The county will have five commissioners calling the shots, rather than three. There's even a chance one or two of them will be Democrats in the traditionally Republican-leaning southwest corner of Montana.
Voters from the county's 22 precincts will decide who'll join Republicans Greg Chilcott and Alan Thompson on the expanded commission board. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Most voters will also weigh in on whether the county should form a water quality district for an estimated $142,000.
Conflicting views on how to accomplish responsible growth have colored the commissioners' race. Well-publicized twists and turns of the pre-election included five public debates, a couple of district court decisions and two pending lawsuits.
Regina Wilson, elections administrator, said she didn't know how it'll all translate into voter turnout. Slightly more absentee ballots have been issued than for the commissioner primaries in April.
“I would love to see what we had at our last school elections, which was about a
24 percent turnout. But I don't know, because it's such an off time,” Wilson said.
The county has between 28,000 and 29,000 active and inactive registered voters, she added.
Lyons defeated Driscoll for his seat on the commission during the general election last fall. Voters in the same election opted to increase the size of the board.
Because of changed district boundaries, Missoula District Judge John Larson ruled Lyons must run again. A group of citizens has filed a suit that calls for a local government review of Larson's decision.
Lyons is also co-defendant in a suit filed in late May by county floodplain administrator Laura Hendrix. The suit claims Lyons violated the Montana Anti-Intimidation Act during a private conversation with Hendrix shortly after he took office in January.
Grandstaff, a freelance journalist, collected enough signatures to have her name placed on the June ballot as a write-in candidate to oppose Lyons.
The Democrats on Tuesday's ballot won lopsided victories in the April primary. Driscoll is a self-employed businesswoman, while Rokosch is a biologist.
Hurtt and Weisbecker claimed close decisions in the Republican races. Hurtt is a rancher, Weisbecker a retired speech therapist.
Wilson said the three commissioners elected Tuesday will serve staggered terms beginning June 13, to be determined by drawing lots. One will have to run again in 2008, the other two in 2010. That's pending the outcome of the suit asking for a review of Larson's ruling.
Chilcott, the current commission chairman, and Thompson will finish out their terms. Chilcott's ends in 2008, Thompson's in 2010.
The water quality district will call for a fee on all property that uses water or produces waste in the county. Darby, Hamilton, Pinesdale and Stevensville, which have their own water and sewage systems, have opted out of such a district and won't vote on it Tuesday.
Roughly $68,000 of the proposed budget of $142,236 would go to pay salary and benefits to a full-time water quality specialist. Another $27,000 would pay for a full-time administrative/educational specialist. The rest, some $47,600, would go toward operating expenses.
Reporter Kim Briggeman can be reached at 523-5266 or at kbriggeman@missoulian.com
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