Winters files for fourth term

Michael Winters has filed for a fourth term as Great Falls mayor.

He will run against Bob Kelly, a current City Commissioner.

In 2013, Winters defeated Aaron Pursell to serve a third mayoral term.

Bill Bronson, also a sitting commissioner, has filed for another four-year commission seat.

Those three are the only people to have filed for a City Commission seat.

That leaves another four-year commission seat vacant that no one has filed for yet.

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

The last day to file for city offices is July 2, and if a primary is necessary, it will be Sept. 15. The general election is Nov. 3.

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 and so far, only 12 people have filed for those seats on 9 councils.

Neighborhood council representatives serve two year terms and must live in the council area and be qualified electors in Great Falls.

In 1996, Great Falls residents approved an amendment to the city charter, reinstituting a neighborhood council program. In 1997, the City Commission adopted Ordinance 2727 allowing the creation and operation of the councils as well as creating a council liaison position.

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Learn more about city elections, go to: http://bit.ly/1JuwJTd