November 3 voting to decide council positions in Dodson, Malta and Saco

All active registered voters in the City of Malta, and towns of Dodson and Saco were automatically mailed ballots on October 8, 2015 for the Municipal General Election to be held Tuesday, November 3, 2015.

These are mail ballot elections only, therefore, no polls will be open on Election Day except the Election Office at the Courthouse. All ballots must be received in the Election Office no later than 8:00 p.m., November 3, 2015.

If you are a registered voter and did not receive a ballot, please contact the Phillips County Election Office.

Persons who wish to register and who are not presently registered may do so by requesting a form for registration by appearing at the Phillips County Election Office located in the courthouse at 314 South 2nd Avenue West. If you have moved, please update your registration information by filling out a new voter registration card and submitting it to the Phillips County Election Office.

If you have any questions regarding this election or your voter registration status, please contact the Elections Office at 406-654-2423.

This year there are 10 candidates running for four positions.

In Malta Ward 1, incumbent Warren Abrahamson is running against challenger William Bill Hicks.

In Malta Ward 2, there are four candidates – Lisa Marie Cook, Alice Hofer, Greg Kirkwood and James S. Sintler – running for the council position which William Crowder will step down from this year.

In Dodson, Cathy Bear, Randy Dolphay and Polly Solberg are all running for the Town Council position currently held by Solberg (a position she took over when the previous councilperson stepped away.)

In Saco, Bill Haynes is the only candidate who filed and the only name which will appear on the ballot, though there are two positions to fill on the Saco Town Council.

What follows are the same four questions posed to each candidate, answered in their own words.

Malta City Ward 1

Warren Abrahamson

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Warren Abrahamson. I am married and have four children. I have lived in Phillips County for most of my life. I have been self-employed most of my life and my last job was with the Phillips Transit Authority. I have been a mechanic, both small and big engine, animal control officer, restaurant manager, a school bus and transit bus driver. I was a volunteer fireman for 10 years and have been a volunteer licensed EMT for 22 years, although I have not been able to run as an EMT the last several years due to an injury. I have also been involved with Head Start serving on the Parent Committee and the Policy Council, and 18 years with the Boy Scouts serving on the Parent Committee, as Scout Master and Assistant Scout Master. I have also served as a City Councilman for eight non­consecutive years.

What is your motivation for running for office?

I have been on the council the last 4 years and there have been many things that we have actually been able to see implemented and completed, but there are still things in the works that I would like to see through to fruition .I truly enjoy being a part of the City Council. I look forward to serving the citizens .

What issues concern you in the position you are running for?

My only concerns are that our City ordinances need to be updated and enforced, and having or finding suitable financing for some of the projects that the City would like to start and/or finish, the biggest one being the water line infrastructure and expansion of those water lines in the city limits.

What skills or attributes make you a good candidate for the position?

I have already served on the council these last 4 years and a 4 year term back in 2000-2004. I have had years of training on how to listen, communicate, and think critically with both my school bus driving years, and my years in EMS. My position on the Council has allowed me to work on and better understand the City's budget and day-to-day operations. I can keep calm in a stressful situation and I respect all people and their opinions.

William (Bill) Hicks

Tell us about yourself.

I have been here for 37 years. I am married with two adult children. I retired in January from Coca Cola. I came here from Wyoming and am originally from Butte, Mont. I also ran the Ben Franklin Store for 23 years and that is what originally brought me here.

What is your motivation for running for office?

One reason is that since I am retired I have time to give more of my time to the City of Malta. I think with my experience I could help the city in some ways.

What issues concern you in the position you are running for?

In the past I think the City has done a pretty good job with the the budgets they have had, but I do have some concerns that can be improved on. I’d like to see a better relationship between the City and County Government.

What skills or attributes make you a good candidate for the position?

One skill is my experience being a member of boards. I have been on the Phillips County Hospital Board, the school board, and of course a member and President of the Malta Chamber of Commerce. And then I was active in youth activities especially when my kids where in school. I have a lot of experience dealing with the public and I listen to both sides of an issue before I make a decision.

Malta Ward 2

Lisa Marie Cook

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Lisa Cooke. I was born and raised in Malta. I graduated from Malta High School in 1997. While in high school I worked at Hi-Line Retirement Center as a laundry/housekeeping assistant then shortly after graduating I obtained my CNA license and have worked many jobs in healthcare from homecare to hospitals. I moved to Great Falls in 2000. While I was living in Great Falls, I worked at Missouri River Manor as a CNA for 7 years. I started college at Montana State University- College of Technology wanting to expand my knowledge in healthcare. In 2007 I moved back to Malta and began taking classes at Fort Belknap College; this is where I gained my one year Health Science Certificate and my Associates of Science in Allied Health. I am currently taking care of a young man in his home and work at the Malta group home taking care of developmentally delayed clients. I am married to Pete Cooke who is the Maintenance Supervisor at Hi-Line Retirement Center. My parents have also lived in Malta most of their life and still do.

What is your motivation for running for office?

The biggest thing that motivated me to run for office is I want to be part of the team that helps make decisions that involves the community. I feel I can be of great assistance as a councilwoman. It would be an honor to serve the citizens of Malta in this way.

What issues concern you in the position you are running for?

I want to strengthen the community's good points. Let travelers and visitors know what a beautiful town Malta is. This may encourage more people to visit or even one day move here.

What skills or attributes make you a good candidate for the position?

I feel I would be a good candidate for this position because most of the jobs I have had involve helping people and working as a team. I enjoy being a problem solver. I feel I am a good listener and will mull over the topic before making any judgement calls, will also listen to both sides before deciding. And last but not least I sense I am friendly and outgoing.

Alice Hofer

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Alice Hofer and I am running for the Ward 2 position on the city council. I moved to Malta in 1987 and have been here ever since. I have loved raising my two sons in this community. I am currently self-employed as a rural mail carrier. I am a grandma to five grandchildren. Best job ever.

What is your motivation for running for office?

This is the second time I have run for this position. I am really excited about all the different things that are happening in our community. For instance, the new water project and helping keep our cost of living down in the community. I am also excited about trying to work on getting something done with the swimming pool. Our children are important and a community with a nice pool is very much a part of our children's upbringing. I would like to try to get involved with the county on trying to get our community a nice swimming pool.

What issues concern you in the position you are running for?

The issues that concern me the most with this position is the community keeping the water rates as low as possible, the swimming pool, the cooperation with the police department and keeping our community a beautiful place to live and visit.

What skills or attributes make you a good candidate for the position?

I have been a member of the planning board for almost 15 years and have worked on many issues in that time. I feel like the city council would really be something that I could contribute to in a positive manner. So I would appreciate your vote and make sure you return your ballots by November 3rd and don’t forget the stamp. Thanks ahead of time for your support.

Greg Kirkwood

Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. I joined the Air Force 1965 and my first duty station was Glasgow Air Force Base. I met Jan in 1966 and we were married on April 16, 1967 in Wolf Point. After being discharged in 1969, we moved to Wichita where I worked and attended college. We moved to Oklahoma so I could attend Central State University in Edmond for my Mortuary Science Degree. I was licensed in Oklahoma in 1976. We worked in Oklahoma and then moved to Wolf Point. In 1980 we moved to Three Forks and then to Colorado in 1983. We moved to Malta in 1994.

I have always been active in the places we have lived. I’m Past Master of the Malta Masonic Lodge and a member of the Malta Shrine Club. I’m the Charter President of the Phillips County Motor Sports (Hi-Line Drag Strip). I have always been involved with my church. I set on the Board of Directors for the Montana Coroners Association and serve as the current president.

What is your motivation for running for office?

Having served on the Delta Colorado City Council, and learning about city government I felt it was my time to serve in Malta. I was involved in a number of different projects in Colorado and some of them might work up here. It does not hurt to have some fresh thoughts and ideas on the city council.

What issues concern you in the position you are running for?

I have concerns about our local businesses and how we can help them. We need new businesses, but we need to help all of our existing businesses and not hurt their efforts to grow and expand. Also the infrastructure needs to be improved. The current council is doing well with the new water mains, but we need to evaluate what other items may need improvement in the future and how to raise the funds to accomplish them. We need to work with all the volunteer groups and organizations to help them as much as we can. In return, they can help the council and the city with different projects.

What skills or attributes make you a good candidate for the position?

I have been a business man my entire working career, either managing businesses for the owners or managing my own. Having lived in different areas of the state and country has given me a wide variety of knowledge of the workings of city governments. I have been on many commissions; police, ambulance, physician recruitment, parks, outdoor entertainment. I have also been involved in starting several non-profits; Wolf Point 100, Three Forks Jaycee’s, Headwaters Triathlon, Phillips County Motor Sports. I have also been on the Board of Directors for several Chambers of Commerce, Mountain Rivers Recovery Inc., and several others.

James S. Sintler

Tell us about yourself.

I am a life-long resident of Malta, I am married. I have three grown children. I went to a country school for eight years. I’m a Malta High School graduate. I served and retired from the Montana National Guard.

What is your motivation for running for office?

I attend many City Council meetings and find them very interesting. I would like to help solve some of the many problems Malta has if possible.

What issues concern you in the position you are running for?

I think the largest issue facing the City of Malta is this new water project and how will it affect the many seniors who are on a fixed income in Malta right now. Is it going to go up or go down? Malta is a town of lots of elderly people. If the water project raises the cost of water, then the elderly are going to have to cutback somewhere else.

What skills or attributes make you a good candidate for the position?

I worked for the City of Malta for 11 years and I attended many of their council meetings. I have seen how the City Government works and sometimes it is for the good and sometimes it’s not for the good. It’s a give and take.

Dodson (vote for 2)

Cathy Bear

Tell us about yourself.

Hi, my name is Cathy Bear, I have lived in Dodson for 20 years, I'm married and I and my husband have 5 children and two grandchildren. I'm a teacher and love working with children AND helping my community at the same time.

What is your motivation for running for office?

My motivation for running for office is making a difference in the Dodson community. I help out on clean up days to make our town look beautiful, attend every meeting, and various happenings in the Dodson community. Living in the small community we all get along, it’s like we're all family!

What issues concern you in the position you are running for?

I really don’t have any issues at this time I just want to follow our rules and guidelines that were set forth to making Dodson the best town to live in.

What skills or attributes make you a good candidate for the position?

I believe I have a lot of skills for this position, I’m up to date on all of our CBG loans, grants, water bills, the budget and various items. I have great listening skills and will answer any all concerns that the People have. I attend every meeting and listen with ease to the Town people.

Thank you so please mail those voters cards back in and mark CATHY BEAR! Thanks your vote would be much appreciated!

Randy Dolphay

Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in Dodson over the last 57 years. I graduated from Dodson High School in 1977. I’ve been married for the last 17 years to my second wife and I have three kids. I also run the elevator in Dodson.

What is your motivation for running for office?

To control spending. I want to see where the money is spent and control it.

What issues concern you in the position you are running for?

Listening to the people. I am going to listen to the voters. If you are in office and people come up and are complaining to you and complaining to you, and not do anything about it, why be in that office? I was on the Town Council for 12-years and the first initiative was the new lagoon. They said we had to raise the sewer rates so high and I told them it wasn’t true. The government will not mandate something it won’t pay for because otherwise it puts a burden on these small towns. I have seen a lot of money wasted.

What skills or attributes make you a good candidate for the position?

I have been on the City Council for 12 years and I have worked for the city. I have owned and run my own business in Dodson since 1984 and I am a third generation resident of Dodson. I have a vested interest in this town.

Pernal “Polly” Solberg

Tell us about yourself.

I have lived in Phillips County for the last 48 years, out in the country in Dodson. I moved into Dodson in 2004. I have been married for 48 years, and my husband, Edward and I, are farmers and ranchers. We have two children. Before I got married, I owned a beauty shop in Havre for two years.

What is your motivation for running for office?

I had two council members ask me to run and I finished out the term of another council member and I have been on the council for the last two years. I enjoy the position and that is why I am running for it again.

What issues concern you in the position you are running for?

I care about keeping our little town functioning and I would like to be able to help in anyway I can.

What skills or attributes make you a good candidate for the position?

I am already on the Town Council. I have the town of Dodson’s best interest at heart. I feel that I am approachable and like to think that I listen to everyone’s comments, questions and concerns. I listen to people and still have a big heart for them even if I have to tell them “no” on an issue. It’s tough to tell people no, but sometimes, because of a ordinance, you have to. I have also been on the Malta Food Bank Board for the last two years and on the Phillips County Library Board since 2007.

Saco (Vote for 2)

Bill Haynes – as of noon on Tuesday, candidates responses has not been sent to the PCN. We will run Mr. Haynes’ responses next week if made available.

Seat two is vacant.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Election results will be posted in the November 11 edition of the PCN as the votes will not be tabulated until after the paper is printed on November 2.