Huls, Trautwein File for Ravalli County Election

On the first official day of candidate filing for the 2020 general elections, two Ravalli County candidates started the day filing their paperwork at the Clerk and Recorders office. Dan Huls filed for County Commission and Paige Trautwein filed for re-election to Clerk of District Court. Huls is running for the District 2 seat currently held by Chris Hoffman. Hoffman, in a news release, announced that he will not seek a third term at the end of the year. Hoffman, a former Ravalli County Sheriff, said he is going "to begin the next chapter" in his career after serving two 2-year terms on the commission, with this year as chairman of the three-member panel. Huls, owner of Huls Dairy, is a fourth-generation native and has served on various boards including Teller Wildlife Refuge, Ravalli County Planning Board, the Ravalli County Right to Farm and Ranch Board and other statewide agriculture committees. Trautwein is completing her first term as Clerk of District Court.

Besides those two Ravalli County positions, there will be a race for the State Senate seat held by Fred Thomas, who has "termed out." All four Montana House of Representative seats from Ravalli County are on this year's election ballots. And District Court Judge Department 2, currently held by Jennifer Lint, is included. The filing deadline is March 9th, with the primary election scheduled for June 2.