The question of whether or not there will be a primary in Ward Two of the Missoula City Council election is creating confusion that the county elections office will take before the city council to work out.

Elections Administrator Rebecca Connors said several government agencies are consulting with her office to help decide whether or not a primary should be held for one of six city council races.

"We're working with the city attorney, the county attorney's office and the Montana Secretary of State's office for help in interpreting this law," Connors said. "In October 2013, Senate Bill 122 changed several facets of the statute which changed it from 'election' which would have been an overarching, where all wards would have had a relationship with each other, to 'ballot.' We consider a 'ballot' to be what's actually in front of the voter, so it's only the races that the voter is looking at. So, what we're trying to figure out if we treat Ward Two as its own individual primary, or do we look at all the wards having a relationship with each other."

Initially, KGVO News was told that only Ward Two would need a primary because it was the only ward with more than three candidates, and the other races would go directly on the general election ballot. The four individuals running for the seat in Ward Two are Anita Green, Harlan Wells, Jack Rowan and Aylinn Inmon.

Connors said the language of the statute might help save the city money by not having to hold a primary election for just one ward, which would be held on September 15.

"We would probably look at a (primary) election around six or seven thousand dollars," she said. "there are about 5,800 voters who would actually receive ballots in the mail for an all mail-in ballot."

Connors said she would present the issues to the entire city council at the next meeting on Monday, July 13.

"We're going to present all our legal findings to them and I've asked the Secretary of State's office to weigh in with their opinion. Only time will tell. Next Monday we'll have an answer on how we're going to move forward."

The general election will be held on November 3

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