Following Mineral County Commissioner Shawn Smalley's resignation, members of the Republican central committee met July 8 to select three nominees for his replacement.

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.

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 Terrill, Clemts, Robinson, Goldstein and Hendrick for consideration. 

Following interviews and voting, the committee selected Clemts, Robinson and 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.

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. 

"Unless we run into difficulties, we'll have to make the decision by July 25," Simons said. "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 Mineral County 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 a handbook 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. 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. 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.