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 filed for any county office.
Incumbent Republican County Commissioner Denis Pitman is being challenged by Republican Mark Morse, a newcomer to the political scene. The winner of that race will face no general election challenge.
Sheriff Mike Linder, County Clerk & Recorder Jeff Martin, County Treasurer Sherry Long and County Attorney Scott Twito are running for re-election unchallenged. The County Auditor position, currently held by Scott Turner, has been eliminated as an independent elected office and its duties shifted to the Clerk and Recorder’s office.
County Director of Elections Bret Rutherford has cancelled the election for Justices of the Peace since Montana law allows any county nonpartisan primary election to be cancelled if the number of candidates is fewer than three. David Carter and Jeanne Walker, the current Justices, have both filed for re-election. Each candidate will appear on the November ballot with language indicating that they will retain their positions.
Rutherford is hopeful of keeping the Yellowstone County ballot to one page, which would save the county a considerable sum in printing costs. Rutherford said that the paper for ballots costs 12 cents and printing one side costs an additional 13 cents. Having to print the back side costs 17 cents. He anticipates printing 250,000 ballots.
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