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SENATE DISTRICT 1 – REPUBLICAN
Steve Gunderson: I’m known by many all across Lincoln County. 68 years young, I have lived, worked and played in Libby since 1969, graduating from LHS in 1975. Cherie, Love of My Life of 47 years and I were married in 1979. We are blessed with two Sons; Dustin and Jason, as well as two of the most wonderful grandkids.
I’m a proud veteran of the Army National Guard attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant as a Combat Engineer. As a senior NCO I held leadership and training positions. I worked in the oilfields of ND for a number of years until we returned to Libby to start and manage a new family business in the early 80’s. We employed a large number of locals over the 35 years we were in business.
Our family was active in school sports and Scouting program, producing 2 Eagle Scouts. Cherie is retired and volunteers as a board member/treasurer for the Church of God and we both volunteer with LOVE Inc.
We both value, respect and observe the 2nd Amendment. My parents raised me to respect God, Country, Flag and my fellow man. I represented South Lincoln County in the Montana House for from 2017 to 2023 following my Christian and conservative values. I have a battle-tested and verifiable conservative record always making choices benefiting Lincoln County.
I continue working tirelessly and diligently behind the scenes to return our historic natural resource extraction heritage projects, jobs, and the family wages they bring. I’m proud of my past legislative leadership positions, chairman of House Natural Resources and the Environmental Quality Council. I am proud to have created, chaired, and guided Libby Asbestos Superfund Oversight Committee. I am a constant natural resource extraction economy advocate. We need to return historic timber and mining jobs to Lincoln County!
Vincent Backen:
Captain Vincent George Backen, 64, is an active-duty Master Mariner and Unlimited Tonnage Pilot in the U.S. Merchant Marine. A fifth-generation Montanan with deep roots in Lincoln County, he comes from a family that settled in Montana after the Civil War. His ancestors homesteaded and ranched in the region, including property on Upper Bobtail Creek that remains in the Backen family today.
Vincent is the son of Dale Backen of Whitefish and Virginia Dorio, a first-generation American of Sicilian heritage. After his father’s death when Vincent was five, his widowed mother raised three children under difficult circumstances. Time spent on the family property in Lincoln County remained a lasting connection to his Montana roots.
At 14, Vincent began working in the Bering Sea as a fisherman in a family enterprise, learning discipline and seamanship at an early age. He later served as a U.S. Marine Corps infantry rifleman (0311) before pursuing a lifelong maritime career. He is now in his 50th year at sea and has served in positions ranging from deckhand to captain.
In 2002, Vincent purchased the M/V White Holly, converting it into a research and training vessel that operated for 14 years, supporting in-situ ocean research and Merchant Mariner training. In 2014, he sold maritime assets and invested in downtown Libby properties, developing an affordable gym, boxing and wrestling club, bookstore, hostel, art gallery, event center, and refurbished restaurant.
Throughout his career, Vincent has worked under Title 46 (navigation and shipping) and Title 33 (U.S. Code on navigation), providing experience with both private maritime operations and federal regulatory frameworks.
Vincent is a father of four and grandfather of seven. He attends St. Joseph Parish in Libby and is currently serving on Libby’s Government Study Commission, which is reviewing local governmental structure and recommending potential improvements to voters.
Neil Duram: No Biography Submitted
SENATE DISTRICT 1 – DEMOCRATIC
Jonathan Russell Jameson: Hello reader, I hope you are doing well. Like most, my path hasn’t been easy. My family has been farmers from generation to generation until my grandpa George (Jim) Jameson became a drywaller. He was followed by my father Ralph who was also a drywaller and the first to graduate from High School (LHS-81). I am the second to graduate High School, but I did not stop there, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Geology from Central Washington University. While in school I worked in a restaurant as a busser, host, waiter, and day bartender to pay for school.
After I received my degree, I went straight into the oil field and worked as an onsite geologist. In 17 years of oil field work I have leveraged my skill set to work from home doing remote geosteering. This wasn’t by accident or given to me, I had to make a lot of hard decisions and stand up for myself and my abilities. One thing that propelled me was my goal to be the best at what I do and to care about the work I do.
After my son was born I moved my family to Lincoln County in 2017 because I always saw this as the best place on earth and I wanted to follow in my grandparents’ footsteps. As my family started assimilating into the community, we started seeing the cracks in the system and we have been doing everything we can to make a difference within the community.
I am spiritual and I accept Jesus in my heart; we attend United Methodist Church on Sunday mornings.
I’m running in this race to bring the ideas we all have to the table and create action to get things accomplished by working together.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 1 – REPUBLICAN
Michelle Bianco: President of the Republican Women’s Club for Lincoln County and the District 1 Director for the MT Federation of Republican Women. Michelle has been a proven fighter for Lincoln County. She started the group Citizens for Protecting Lincoln County and started raising awareness about fire danger, homeowners’ insurance, and property taxes. Michelle and Tom have been married 34 years with two children. She is an educator and small business owner. Her husband is an Army Veteran. Together, they raise horses in Fortine. Michelle comes from a ranching family with historic roots in Montana. Her mother was a tough as nails horseshoer, and they raised cattle and hay. Her great-grandfather wrote a book featured in the Montana Heritage Center about the family’s early life in Butte and their role in the early days of mining.
“Lincoln County is the last best place on Earth, and I will fight to make sure Lincoln County is heard. Bureaucrats and environmental extremists have taken away our jobs, threatened our homes, and cost the taxpayers millions of dollars. I’ll bring common sense to Helena, fight for policies that put Lincoln County first, fight for a fair court system that listens to the residents of Lincoln County, and not just out-of-state lawyers. There is a battle happening here in Lincoln County, and I plan on defending our way of life. I’m running to bring back mining, revive logging, and stop the property tax hikes that are crushing rural Montana families. As your candidate, I back the blue each and every day and will work to secure our Northern border and to stop drugs, gangs, and crime from flooding into Lincoln County. We need a proven fighter with results, and we need action now. That’s why I’m running.”
STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 1 – DEMOCRATIC
Roberta McCanse: 
Have you heard of Roberta? That’s me, Roberta McCanse, “Bobbi” to most. Over thirty years of nursing practice have provided an intimate relationship with our sick health care system. I believe that health care is a right and care should not be doled out according ability to pay. I have wept at the inequities that lead to delayed or nonexistent care. My experiences with the VA system have lead to vigorous support for our veterans, especially those who came back from Viet Nam disrespected and neglected. We need an affordable, compassionate, health care system for everyone.
I believe in the dignity of labor. I have worked hard for what I have. I have made choices about my education and my life style, often sacrificing ease for the pursuit of knowledge, and more immediate reward for the satisfaction of accomplishments that have made it possible for me to live a life of meaningful service. That said I also believe that there is no such thing as a level playing field. Sometimes the intensity of need simply overwhelms the Iron Rule, “Never do for someone what they can do for themselves.” While opportunity and hardship vary for each of us we all make life directing decisions as our lives progress.
Because I believe in family I have spent many years building a place where my children, grandchildren, and those who come after, can live sustainably as our environment, social and physical, changes. I believe that the future of us all is tightly bound to our willingness to preserve our natural surroundings. For this reason I am an active member of the Libby Planning and Zoning Boards and the Lincoln County Planning Board.
So if you haven’t heard of Roberta you soon will.
Dakota V Adams: No Biography Submitted
STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 2 – REPUBLICAN
Tom Millett: Raised in the wide-open desert north of Tucson, Arizona, I graduated from high school at just 17 before answering the call to serve my country. I joined the United States Navy, completing eight years of active duty and two years in the reserves. During my service, I graduated from Electrician’s School and the prestigious Naval Nuclear Power School, preparing for high-responsibility assignments in the Navy’s nuclear fleet.
I served as a commissioning crew member aboard two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). I am a combat veteran of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, having served with honor during the 1990–1991 Gulf War. I received an honorable discharge in 1991 and remain a life member of both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Following my military career, I built more than three decades of experience in the civilian nuclear and fossil power generation industries, as well as in telecommunications. My work has spanned operations, consulting, and technical leadership roles, earning me a reputation for expertise and reliability in complex, high-stakes environments.
Fourteen years ago, I left Las Vegas in search of a different way of life and found it in Montana. Drawn by the culture of freedom, rugged independence, breathtaking landscapes, and welcoming communities, I settled in Marion. There, on four acres of land, my wife and I built our home and the life we had envisioned.
Today, I continue to serve as an independent consultant to the power generation and telecommunications industries combining decades of hands-on experience, disciplined leadership, and a lifelong commitment to service.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 2 – DEMOCRATIC
Jane Maahs: No Biography Submitted
COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1 – REPUBLICAN
Brent Teske: No Biography Submitted
Stuart Crismore: I am a lifelong resident of Lincoln county. I grew up out by Happy’s Inn and attended my first three years of school at a one room schoolhouse there. After moving to town I completed my education in Libby and graduated from LSHS in 1975. I later took night classes at FVCC Libby branch and studied history and business administration.
I’m a member of Libby Christian Church and have been since the church was founded. I’m married and have four children eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
I’m a lifelong conservative and have been involved in politics in one way or the other for many years, (I received admonishment for carrying a Goldwater poster to close to a polling location). In high school I served as Lincoln County youth chairman for Dick Shoop and later served as Marc Racicot’s county chair. I also served on the Libby planning board and one term on the city council.
I’ve been involved in numerous clubs and organizations including the Jaycee’s, Masons, Log Jamb, Montana Logging Association and Hoo Hoo international. I currently serve as President of the Sally Sauer Heart Fund and Chairman of the Board of Fisher River Valley Fire Service Area.
I’ve spent my entire career working in the private sector. I started working in the woods beside my Dad when I was in Jr high school, besides logging I’ve built and maintained roads throughout Lincoln County. I was an Accredited Logging Professional and also a member of the American Petroleum Institute.
I believe that Lincoln Counties people and natural resources are our greatest assets.
It would be my great honor and privilege to serve the people of Lincoln County .
Jeff Koskela: I am running for Lincoln County Commissioner District 1
I am 60 years old. I was born and raised here in Libby. I attended Libby public school and graduated Libby Sr HS in 1984 as an honor roll student. I joined the Air Force when I was a Jr on a delayed enlistment program. After basic training I was stationed at Pease AFB in Portsmouth NH.
After leaving the Air Force I returned home to Libby where I worked many jobs days, nights, and weekends to save money to attend Helena Vo Tech for diesel mechanics. In Helena I also worked nights and weekends. I worked summers at Granite Concrete in Libby and back to Granite Concrete after graduating.
I started Kootenai Truck Repair in August 1988 working nights and weekends while working full time at Granite Concrete. With my business getting busier I was able to open Kootenai Truck Repair full time. We’ve been at our current location for 23 years.
In August 1988 1 married my wife Lisa from Hampton Beach, NH. We raised 2 boys in Libby, Spencer (Larissa, 2 grandchildren Alorah and Tucker) of Kalispell and Jeremy (Kassidy, granddaughter Hallie) of Libby. I was a certified baseball coach and coached the boys T-Ball thru Babe Ruth. I was president of Babe Ruth. Also supported the boys in their Libby Logger sports.
In my spare time I am currently a volunteer St of Montana Livestock Inspector. I am a student pilot with over 30 hours of flight time.
I enjoy hunting archery and rifle. Chasing mountain lion with my hounds, snowmobiling extreme terrain, riding horses, fishing, hiking and the great outdoors.
I am a very hard worker, honest and a good listener.
I would be honored to serving the great people of Lincoln County.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1 – DEMOCRATIC
COUNTY CLERK AND RECORDER – REPUBLICAN
Travis Sigea: Hello Lincoln County, my name is Travis Sigea, and I am running for your next County Clerk and Recorder. Since moving to Libby in 2016, I have been a dedicated resident with a desire to serve my community in some way. And now, with the support of my wife and two sons, I am ready to take on the challenges ahead. My professional drive comes from an education in Human Resources and Organizational Leadership. This academic background has provided me with a deep understanding of efficient administration, personnel management, and the structural dynamics of effective organizations. I aim to utilize these leadership principles to ensure the Clerk and Recorder’s office operates with maximum efficiency and clarity for all citizens. Along with my educational background, I also bring experience in both private security and law enforcement. These roles reinforced my commitment to public service and the importance of maintaining accurate, secure records. I am driven to rebuild trust in local leadership by fostering transparency and professional excellence in the department. Ultimately, my goal is to provide the citizens of Lincoln County with a Clerk and Recorder’s office defined by honesty, integrity, transparency, and steady, reliable leadership. I am committed to ensuring that every interaction is handled with the professionalism and accountability our community deserves.
Crystal Denton: No Biography Submitted
COUNTY CLERK AND RECORDER – DEMOCRATIC
COUNTY SHERIFF – REPUBLICAN
Darren Short: I am a lifelong Lincoln County resident and have called this community home since 1971. I graduated from Libby Senior High School in 1984 and began my public service career as a volunteer EMT with Libby Volunteer Ambulance, where I served for 10 years. I also volunteered with the David Thompson Search and Rescue team, working on the mountain, boat, and dive units.
My law enforcement career began in 1997 with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Deputy Program. In 1998, I joined the Libby Police Department, and in 2001 I became the Troy Resident Deputy for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. During my service, I worked as a narcotics detective. In 2006, I served in Afghanistan as a police advisor under a U.S. Department of State contract. I returned to Libby in 2011 and continued my service with the Libby Police Department, where I rose to the rank of Sergeant.
I was elected Lincoln County Sheriff in 2018 and have served through significant local challenges, including severe flooding, infrastructure damage, and ongoing staffing and resource demands. My approach to leadership emphasizes service, accountability, professionalism, and community engagement.
With more than seventy percent of Lincoln County consisting of National Forest and a limited sworn staff, I have focused on maintaining working relationships with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as volunteer fire departments, ambulance services, and search and rescue teams. I also serve on the board of the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association and participate in the Western States Sheriffs’ Association.
Cody Ercanbrack: I have been a lifelong public servant with extensive experience in law enforcement leadership, training, and community safety. I grew up in Libby and graduated from Libby High School. I attended college at BYU–Idaho before serving as a missionary in Uruguay, where I became fluent in Spanish and developed a strong appreciation for service and accountability. Upon returning, I pursued studies in criminal justice and sociology. I began my law enforcement career as a Reserve Deputy with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
I was later hired by the Idaho State Police, where I worked patrol and specialized assignments, including Domestic Highway Enforcement targeting drug trafficking statewide. During my time with ISP I trained and mentored new Troopers, served as a Field Training Officer, coordinated pre-academy training programs, and provided instruction to schools, college students, and law enforcement agencies. I also assisted agencies across the state with Spanish translation during critical incidents and investigations.
I was promoted to the Idaho State Police Training Section, where I oversaw the State Police Academy and supervised statewide firearms, defensive tactics, Taser, fitness, wellness, and in-service training programs for nearly 300 troopers. In this role, I managed curriculum development, instructor certification, policy updates, equipment procurement, and recruit supervision, while also developing a comprehensive wellness program focused on physical and mental resilience.
Currently serving as Chief of Police in Libby, I have modernized department operations through policy reform, officer wellness initiatives, professional training standards, fleet and equipment management, and successful grant funding totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. I have worked closely with schools, medical facilities, nonprofits, and community partners to improve emergency preparedness, school safety, and public trust.
I bring proven leadership, fiscal responsibility, and a commitment to community-focused policing—rooted in experience, accountability and service.
Marty Dunbar: My name Marty Dunbar I have lived in Libby 42 years with my wife Cheri, we raised 2 sons and had a revolving door of kids who lived with us as our kids were growing up.
COUNTY SHERIFF – LIBERTARIAN
Ian Smith: I’m Ian Smith and I am running for Sheriff of Lincoln County. I have lived in Libby for the last seven years, 10 years in Sandpoint prior. I am currently serving as a full-time police officer.
I believe the most noble thing a man can do is give back to his community and his country. That is why I have been involved in some form of community service since the age of 16. From volunteer firefighter and EMT, to soldier, police officer, detention officer, and Libby City Council member, I have given my entire adult life to sacrifice and service.
I am a combat veteran who served in the United States Army for six years. In 2007, I deployed to Iraq as a machine gunner, completing over 250 combat missions, in addition to serving as fire team leader, recon scout, and member of high profile security details.
In my free time I enjoy shooting, hunting, fishing, and camping with my wife Corinne and my dog Ivy. I also co-host a small YouTube channel where I teach different outdoor skills such as survival, shooting, first aid, and gear reviews.
COUNTY CORONER – REPUBLICAN
Craig Riddle: Hello, my name is Roger Craig Riddle, though I am known in the community as Craig.
I am a devout Christian and proud father to some great kids. My professional background is rooted in service and care for others. I began my career in the U.S. Army as a medic and enlisted nurse. While on active duty from 2007 to 2010, I earned Intensive Care Certification through the Medical College of Georgia’s Anesthesiology Program, along with Hyperbaric, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Basic Life Support Instructor certifications, in addition to extensive field medicine training. I later served four more years in the Army Reserves as senior medic for an engineering company in West Virginia.
During and after my military service, I worked as a nurse in maximum-security correctional facilities and state youth penitentiary. After moving to Libby in 2013, I completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Homeland Security while continuing to serve the community as a nurse.
In 2021, I transitioned into the funeral service profession, becoming crematory manager at Schnackenberg Funeral Home and attending mortuary school. I became a licensed funeral director and mortician in Montana in 2024, advanced to co-manager in 2025, and in January 2026 became a co-owner of Schnackenberg and Riddle Funeral Home.
While working at the funeral home in 2022, I also began serving as a Deputy County Coroner, completing Basic training at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy in Helena. On December 19, 2024, I was sworn in by Judge Cuffe as the appointed County Coroner following the retirement of Steve Schnackenberg, a role I continue to serve.
COUNTY CORONER – DEMOCRATIC
COUNTY ATTORNEY – REPUBLICAN
Marcia Boris: No Biography Submitted
COUNTY ATTORNEY – DEMOCRATIC
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR – REPUBLICAN
Rocke Gifford: No Biography Submitted
Amanda Eckart: For the past eight years, Lincoln County has been my proud home. My family and I enjoy the great outdoors and are grateful to be part of a community we truly love.
Serving as a Deputy Clerk for four and a half years has provided me with extensive knowledge of county operations and court procedures. Additionally, my three years as Public Administrator have strengthened my understanding of Montana law relating to probate and estate administration.
Dedication, integrity, and attention to detail guide my work each day. I am committed to ensuring that estates requiring the involvement of the Office of Public Administrator are handled accurately, efficiently, and in full compliance with probate procedures and Montana law. Serving the residents of Lincoln County with professionalism, accountability, and care is both an honor and a responsibility I take seriously.
I am proud to continue serving this community and remain focused on upholding the trust placed in me as Public Administrator.
LINCOLN COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS – REPUBLICAN
Suzy Rios: No Biography Submitted
COUNTY TREASURER – REPUBLICAN
Sedaris Carlberg: No Biography Submitted
COUNTY TREASURER – DEMOCRATIC
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE – NONPARTISAN
Jay Sheffield: No Biography Submitted
LINCOLN CONSERVATION DISTRICT SUPERVISOR
Tony Wickham: No Biography Submitted
REPUBLICAN PRECINCT COMMITTEEMAN
PRECINCT 1 – Gregg Johnson: No Biography Submitted
PRECINCT 2 – Matthew Charlton: No Biography Submitted
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PRECINCT 4 – Neil Duram: No Biography Submitted
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PRECINCT 7 – Mark Cratty: No Biography Submitted
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REPUBLICAN PRECINCT COMMITTEEWOMAN
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PRECINCT 8 – Rhoda Cargill: No Biography Submitted
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PRECINCT 10 – Christie Silva: No Biography Submitted
PRECINCT 11 – Kathryn France: Multnomah County Oregon precinct committee woman 1974-1976. Resident of Lincoln County for 22 years. Volunteer at Love Inc South Lincoln County 2022 to present. Previous Lincoln County election judge.
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PRECINCT 16 – Lani Glasscock: No Biography Submitted
