Complaint dismissed in McCone County race

HELENA — The commissioner of political practices dismissed a complaint Thursday after a candidate for clerk of district court in McCone County said she would bring her campaign palm cards into compliance.

According to a complaint filed Thursday by Charles Wilhelm of Circle against Savannah Kirchner of Circle, who are both seeking the clerk of district court seat Nov. 8, Kirchner was alleged to have not properly attributed her campaign palm cards, Commissioner Jonathan Motl said.

The complaint included a card that lacked the required attribution, he said.

Motl said within hours of speaking to his staff, Kirchner went to three businesses and collected all the incorrect cards.

He said the commissioner gave her an “unspecified” period of time to bring the cards into compliance.

“By this decision the commissioner declares his satisfaction that the candidate has acted promptly and properly to correct the attribution deficiency,” Motl wrote.

He said Kirchner met these duties and would be relieved of a campaign violation.

“This complaint is dismissed,” Motl wrote.

He said normally he would provide his decision on the following day. He said the Legislature had set tight time lines for this sort of complaint.