I1. Resolution 6257 Calling for Elections 2025City of Kalispell
Mum Preble Office of City Attorney
City Aftomey 201 First Avenue East
P.O. Box 1997
Kalispell, MT 59903-1997
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
MEETING DATE:
MEMORANDUM
Doug Russell, City Manager
Johnna Preble, City Attorney
Tel 406.758.7709
Fax 406.758.7758
jpreble(j�kalispellxom
Resolution No. 6257 — A Resolution of Intent to Hold Primary and
General Municipal Elections
June 16, 2025 — Regular Council Meeting
BACKGROUND: The 2015 State Legislative body passed an election law designed to improve
communications between municipalities and county election departments. This law, codified at
M.C.A. § 13-1-405, directs that municipalities should pass a resolution at least 85 days prior to the
primary municipal election communicating its intent to hold a primary and general elections and to
further indicate whether the election will be conducted at the polls or by mail.
Each City Council ward has one position open for election. In addition, the Mayor and
Municipal Judge positions are open for election. A letter was received June 12, 2025, from the
Flathead County Elections Manager listing the candidates who filed for office prior to the June I I
deadline and informing Kalispell that a primary election is not needed.
The resolution before council calls for the general election and designates that the election
occur via poll rather than mail as that has been the preference of council in the past.
RECOMMENDATION: City Council should consider passing Resolution 6257, a resolution calling
for a general election to be held on November 4, 2025, for the open Kalispell City Council positions in
Ward 1, Ward 2, Ward 3 and Ward 4, and for the Mayor and Municipal Judge positions.
ALTERNATIVES: Council may seek further clarification and information from staff or offer
amendments to the proposed draft.
ATTACHMENT: Resolution 6257
Letter from Flathead County Elections Manager
RESOLUTION NO. 6257
A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER
4,2025, FOR THE OPEN POSITIONS OF KALISPELL MAYOR, CITY COUNCILORS IN
WARD 1, WARD 2, WARD 3 AND WARD 4, AND KALISPELL MUNICIPAL JUDGE.
WHEREAS, pursuant to MCA Title 13, Chapter 1, in order to consolidate, simplify, and standardize
the government election process, local governments, including incorporated municipal
governments, should pass a resolution, at least 85 days prior to an election, calling for
the election to occur on the election day established in accordance with Title 13 of the
Montana Code Annotated; and,
WHEREAS, the primary election day for 2025, as established by MCA §13-1-107, is September 9,
2025, and the general election day for 2025 as established by MCA §13-1-104 is
November 4, 2025; and,
WHEREAS, in 2025, the City of Kalispell has open positions for election for the Mayor, City
Councilor positions in Ward 1, Ward 2, Ward 3, and Ward 4, and for the Municipal
Judge;and,
WHEREAS, the Kalispell City Council finds that it is in the best interests of the City that the election
be conducted at the election polls established by the Flathead County Election
Department; and
WHEREAS, the Flathead County Elections Manager indicated on June 12, 2025, that a primary
election is not necessary for the City of Kalispell.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
KALISPELL AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Kalispell City Council hereby calls for a general election to be held at the
election polls established by the Flathead County Election Department on
November 4, 2025, for the open positions of Mayor, City Councilors in Ward
1, Ward 2, Ward 3, and Ward 4, and Municipal Judge.
SECTION 2. The City Clerk is directed to provide a copy of this resolution to the Flathead
County, Montana Election Department without delay.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR OF THE
CITY OF KALISPELL, THIS 16TH DAY OF JUNE, 2025.
Mark Johnson
Mayor
ATTEST:
Aimee Brunckhorst, CMC
City Clerk
THE
DEBBIE PIERSON
;1TRY
FLATHEAD COUNTY ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR
CLERK & RECORDER/AUDITOR/SURVEYOR
290 North Main Street, Suite B, Kalispell, Montana 59901
Phone: (406) 758-5535
Fax: (406) 758-�877
flatheadcounty.gov/election
June 12, 2025
City U1 1\d11bPt!11
ATTN: Aimee Brunckhorst, City Clerk
Via email: cityclerk(cDkalispell.com
P.O. Box 1997
Kalispell, MT 59903
Re: Cancellation of 2025 Municipal Primary Election
DearAmy,
Plea�e be advised that the candidate filing d . eadline and write-in deadline set forth in 13-1-403(2) MCA closed at 5-OOpm
on June I 11h , 2025. The requirements of 13-14-115(2)(a), MCA, were not met and therefore a primary election is not
required. The following candidates have filed for office in your jurisdiction:
Municipality Name
Office
Candidate Name
CitV of Kalispell
Mayor
Suclad (Sid) Daoud
Ma.yor
Ryan Hunter
Mayor
Kisa Davison
Council Member Ward 1
Sandra Carlson
Council Member Ward 1
Wesley (Wes) Walker
Council Member Ward 2
Lisa Blank
Council Member Ward 3
Brenton (Wes) Gardner
Council Member'Ward 3
Kyle Voigtlander
Council Member Ward 3
Kyle Waterman
Council Member Ward 4
Bruce Guthrie
Council Member Ward 4
-
Jed Fisher
Municipal Judge
Alison Howard
Thes6 candidates' names have been submitted to the Commissioner of Political Practices (COPP) for certification to
appe i ar on the General election Ballot.
Per 13-14-115(3), MCA, the governing body may require that a primary election be held by passing a resolution not
mor6 than 10 days after the close of candidate filing stating that a primary election shall be held. The deadline for this
resol�ution to be passed is June 23 rd 2025.
n ks,
a la Buff
F t
I thead County Elections Manager
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