Candidates file for mayor and council seats in county

With just one week before the deadline for candidates to file for mayor and council seats in Malta, Saco and Dodson, there was a lack of competition for some positions and, in a few cases, no candidates at all.

When the 5 p.m. deadline to file hit last Monday, the lack of candidate problem was alleviated and a total of 17 candidates are running competing in seven races including five in Malta’s mayoral race and two for the spot of Mayor in Saco. What follows are the races, the candidates and brief statements on why they are running for office.

Malta Mayoral Race

Malta Mayor Shyla Jones announced that she was not going to run for re-election earlier this year after nearly eight years on the position. To fill her vacancy, a total of five candidates filed for Malta Mayor and they are (alphabetically); Kathleen Bohn-Bagley, John Demarais, Edward A. Haver IV, Chris Judd and Gary Knudsen.

Kathleen Bohn-Bagley

Bohn-Bagley, owner and proprietor of Bohn’s Bones Arts and Executive Director of Art Spot, said she was approached by several people in the community and asked to run for the mayor position and, what they thought of her as a candidate, she decided to throw her name in the hat.

“But the main reason I am running is because it ties in with all the other concerns and visions that I have for the community’s future,” she said. “I approached it initially from an art standpoint, but once I got involved and started talking about the story we can tell about our community, and being involved with the Rancher’s Stewardship Alliance and hearing their concerns about community and the future of the county, I really felt like this is just the next step to say ‘what else can I do as a community member to work with everybody as a team member to get changes made that they want or problems addressed that they feel haven’t received enough notice. It’s just a natural extension of everything else I have been doing.”

John Demarais

Demarais has been in attendance at the last few Malta City Council meetings and was the first of the five candidates to file for the mayor position. Demarais retired from Malta City Works Department after 30 years (his last years as director) and told the PCN he feels he has the experience for the position and wants to represent all the members of Malta.

“The reason I am running for Mayor is to make sure any and all decisions are fair and equitable to all the citizens of Malta,” he said. “I want to help Malta grow any way possible. I feel the experience I have gained while working for the City of Malta for 30 years will help in any decisions that have to be made."

Edward A. Haver IV

The Phillips County News was unable to make contact with Haver IV.

Chris Judd

Chris Judd moved to Malta with his family six years ago, a decision that he is happy they made.

“Our family chose to move to Malta toward the end of 2011 and we have yet to regret our decision,” he said. “We love the small town feel and we love the school system but most importantly, we love the people of Malta who exhibit strong family values and teach their children the importance of hard work and service to others.”

Judd said that during his professional career, he has acted as the mouthpiece for other employees and has been successful in implementing positive change by negotiating policies and contracts to improve the workplace.

“I am a firm believer that everyone's voices should be heard,” Judd said. “With this experience, I will do everything in my power to maintain an environment where all of our children can grow up safely, feel good about themselves and enjoy an excellent education. By doing so, we will ensure our youth have every opportunity to be productive members of society by learning to provide for their families and serve others. This is one of many reasons I have chosen to run for Mayor of Malta.”

Gary Knudsen

Knudsen, owner of Knudsen Appraisal Services, said he wants to serve the people of Malta and see that the city continues to move forward.

“We do have some things we need to work on, but I think we have a pretty good team in place to work on things with to get them solved,” he said. “Nothing is going to be easy, but then you are looking at a lot of the people that have lived in Malta for a long time and it would be nice to get comments, ideas and opinions from them and all the people in Malta and get the city being better.”

Knudsen said he is excited to see younger families moving back to Malta and the school’s enrollments rising and added that he is also excited to have the chance at being mayor.

“I would just like to help with the board and everybody else and help improve Malta,” he said.

Malta Ward 9-1 – Council Member

In the City of Malta’s Ward 9-1, Councilman David Rummel is running for re-election and is seeking his third term on the council. Running against Rummel is Tim Hasler, former City of Malta employee who retired from his position last year after many years driving a City garbage truck.

David Rummel

Rummel has sat on the Malta City Council for the past seven years and told the PCN he is running for re-election for several reasons.

“I filed for re-election because I care deeply about my hometown of Malta and it's residents,” he said. “I like being involved in making sure Malta continues to be a great town to raise a family and retire in. It is an honor and privilege to have served Malta as your councilman. I hope voters will support me so I can continue working for the people of Malta.”

Tim Hasler

Hasler said that over the years of driving a garbage truck for the City of Malta, he got to know many people and hear the numerous problems they face as citizens. He said since he is retired, he has time to dedicate to those people.

“If I could help people out I would like to,” he said. “Over the years, through the many years and different jobs, I would hear different things and there was nothing I could do. I feel like now that I am retired, I can help and that is what I want to do.”

Malta Ward 9-2 – Council Member

In the City of Malta’s Ward 9-2, Councilwoman Bonnie Wiederrick is seeking her third term on the council. Running against Bill Rock.

Bonnie Wiederrick

Wiederrick told the PCN she has been honored to serve the people of Malta for the last two terms and would like the opportunity to see the current projects underway in the city to completion.

"It has been a privilege to serve the people of Malta for the past 7-plus years," she said. "With the election of a new mayor, and two council members with less than a term behind them, I believe the experience I have gained during my time in office is going to be beneficial in this transition. We have some very extensive projects ongoing and since I was a part of the decision making that affected the citizens of Malta, I would like to see them to completion. Malta is a neat little town, and I want to continue being part of the accomplishments and challenges we yet have to face."

Bill Rock

Rock told the PCN he is coming to an end with the Malta City Fire Department and is looking for a new way to serve the people of Malta.

“My reason for running is that I am retiring from the Fire Department and am looking for another way to serve the community,” Rock said. “I figured since there are multiple candidates in others races that I would give the voters more than one choice in District 9-2 as well.”

Dodson

In Dodson, incumbent Mayor Terri Cole is running, unopposed, for re-election and incumbent Councilman Caleb Best is also running for re-election, unopposed. On the Dodson City Council this year, there are two open spots (Best running for one) and Jessica Fetter, who took over the council position vacated by Deserae KillEagle when she went on sabbatical at the University of Montana, is running for the other. Fetter filled in the seat vacated by KillEagle. Like Best, Fetter is running unopposed (the two candidates to receive the most votes win and there are only two candidates.)

Dodson Mayor

Terri Cole

Cole is in the final year of her first term as Dodson Mayor and is seeking re-election. She said she has lived in Dodson since 1966 and though the town’s population has shrank, the people who continue to live there are proud to do so.

“We have an excellent crew, our council is good and we have Rob Bear as our town handyman and there is nothing he can’t fix…he is like a gift from God,” she said. “The town is looking good and heading down the right direction and I want to continue to see it down that path.”

Dodson Town Council

Caleb Best

Best is seeking re-election o

I am running for re-election because I enjoy helping out my community," Best said. "This is where we are raising our children and I want to set the example for them that if you want to live in a great community you have to get involved, learn about your town and contribute in any way that you can.

Jessica Fetter

Fetter filled an empty spot on the council and said she would like to continue with the job.

"I am running for office because I want to continue being involved with my community," she said.

Saco Mayor

The Town of Saco mayoral race, incumbent Clint Simpson is seeking re-election against challenger LA (Mac) McIntosh.

Clint Simpson

Simpson told the PCN he is running for re-election in order to continue what has already been accomplished in town.

“I believe we have the town going in the right direction and I’d like to continue to see it go that way,” Simpson said.

LA (Mac) McIntosh

McIntosh will start teaching his second year of shop at Saco Schools next year and said he filed for election at a time when no one else had signed up for Saco’s mayor’s position.

“I just didn’t want to see Malta having control over our city,” he said. “I thought I would run if no one else is going to but as soon as my name got in there, the flies started getting stirred up. I have several friends here in town who wanted me to run anyway, but I am not a politician.”

Saco Town Council

The Saco Town Council has two open seats and three candidates (Roberta Christopherson, Craig G. Robinson and Wayne C. Stahl.) The two candidates who receive the most votes will be elected to the Town Council.

Roberta Christopherson

Christopherson told the PCN she was “hoodwinked” into running for the spot after having countless people approach her about running the spot.

“I prayed and prayed and the Lord didn’t give me a way out,” she joked. “I figured someone has to do it, so here I am.”

Craig G. Robinson

Robinson was contacted by the PCN, but no reply was given.

Wayne C. Stahl

Stahl told the PCN that he is looking to get the Town of Saco back on track.

"I hope to help the town of Saco overcome its financial problems,” said Stahl. “Having had lots of government experience, I think I can help get the town back on track.”

Editor's Note: Shortly before going to press, the PCN has learned that Robinson has withdrawn from the race.