Central Montana Times

Great Falls residents are being invited to actively participate in local governance by running for elected office in the 2025 Municipal Election. Filing for candidacy opens April 17, 2025, and will continue until June 16, 2025. Aspiring candidates can submit their Declaration for Nomination and Oath of Candidacy forms at the Cascade County Election Office.

The upcoming election, scheduled as a mail ballot event in November 2025, includes contests for various local positions. These include the election of one Mayor for a two-year term, two City Commissioners for four-year terms, forty-five Neighborhood Council representatives—five from each of the nine districts for two-year terms, and one Municipal Court Judge for Department B serving a four-year term. Officials elected in this cycle are to assume their roles in January 2026.

As per the Montana Constitution and state law, candidates must be residents of Great Falls and registered voters. City Commissioner candidates should reside in Great Falls for at least 60 days prior to the election. Mayoral candidates need to be a minimum of 21 years old, with at least three years residency in Montana and two years in Great Falls preceding the election. Neighborhood Council nominees should live in their designated district.

Candidates for Municipal Court Judge need to meet similar qualifications as district court judges with some variations. These include being a resident and voter in Great Falls at the time of election, having lived in Cascade County for a year before the election, and possessing three years' legal practice in Montana prior to the election. They also must obtain certification as outlined in Mont. Code Ann. §§ 3-1-1502 and 3-1-1503.

Filing fees vary by position: Mayoral candidates will pay $56.16, City Commissioner candidates $37.44, Neighborhood Council representatives have no fee, while the Municipal Court Judge Department B incumbent will pay $1,278.50, with challengers paying $1,198.60.

A primary election might be considered by the Cascade County Election Administrator if deemed necessary, scheduled for September 9, 2025. The general election date is set for November 4, 2025.

The City's legislative framework operates under a Commission-Manager government form. The City Commission functions as the legislative and policy-making authority, while the City Manager oversees the city's operational activities. Commission meetings occur twice monthly on the first and third Tuesday.

The Local Government Study Commission of 1996 led to the inception of Neighborhood Councils in Great Falls, aimed at enhancing public participation in city governance. Since approval at the ballot, these councils have served as advisory bodies and communication bridges to city officials, meeting monthly.

A voter-approved Charter amendment in 2022 resulted in the selection of a second Municipal Court Judge in 2023, establishing the Municipal Court Department B with a four-year term.

Further information about the 2025 Municipal Election is accessible on the City's official website, or by contacting the Cascade County Election Office, City Clerk Lisa Kunz, or Neighborhood Council Liaison Rob Moccasin for inquiries.