Early Public Service Commission results: Incumbent Pinocci to serve another term

Incumbent Randy Pinocci looks like he’s headed for another term with the Montana Public Service Commission.

Pinocci had nabbed most of the votes late Tuesday in District One for the Republican primary for Public Service Commission, a healthy 65 percent, with 28 percent of precincts counted, according to the Montana Secretary of State’s Office. He had 9,205 votes.

Former Bureau of Indian Affairs officer K. Webb Galbreath, the only challenger in the district made up of roughly northeast Montana, counted 35 percent, or 4,991.

No Democrats were on the ballot for District One.

Five elected Public Service Commissioners regulate monopoly utilities in Montana. This year, commissioners from Districts One and Five are on the ballot.

In District Five, Joe Dooling was ahead on the Republican side, with 32 percent of the vote. The district is comprised of Flathead, Lake, Lewis and Clark and Teton counties.

Dooling, a Helena area rancher, was 476 votes ahead of Rep. Derek Skees, who counted 6,069 votes and 29 percent of the vote.

Ann Bukacek was a hair behind with 6,031 votes, but also 29 percent of the vote, according to the Secretary of State’s website shortly after 11:45 p.m.

On the Democratic side, retired private sector finance manager John Repke was leading against Kevin Hamm, who runs an internet company. Repke had 54 percent of the vote, or 5,753, and Hamm had 46 percent, with 4,963, shortly before midnight.