Candidates interviewed for vacant commissioner seat

On Sept. 9, three candidates to be considered for appointment as a Mineral County commissioner were interviewed in an open meeting. The public was invited, however questions they requested to be asked of the candidates had to be in writing and submitted before the first interview.

All three of the candidates were asked the same questions by remaining commissioners Roman Zylawy and Duane Simons.

The appointment is for approximately two years to fill the position of Laurie Johnston, who resigned and her last day was Sept. 2.

The Mineral County Republican Central Committee had initially submitted three names for consideration through proper channels of Montana code section 7-4-2106 sub-section 13-10-601. But because the call for nominations did not originally run in the Aug. 24 edition of the Mineral Independent, the commissioners have extended the date for additional interested candidates to come forward until Sept. 21.

Three more candidates’ names will be forwarded to the commissioners for interviews on Sept. 23. Once all candidates are interviewed, public comments and input will be permitted and then the commissioners will make a final decision.

Those interested in the appointment must be a registered voter, a Republican (because the appointment is replacing a Republican), 18 years of age and have lived in the central district for a minimum of two years.

If interested individuals are unsure of which district they live in, they are requested to contact the Mineral County Clerk and Recorder. Interested individuals are required to submit a cover letter and resume to be received no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21.

Mail to MCRCC-Chair, P.O. Box 33, Superior, Montana 59872. Names submitted by deadline will be considered for admissions to the County Commissioners at a special meeting on Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the County Commissioners Conference Room. This meeting, as of all MCRCC meetings, are open to the public. Questions will be answered by calling Al Acheson, Chairman of the MCRCC at (406) 822-4643

One of the candidates interviewed on Friday asked why additional candidates were being recruited and Zylawy said that because it hadn't been in the paper, they were concerned that someone would come to them upset because they didn't know about it. There was some concern that the commissioners were not happy with the three names that had been given and that was the reason they had requested more, which was not the case.