Nashua, Opheim and St, Marie have contested elections

In the local elections coming up Nov. 3, many positions have just one candidate, but there is competition for three contests in Valley County.

The North Valley County Water and Sewer District has a lively race, with six people running for three seats on the board of directors. The candidates are Robert L. Anderson, Owen Childers Jr., Alan C. Edson, Hank Endler, Candis France and Lori Six. Anderson, Childers and Endler are incumbents.

The Courier has obtained a copy of a two-page letter addressed to members of the water and sewer district, signed by the other three candidates, Edson, France and Six. Entitled "Out With the Old," it claims that the district's water main replacement project was unnecessary and that the district is using questionable business practices. It criticizes the policy of holding out for full payment on past due water accounts and mentions the lawsuit filed in this regard against the district and its board members by Olympic Coast Investments, which owns more than 400 units at St. Marie. OCI stopped paying the monthly basic water fee on its units last August, when rates were raised from $32 to $57.05.

A person familiar with the issue said that a response to the letter has been drafted and will be released after it has been approved by the board's attorney.

Edson was charged with two felony drug counts and a misdemeanor in September after deputies seized about 60 marijuana plants at his home in St. Marie.

In Nashua, Allen Bunk, a former mayor and councilman, is challenging one-term incumbent Patricia Hallett for the top job. The alderman race has three people vying for two slots: incumbents Linda Falkenstern and Albert Maas, and Larry A. Fuhrmann.

In Opheim, two people are running for mayor, Alderman Bruce Eric Kipp and David Bailey. Marjory Burdette served as mayor pro tem after the death of longtime mayor John Marvin in June. She is running unopposed for re-election to a four-year term as alderman in Ward 2. Halvar Olstead is running to fill an unexpired two-year term in Ward 2. Scott St. John is the candidate for a four-year term in Ward 1.

Four incumbents on the Glasgow City Council are unopposed for re-election: Dan Carney for mayor, Neil Chouinard in Ward 1, Melanie Sorensen in Ward 2 and Norman Girard in Ward 3. Girard is running for his first full term after being appointed in March to fill Bob West's term.

Some Fort Peck Town Council incumbents having retired, two new people are running for the two open seats: David Chapman and Joe French.
Regular voter registration closed Oct. 5, but late registration at the courthouse is open until election day. Only residents and property owners at St. Marie may vote in the North Valley County Water and Sewer District election, and voter registration is required.