Kalispell residents voted against upgrading the city airport. Newcomer Heather Knutson was elected mayor of Polson. Libby’s Incumbent Mayor, Doug Roll, held off Councilor Allen Olsen by only 13 votes, but a recount could emerge Wednesday.
Voter turnout for Flathead County was 26 percent — a total of 5,329 voters turned in ballots.
Here are the unofficial results from Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Polson, Libby and Troy with 100 percent reporting, according to the county election departments.
Unofficial Election Results (100 percent reported in Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Polson, Libby and Troy)
KALISPELL
AIRPORT REFERENDUM
For Repeal (opposing upgrades) – 1,886 (55%)
Against Repeal (supporting upgrades) – 1,535 (44.8%)
CITY COUNCIL
WARD 1
Sandy Mundahl Carlson – 445 (73.9%)
Joseph Apple – 150 (24.9%)
WARD 3
Jim Atkinson – 428 (54%)
Karlene Osorio-Khor – 281 (35%)
Jason Mueller – 81 (10.1%)
Mark Johnson (MAYOR) ran unopposed. Chad Graham (WARD 2) ran unopposed. Councilor Tim Kluesner (WARD 4) ran unopposed. Municipal Judge Lori Adams ran unopposed
WHITEFISH
CITY COUNCIL (top three elected)
Andy Feury – 1,025 (29.3%)
Pamela Barberis – 913 (26.15%)
Jennifer Frandsen – 903 (25.87%)
Life Noell – 619 (17.73%)
Municipal Judge Bradley Johnson ran unopposed.
COLUMBIA FALLS
CITY COUNCIL (top three elected)
Jenny Lovering – 381 (27.5%)
Michael Shepard – 315 (22.7%)
David Petersen – 288 (20.8%)
Shawn Bates – 263 (19%)
Mayor Donald Barnhart ran unopposed. Duane C. Moore dropped out of the city council race.
POLSON
MAYOR
Heather Knutson – 656 (51.29%)
Bob Fulton – 591 (46.21%)
Michael Brandt – 29 (2.27%)
CITY COMMISSION
WARD 2
Jill Southerland – 374 (75.25%)
Murat Kalinyaprak – 122 (24.55%)
WARD 3
Ken Siler – 251 (53.18%)
Mary Frances Caselli – 118 (25%)
Bill D. Smith – 103 (21.82%)
Todd Erickson (WARD 1) ran unopposed.
LIBBY
MAYOR
Doug Roll – 290 (50.35%)
Allen Olsen – 277 (48.09%)
CITY COUNCIL (top three elected)
Robin Benson – 343 (20.98%)
Brent Teske – 309 (18.9%)
Barbara J. Desch – 250 (15.29%)
Vicky Lawrence – 249 (15.23%)
Michael Shock – 201 (12.29%)
Joanne Woods Newman – 140 (8.56%)
Arlen Magill – 138 (8.44%)
TROY
MAYOR
Darren Coldwell – 225 (69.44%)
Anthony E. (Tony) Brown – 98 (30.25%)
CITY COUNCIL (top two elected)
Dallas Carr – 205 (34.63%)
Kimberly Rowse – 148 (25%)
Phillip Fisher – 129 (21.79%)
Donna Lee Rugani – 107 (18.07%)