Thursday last day to file for City Commission

Thursday is the last day to file for mayor and seats on the City Commission.

A sixth candidate has filed for mayor and five people have filed for two four-year City Commission seats.

Both races will be on the Sept. 15 primary ballot, according to the county elections office.

Ballots will go out by mail at the end of August and the top two candidates for mayor and top four for commission will go on to the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

Candidates for mayor are: Bob Kelly, sitting commissioner; Mike Winters, sitting mayor; Jarred Wutzke, Mike Trueman, Jacob Dean Schaack and Brian Shepherd.

Winters is running for a fourth term and if elected, would be the longest serving mayor in Great Falls history.

Two four-year commission seats are open and there are now five candidates for those seats.

Bill Bronson, sitting commissioner; Brad Livingston, Don Petrini, Kenny Volk and Neil Tredray.

Commission and mayoral elections are nonpartisan, and both are elected at large.

Great Falls mayors are elected to two-year terms and must be qualified electors in the city, be at least 21 years old, be a resident of Montana for at least three years and be a resident of Great Falls for at least two years preceding the election.

Commissioner candidates must be qualified electors in the city and be residents of Great Falls for at least 60 days preceding the election.

Commissioners Fred Burow and Bob Jones are halfway through a four-year commission term.

Commissioners and the mayor take office the first Tuesday after Jan. 1.

Forty-five Neighborhood Council seats are also up for grabs.