Filing period closes for Great Falls elections

The filing period for mayor and City Commission closed Thursday.

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

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

Candidates for two four-year commission seats are Bill Bronson, sitting commissioner; Brad Livingston, Don Petrini, Kenny Volk, Neil Tredray, Rick Tryon and Tracy Houck.

Tryon recently resigned as the Tribune's conservative columnist.

The number of mayoral candidates triggered a primary and the ballots will be in the mail on Aug. 31 for the Sept. 15 primary election.

The top two vote getters in the mayoral race and the top four in the commission race will go on to the general election on Nov. 3, which is also a mail ballot, said Rina Moore, Cascade County elections official.

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.