Questions & answers
Frequently asked questions.
Straight answers, no runaround. If yours isn’t here, ask me directly: (406) 213-5145, or nathan@electdugan.com.
When is the election?
Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Ballots go out to absentee voters around October 9, and polls close at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Every date and deadline is on the How to Vote page.
I don’t live in Whitefish — do I get to vote in this race?
Yes — this is the one that surprises people most. County commissioners are elected countywide. “District 1” only means the commissioner has to live in that part of the county; the whole county votes on the seat. Kalispell, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, Marion, the North Fork — if you live in Flathead County, this race is on your ballot.
What does a county commissioner actually do?
The three-member commission runs county government. It sets the county budget and property-tax levies, maintains the roads and bridges outside city limits, funds the Sheriff’s office, makes land-use decisions for the unincorporated county, and oversees county services — the landfill, the fairgrounds, the Agency on Aging. (Most fire and ambulance service runs through independent districts that voters fund directly, not the county.) If something about how the county runs frustrates you, odds are it crosses the commissioners’ desks.
How long is the term?
Six years. The three commissioners serve staggered terms, so one seat comes up every two years — which is exactly why this one race is worth your attention this year.
Where does Nathan stand on the issues?
What a family earns here should be enough for a home here. That is the root of everything else, from housing to property taxes. More homes for locals, not sprawl for billionaires, and a county government that shows up and tells the truth. The full platform is on the Where I Stand page.
Can we build homes for locals without paving over the valley?
Yes. A landowner who wants to keep his land open can sell the right to build elsewhere — private money, not tax dollars. New homes go closer to town, where the roads and water already are.
What are Neighborhood Office Hours?
Every week, I set up somewhere in the valley — a coffee shop, a community center, after work if that’s what it takes — and you bring the questions. No podium, no agenda. You shouldn’t have to take a day off work to be heard by your own county government. Upcoming stops are on the Events page, and I’ll keep holding them in office.
I usually vote Republican. Why should I look at you?
Fair question. The commission’s work isn’t partisan — it’s budgets, roads, property taxes, and whether help shows up when you call 911. I was appointed to Montana’s bipartisan Housing Task Force and worked across party lines there. Judge me on the work, not the letter next to my name.
How can I help?
Grab a yard sign, knock some doors, host a Neighborhood Office Hour, or chip in — it’s all on the Get Involved page. $470 is the most an individual can give. Donate here.
Get involved
A Flathead we can afford to call home.
This race comes down to reaching every corner of the valley. Add your name, or chip in to keep the campaign on the road.