another three years.
Polson and St. Ignatius had no trustee elections this year, since just one candidate filed for available openings in each district. Incumbents Nathaniel Netzer and Devon Cox continue to serve the Polson Elementary District, and Tony Incashola Jr. will serve another three-year term in Mission. Likewise, the only candidate for Valley View was Amanda Jackson and for Swan Lake was Mary Hendrickson.
Voters in the Upper West Shore School District approved a general fund levy, 187 to 115, which will raise $54,377 a year (about 4.23 mills) to increase staff wages at the elementary school in Dayton.
In the North Lake County Library District, incumbents Brooke Wegner (1,422), Maggie Newman (1,374) and Allen R. Bone (1,167) were reelected to four-year terms; Clelia Tilford received 629 votes.
John Doty bested Paul Laisy for a three-year term on the Polson Rural Fire District, 531-322.
Filing deadline June 16 for city elections
Municipal elections are next in Polson, Ronan and St. Ignatius, with a filing deadline of June 16 for the general election on Nov. 4.
The position of mayor is open in all three communities; these posts are currently held by Eric Huffine (Polson), Chris Adler (Ronan) and Daren Incashola (St. Ignatius).
The City of Polson has seats open in wards 1, 2 and 3, currently held by Jake Holley, Laura Dever and Graydon (Brodie) Moll. All are four-year terms.
In Ronan, the terms that expire are those held by Ryan Corum (Ward 1), Lindsay Myers (Ward 2) and Marlene Melton (Ward 3).
In St. Ignatius, the two at-large seats are currently held by Daniel Thompson and Chris Heffern.
St. Ignatius had seen a flurry of filings as of Monday, including Shay Farmer and incumbents Heffern and Thompson for city council, and Daren Incashola for mayor.
Both St. Ignatius and Ronan have openings for judges. Those seats are currently occupied by Mary Leishman in Mission and Allysen Jones in Ronan.
Polson also has an opening for the position of city judge, currently held by Michael Larson; however, the judge there is appointed by the city commission instead of selected by voters. Applications closed in April, and the commission will choose from two candidates – Larson and Barbara Monaco – by July 1.
To learn more about filing for office, visit www.lakemt.gov/170/Elections or call 406-406-883-7268.
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