The mid-term elections of 2022 have been called a “political tinderbox” by pundits and citizens alike. Campaign dollars flew toward “mud flinging” ads across the board, as sensationalism has become the new normal for our political environment. Locally, one abnormality … read more
by Evelyn Pyburn Yellowstone County Commissioners have named a new director of the Yellowstone County Elections Department – Katherine “Ginger” Aldrich of Helena. She will begin her new job on November 1. read more
by Evelyn Pyburn Two issues on the General Election ballot, November 8, are asking for voter input. read more
by Evelyn Pyburn Mark Morse running for County Commissioner is the only challenged Yellowstone County candidate in the coming election, on November 8. Candidates for all other open elected county offices are Republicans standing unchallenged by any Democrat contenders. And, … read more
by Evelyn Pyburn Yellowstone County Commissioners have received six applications for the open position of County Elections Administrator, a vacancy created with the resignation of Bret Rutherford who has served in the position for over 16 years. Several of the … read more
Concerned about an approaching deadline that would allow the county to destroy ballots from the 2020 Election, a group of citizens asked Yellowstone County Commissioners to store the ballots beyond that deadline in order to allow the group time to … read more
County Commissioner Denis Pitman isn’t ready to give up quite yet. Having lost his primary bid to be the Republican candidate on the November General Election ballot, incumbent county commissioner, Denis Pitman, is registering as a write-in candidate. Pitman said … read more
The Base Salary for elected officials in Yellowstone County will be increased four percent, following the approval of County Commissioners on Tuesday at the recommendation made by the Yellowstone County Compensation Board. Base salary for county elected officials in FY … read more
by Michael J. Marino A forum held ahead of the June 7 election allowed voters to ask this year’s candidates for Yellowstone County Commissioner – incumbent Denis Pitman and his opponent Mark Morse – questions regarding the issues facing the … read more
Changes are necessary to the collaborative agreement that is the structural foundation of RiverStone Health, which is also the City County Health Department. read more
Popping up all across the county are campaign signs urging voters to vote, for or to vote against, overturning Yellowstone County’s law which legalizes the recreational sale of marijuana throughout the county. read more
Former Billings City Council member, Michael Yakawich, was the unanimous choice of Yellowstone County Commissioners to complete the term of Montana HD 51 which was left vacant with the untimely death of Frank Fleming (R) in March. On Monday, commissioners interviewed … read more
It may have been something of a surprise for many to see Gary Buchanan file as an Independent to challenge Republican Matt Rosendale for his Congressional seat. While he had been mulling the idea over since December, Buchanan said that … read more
Filing deadline for political office in Montana was Monday, and hundreds of candidates have filed. Some have no contender in the primary on May 3, and some will have no contender in the general election on November 8, others will … read more
With the 2022 Election filing deadline having ended on Monday, it appears that the only contested primary election race in Yellowstone County is that for county commissioner. And none will be contested in the general election, since no Democrat candidates … read more
While the proponents of the Montana Property Tax Initiative, CI-121 await word from the courts about the validity of their petition — a wait that is now weeks long – “a large, diverse, and unconventional coalition of Montanans has come … read more
Economically, Montana had a “fantastic” year in 2021, and 2022 is being forecast to be much the same, but there are challenges. At the forefront of his forecast, Montana’s premier economist, Dr. Patrick Barkey, Director of the Bureau of Business … read more
Signature gathering on a petition that would cap property taxes may continue. The Montana Supreme Court refused last week to take up a lower court decision that halted signature gathering on a petition for an initiative that would cap the … read more
2022 is an election year that will see a vacancy open for election of the Board of County Commissioners for District 2. Incumbent County Commissioner Denis Pitman, who has announced that he will be filing for re-election, already has … read more
With the end of his term next year, Scott Turner will be Yellowstone County’s last full-time elected auditor. In the future the position will be melded with that of the County Clerk and Recorder. County Commissioners voted at a public … read more
