Primary ballot taking shape

SANDPOINT — The field of candidates for Bonner County assessor is a crowded one.

Five people are in the running to succeed Assessor Jerry Clemons, according to candidacy declaration forms filed with the Bonner County Clerk’s elections bureau.

There’s a three-way contest for the Republican nomination for the position between Dennis Engelhardt, Donna Gow and Richard Miller.

The winner of the GOP nomination in the May 15 primary will go on to face Wendel Bergman, who’s running without party affiliation, and Shirley Kolm, a Sagle Democrat, in the Nov. 6 general election.

The race for the District 1 seat on the county commission also has multiple contestants. Incumbent Republican commission Chairman Glen Bailey is seeking re-election, but will have to fend off GOP challenges from Steven Bradshaw and Gary Hollett. The primary victor will advance to the general election, where he will face Patricia Wentworth, also a Democrat from Sagle.

Carol Kunzeman, meanwhile, is challenging incumbent Republican District 3 Commissioner Dan McDonald for the GOP nod. The winner of the primary will advance to face Sandpoint Democrat Steve Lockwood.

Incumbent Coroner Robert Beers, Treasurer Cheryl Piehl and Clerk Mike Rosedale, are currently shoo-ins for GOP nominations.

The deadline for candidates to declare their intentions was March 9, although write-in candidates have until March 31 to declare, according to the Idaho Secretary of State’s elections calendar.

The last day to pre-register to vote is April 20, although voters can still register at the polls on Election Day.

Voters in Bonner County can cast their ballots ahead of the primary can do so between April 23 and May 11 at the elections office on the ground floor of the Bonner County Administration Building.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.