Following Commissioner Shawn Smalley's resignation, the Mineral County Republican Central Committee met on July 8 to select three nominees for consideration by the remaining members of the Mineral County Board of Commissioners.

Under Montana law, when a vacancy occurs in a partisan county office, the central committee of the departing official's political party submits three qualified candidates to the remaining commissioners, who appoint one person to serve until the general election in November. Voters will then elect a commissioner to complete the remainder of Smalley's unexpired term.

Rep. Curtis Cochran, committee chair, explained some of the process. 

"State law allows that since Commissioner Smalley was a Republican, the duly elected County Republican Central Committee selects three candidates to submit to the remaining commissioners for selection of one to fill the vacant seat in the Central District," Cochran said.

Nine residents of the Central Commissioner District initially submitted their names for consideration: Dawn Terrill, Dan Clemts, Kayla Frawley, Rob Robinson, Wayne Cashman, Shai Maturino, Loretta Parker, Ric Goldstein and Gordon Hendrick. Before the committee completed its vetting and voting process, five candidates withdrew or did not participate, leaving Dawn Terrill, Dan Clemts, Rob (Carl) Robinson, Ric Goldstein and Gordon Hendrick for consideration. 

Following interviews and voting, the committee selected Dan Clemts, Rob (Carl) Robinson and Gordon Hendrick as its three nominees. Their names have been forwarded to Commissioners Duane Simons and Roman Zylawy, who will appoint one of the three to fill the vacancy.

Commissioner Duane Simons said he was satisfied with the committee's recommendations. 

"I'm comfortable with the three names," Simons said. "There was a process and I'm not going to ask for more. I can't speak for Roman. I think he was comfortable with them, but I'm not positive of that." 

Simons said he understands the commissioners have 30 days from Smalley's resignation to make the appointment. 

"I believe what they said at that meeting is we had 30 days to make the appointment from the day he resigned," Simons said. "Unless we run into difficulties, we'll have to make the decision by July 25. I haven't heard anything about doing it sooner, but I'd guess we'll make the announcement at the July 23 meeting unless something comes up. I haven't selected anyone yet and I don't know if Roman has or not." 

The appointment comes during the county's annual budget process, which Simons acknowledged will create a learning curve for the successful candidate. 

"We'll have to work with them, and it'll be kind of hard because it will be budget time," Simons said. "Dan Clemts said he has worked with budgets. Rob Robinson said he has worked with budgets, and Gordon Hendrick has worked with budgets at the city and state level, so they all understand that."

Simons said the Montana Association of Counties provides commissioner training twice each year in Helena for newly elected and appointed county commissioners. He also praised the Republican Central Committee's selection meeting.

"Everyone was concerned and professional, and I think they were happy with the three that were picked," Simons said.

The appointed commissioner must be a Republican residing in the Central Commissioner District. The Montana Association of Counties publishes a handbook titled So You Want to Be a County Commissioner for individuals considering serving in the office. In addition, Montana State University Extension publishes the Montana Local Government Board Handbook, another resource explaining the responsibilities of local government officials.

Mineral County Deputy Clerk and Recorder/Election Deputy Kasey Feasel said there is no formal job description for elected county commissioners because their authority and responsibilities are established in Montana law. 

"There is not really a 'job description' for any position that is elected," Feasel explained. "All elected officials, including county commissioners, follow Montana Code Annotated rules." 

Commissioners' authority includes managing county business, property and affairs within the limits established by state law, adopting board rules consistent with Montana statutes, supervising certain county officers and carrying out other duties authorized by law. They are also required to comply with Montana's public meeting, public records, budgeting, procurement and ethics laws.

To appear on the November ballot, candidates must be at least 18 years old, be registered voters and have lived in the commissioner district for at least two years before the vacancy occurred, as required by Montana Code Annotated 7-4-2106. Qualified candidates may be nominated by their respective political parties. If the Republican, Democratic and Libertarian parties each nominate a candidate, all nominees would appear on the November ballot.

Candidates may also run as independents if they have not been affiliated with a political party for at least one year before filing their nomination petition, according to Montana Code Annotated 13-10-507. Feasel said independent candidates must submit at least 89 valid signatures by Aug. 1, although election officials encourage collecting additional signatures in case some are determined to be invalid. At Saturday's River Street Festival in Superior, volunteers were collecting petition signatures to place Bruce Moats on the November ballot as an independent candidate for Mineral County commissioner.

Also appearing on the November ballot will be the nonpartisan race for justice of the peace, with Kim Taren and Buffy Kelly seeking that office. Mineral County Clerk and Recorder/Election Administrator Kelann McLees said the current annual salary for a county commissioner is $29,273.39. The position also includes health, dental, vision and life insurance, as well as optional participation in the Public Employees Retirement System.

Feasel said the Elections Office is available to answer questions about the petition process and the upcoming General Election. As of publication, Commissioner Roman Zylawy had not responded to emailed requests for comment.