Marottek, Bleicher Win In County Elections

Douglas Marottek and Thomas Bleicher were among the winners in Roosevelt County elections held on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Marottek of Poplar won the race for county commissioner in district 2 with 726 votes. Dean Mahlum of Wolf Point finished with 378 votes. Marottek will replace long-time commissioner Gary Macdonald, who did not to seek re-election.

Bleicher, the current deputy county attorney, was the winner in the county attorney race with 1,884 votes. Ralph “Jim” Patch, a retired former county attorney, was close behind with 1,647 votes.

Benjamin Fosland won the election to be the new district judge for district 15, department 1. Fosland received 54 percent of the votes compared to Janet Christoffersen’s 45 percent. Fosland won the race despite losing in Roosevelt County by a margin of 1,981 votes to 1,518 votes. The district includes Daniels and Sheridan counties, as well as Roosevelt County.

Democrat Frank J. Smith earned re-election as the state representative for House District 31. Smith received 1,708 votes in Roosevelt County compared to Republican Kevin Taylor’s 890 votes. Smith received support of 59 percent of the voters district-wide.

In Senate District 16, Democrat Jonathan Windy Boy defeated Republican Perri Jacobs by a 60 percent to 39 percent margin. Windy Boy received support of 1,742 voters in Roosevelt County compared to Jacobs’ 857 votes.

For uncontested races in the county, Erika Fyfe received the most overall votes with 3,347 for the offices of clerk of district court and superintendent of schools.

Tracy Miranda had 3,319 votes in the election for clerk and recorder and public administrator.

A total of 3,924 of the county’s 6,155 registered voters, 63.75 percent, took part in the election.