Municipal Elections

*** * * See Municipal Election Official Results under Supporting Documents * ***

A Municipal Election is being held in 2023 for the selection of one Mayor for a two-year term; two City Commissioners for four-year terms; forty-five Neighborhood Council representatives, consisting of five representatives in each of the nine districts, for two-year terms; one Municipal Court Judge for Department A for a four-year term; and, one Municipal Court Judge for Department B for an initial two-year term.

Municipal Elections are administered by the Cascade County Elections Office. Please see candidate resources, contact information and supporting documents set forth below for additional information.

The Municipal Primary election will be held on September 12, 2023 [if the Election Administrator determines that a primary election needs to be held]. Update: *The Election Administrator notified the City on June 29th that, per MCA 13-14-115(2)(a), there is no need for a primary election.

The Municipal General election will be held on November 7, 2023.

Filing
The first date to file as a candidate for Mayor, Commissioner, Neighborhood Council Representative or Municipal Court Judge is April 20, 2023 and the last date to file is June 19, 2023. Filing fees are as follows:

Mayor: $56.16
Commissioners: $37.44
Neighborhood Council Representatives: $0
Municipal Court Judge Dept. A: $1,284.15
Municipal Court Judge Dept. B: $1,070.12

City Commission
The City Commission is composed of a Mayor and four Commissioners who serve overlapping terms. In Great Falls, municipal elections are held in the uneven numbered years. The Mayor and Commissioners are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis.

Composition
The City Commission is composed of five voting members: four city commissioners and the mayor. The City Commission is the legislative and policy-making body of the City of Great Falls.

Qualifications and Election of the Mayor
The mayor shall be elected for a term of two years. The mayor shall meet all requirements and qualifications for election to the office of city commissioner. Mayoral candidates shall be qualified electors in the City of Great Falls, be at least 21 years old, be a resident of Montana for at least three years, and be a resident of Great Falls for at least two years preceding the election.

Powers and Duties of the Mayor

The mayor shall be recognized as the official head and representative of the City of Great Falls for the purpose of presiding at city commission meetings and the performance of ceremonial functions. These functions shall not be construed as conferring upon the mayor executive, personnel, or administrative powers or functions.
The mayor shall serve as a member of the commission with all the rights and privileges of city commissioners. The mayor shall possess no veto over actions taken by the city commission.

Qualifications and Election of the City Commissioner
City Commissioner candidates shall be qualified electors of the City of Great Falls, and be residents of Great Falls for at least 60 days preceding the election.

Duties and Responsibilities of the City Commission

Adopt policies and procedures and enact ordinances and resolutions as necessary for the proper execution of governmental functions and responsibilities.
Appoint and supervise, and may remove, the city manager.
Adopt an annual budget, levy taxes and special assessments, and may borrow money and issue bonds subject to Montana law. Appropriations, exclusive of bond and loan indebtedness, shall not exceed anticipated revenue.
Adopt procedures for contracting with private and public agencies.
Appoint citizens to boards, councils, committees or any other body or group pursuant to law.
Set the salary of the city commissioners and the mayor by ordinance.

Salary of City Commission members
Pursuant to the Official Code of the City of Great Falls (OCCGF) 2.1.020 the salary of each Commissioner shall be three hundred twelve dollars ($312) per month. The salary of the Mayor shall be four hundred sixty-eight dollars ($468) per month.

Neighborhood Councils

Purpose
The councils shall act in an advisory capacity to the City Commission, the City Manager and to other City advisory bodies, and may contribute information, opinions, advice, suggestions and recommendations to the City Commission, City Manager and other City advisory bodies on all governmental affairs and services having an effect on the area the neighborhood council represents, including, but not limited to, public finance, public works, public safety, planning and zoning, and public health and sanitation.

Neighborhood Districts
Composition of Councils, Election: There are nine (9) neighborhood council districts within the City of Great Falls. The residents of a district shall comprise the electorate for that district. Each district shall have a council comprised of five (5) members, elected to a two (2) year term at the election held in conjunction with the City’s general election. Nominees for election to a neighborhood council must be residents of their designated neighborhood district, and must be qualified electors.

Municipal Court Judge
The Municipal Court Judge candidates shall have the same qualifications as a judge of the district court as set forth in Article VII, Section 9, of the Montana Constitution, except a municipal court judge need only be admitted, and in good standing, to the practice of law in Montana for at least three years prior to the date of the election. A municipal court judge shall be a resident of Cascade County one year preceding the election, and be a resident and voter in the City of Great Falls at the time of election. Further, a municipal court judge shall become certified as provided in Mont. Code Ann. §§ 3-1-1502 and 3-1-1503, to assume the functions of that office. The Municipal Court Judge shall hold office for a term of 4 years and until a successor is elected and qualified. The judge’s term commences on the first Monday in January following the election.

NEW this election: There shall be two (2) Municipal Court Judges.

The existing Municipal Court Judge position shall be designated Municipal Court Department A and shall be subject to its already existing four (4) year general election cycle.

The new Municipal Court Judge position shall be designated Municipal Court Department B and is subject to an initial two (2) year term. Thereafter, Municipal Court Department B shall be subject to the four (4) year general election cycle commencing in November of 2025.

CANDIDATE FILINGS TO DATE [updates provided when information is received from the Cascade County Election Administrator]:

Mayor:  Joe McKenney, Cory Reeves, Casey Schreiner and Abby Brown
Commissioner: Eric Hinebauch, Rick Tryon, Kendall Cox, Shannon Wilson and Micaela Stroop
Municipal Court Judge - Dept. A:  Steven Bolstad
Municipal Court Judge - Dept. B:  Cayle Halberg and Mark Dunn
NC #1:  Trevor Cummings, David R Foscue, Everett (Ev) Hall, Pat M. Goodover II, David Saslav, Mike Parcel, Michael Flaherty
NC #2: Tim Croft, Frank Speidel, Pam Wagner
NC #3:  Eric Peterson, Sharon Thompson, Garri Mauch, Kathleen Gessaman, Aron R. Krischel, Sue Dickenson
NC #4: Sandra Guynn, Chris Ward, Neil Tredray, James Whitaker, Lauren Cornellier
NC #5: Anthony E. Rutherford II (write-in candidate)
NC# 6: Richard Cornellier, James Rickley, Tad Stone, Carl Donovan, Michelle Cornellier
NC #7:  Trevor Mikkelsen, Sandra Rice, Troy D. Lane, Lisa Meyers, Allison Tangen
NC #8: Michael Brainard, Johnnie Scott, Travis Grove, David Price, Karen Grove
NC #9:  Barney Danishefsky, Karen M. Gray, Judy White, Michael Polaske

The candidates above will be listed on November 7, 2023, ballot unless noted as write-in candidates.

Political Signs
• Sign Permit – Election related political signs are exempt from the sign permit requirement. However, signage must be in compliance with City Codes in all other respects.
• Size – Political signs may be no larger than 16 sq. feet in area and four feet in height.
• Time – Signs may be placed no earlier than 60 days prior to any election. Signs must be removed within seven consecutive days after an election.
• Where/Setbacks – Signage may be placed on private property with the owner’s permission. The sign must be placed at least 12 feet from the back of the curb. Vehicular and pedestrian sight distances must be unobstructed. Signage is not allowed on public property, in City boulevards, on boulevard trees, utility poles, street lights or signs, traffic poles or other public property.

Candidate Resources

Declaration for Nomination and Oath of Candidacy Forms
Prior to running for office, a nomination form must be completed, signed in the presence of a Notary Public or an officer of the Cascade County Election Office, and returned to the Cascade County Election Office during the filing period. The forms are available at the Cascade County Election Office, and under "Supporting Documents" on this webpage.

After filing the Declaration for Nomination and Oath of Candidacy Form or Write-In Candidate Declaration of Intent and Oath of Candidacy Form, Candidate Campaign Finance Forms are required to be filed with the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices.

Contact Information:

Cascade County Election Administrator:
Terry Thompson
325 2nd Avenue North
Courthouse Annex, Room 100
Great Falls, MT 59401
(406) 454-6803
Email: elections@cascadecountymt.gov

Montana Secretary of State:
Christi Jacobsen
State Capitol Building
1301 E. 6th Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: (406) 444-2034
Election help desk: (406) 444-9608

Montana Commissioner of Political Practices:
Chris Gallus
1205 8th Ave
P.O. Box 202401
Helena, MT 59620-2401
(406) 444-2942
Email: cpphelp@mt.gov
Email: cppcompliance@mt.gov

Great Falls City Clerk (Commission):
Lisa Kunz, City Clerk
2 Park Drive South
Civic Center, Room 204
Great Falls, MT 59401
(406) 455-8451

Great Falls Neighborhood Councils:
Lanni Klasner, Communications Specialist
(Neighborhood Council Coordinator)
2 Park Drive South
Civic Center, Room 5
Great Falls, MT 59401
(406) 455-8496