Lewis and Clark County filings open Feb. 17; sheriff files first

Sheriff‑Coroner Leo Dutton, who has served in the office for 17 years, filed to run for reelection just after the Lewis and Clark County elections office opened at 8 a.m. on Feb. 17 at the City‑County Building. Dutton said, "It felt great, it is something I look forward to," and added, "This is my fifth time to be able to stand in front of the door and be the first one."

As of Tuesday afternoon, filings with the county elections office showed two candidates for sheriff and three candidates for the District 2 county commission seat. Lewis and Clark County Deputy Chris Norris has announced a bid for sheriff, and county filing records posted by the elections office reflected two names in that race by midafternoon.

Three people filed early for the District 2 commission seat: incumbent Tom Rolfe, Undersheriff Brent Colbert, and Jakob Miles of Lewis and Clark Public Health. Rolfe, who was first elected in 2020 and whose seat carries a six‑year term, urged voter participation, saying, "Our system of government works best when the most people vote, when everybody votes."

Other incumbents who filed Tuesday included current County Attorney Kevin Downs and Clerk and Recorder/Treasurer Amy Reeves. Justice of the Peace Michael Swingley also filed for office. Independent Record photos from the City‑County Building show Undersheriff Brent Colbert, County Attorney Kevin Downs, Sheriff Leo Dutton, Justice of the Peace Michael Swingley and Clerk and Recorder/Treasurer Amy Reeves waiting for filing receipts inside the county elections office, with Connor Fitzpatrick identified in photos as the county elections supervisor on duty Feb. 17.

KTVH’s list of county offices appearing on the ballot this year included county commissioner for District 2, sheriff, county attorney, treasurer clerk and recorder, superintendent of public schools, and justice of the peace. The supplied reporting did not include a named candidate for superintendent of public schools in Lewis and Clark County as of the Feb. 17 filings excerpt.

Photographs and filing counts were recorded in the county elections office in the City‑County Building on Feb. 17, and the filings noted above reflect the status "as of Tuesday afternoon." Some items in the assembled reporting described announcements rather than a filing receipt for every challenger; county records and elections staff at the City‑County Building are the official source for updated candidate lists and filing confirmations.