Commissioner Results

With a dominating vote count that nearly doubled the runner-up total, Mary Armstrong became the apparent front runner in the race for the Valley County Commissioner Seat being vacated by Bruce Petersen this fall. Gilbert Mogan is currently set to take her on in the general election set for November, but a looming recount could swing the second place race in favor of Todd Young, who not only came in third but lost to Mogan by a mere three vote total. That recount will occur Wednesday, June 13, in the Valley County Commissioner Office.

Armstrong told the Courier in a statement that, “It’s an honor and a privilege to move onto the general election in November.” As of press time, Mogan could not be contacted by the Courier, and on election night Young said he was determined to have a recount telling the Courier, “with a three vote difference you just have to.”

According to the Montana Secretary of State website Young qualified for an automatic recount because the vote margin was not greater than one-quarter of one percent of the total number of votes cast. According to the Courier’s calculations, that total was 6.6375 votes. This means that the recount will be paid for by the County, saving Young from paying for the recount from his own funds.

According to Valley County Clerk and Recorder Lynn Nyquist there were no provisional ballots, and by her recollection the vote count machines had not returned a miscounted vote to date. By all accounts it is unlikely, but still possible, anything will change in the current election result.

The election turned out a total of 2,655 votes with 754 Valley County primary voters voting Democrat, 1,853 voting Republican and 48 voting Green Party.

The vote totals in the race for Valley County Commissioner were as follows: Mary Armstrong 774 votes or 29.98 percent of total votes cast; Gilbert Mogan 433 votes or 16.77 percent; Todd Young 430 votes or 16.65 percent; Renee Clampitt received 342 votes or 13.25 percent; Jim Uphaus got 277 votes or 10.73 percent; Arlie Gordon took 163 total votes or 6.31 percent; Mike Carney received 161 votes or 6.24 percent and two write-ins were cast for unofficial candidates.