by Evelyn Pyburn
The deadline for candidates to file for elections to special district boards in Yellowstone County was February 6. The mail-ballot election date is May 2, which is when school boards also elect new members and mill levies if they seek one. Candidates filing for school board positions have until February 24 to file. Prospective candidates should contact their local school district for more details.
The County Water District in Billings Heighst has four candidates filing for two open positions on the district’s board. Incumbent board members David Graves and Brandon Hurst have filed for re-election. They are being challenged by Frank Ewalt and Doug Kary — both known to residents of the water district with Ewalt being a former city council member and Kary having served as a state Representative and a state Senator. Only residents living within the County Water District may vote in the election.
Lockwood Water and Sewer District also has one vacancy on its board and that incumbent, Carlotta Hecker, has filed for re-election. Since no other candidates have filed, Hecker will likely be renamed to the board by acclamation of board members.
Many special districts in the county do not hold elections for board members because seldom are the positions contested – if there is any one filling the position at all. Getting volunteers to serve in such community organizations is getting more and more difficult, report many of the districts. If an incumbent board member is the only candidate the board usually chooses not to hold an election and retain the board member by acclamation.
Anyone interested in filling an open position on the board of a local district serving the community, contact a member of that that district or a member of the board.
