Local elections take shape

Carter County voters will need to head to the polls to cast their ballot in the upcoming primary election on June 4th.

Locally, republican incumbent Tracey D. Walker was the only individual who filed for Clerk of District Court/Superintendent of Schools.

There will, however, be a race to become the republican nominee for Carter County Commissioner from District No. 3 as both incumbent Mike Watkins and Dan Dinstel have filed for the position. Watkins was first elected in 2018. He defeated Bill Walker by one vote in that year's primary.

Registered voters within the county will also be voting on a Dahl Memorial Healthcare Association operating mill levy.

Additionally, voters residing in Ekalaka will be voting whether or not to renew three other mill levies that support Emswiler Pool, Ekalaka town parks and Ekalaka Public Library.

Lastly, on this year's ballot for the first time in 10 years, voters will decide whether or not to review their local government. This is a right given by the Montana Constitution. Voters will be asked if they want to elect a commission to study possible changes to their local government and spend their tax dollars to pay for it.

Those who live in Ekalaka will see two government review questions on the June 4 primary election ballot, one for Carter County and another for Ekalaka.

If a review is approved in June, voters would elect the members of a study commission in November. Any registered voter who lives within the local government's jurisdiction and does not currently hold an elected office can run to serve.

The study commission would then have up to two years to investigate their government's structure, powers and public services, prepare a report and bring recommendations for possible changes back to voters for approval.

Carole Carey, Elin (Westover) Kittelmann and Adam Jerome served on the study commission for the Town of Ekalaka in 2014. Voters did not choose to create a study commission for the Carter County in 2014.

County polling places for the upcoming primary election include the Carter County Events Center, the Boyes Community Hall, and the Alzada Community Hall.