Montana man becomes city council member without running for office
BILLINGS – A Laurel man has become a city council member without running for office.
Richard Klose said he got a phone call after the Nov. 4 election telling him he was the winner of the race for the Ward 4 position, a race he didn’t know he was in.
The Billings Gazette reported Monday the post opened up after outgoing council member Tom Nelson decided to run for mayor this year.
Klose secured the position as a write-in candidate with just three votes.
Fifty-two votes were cast in Ward 4 and no one received more than Klose.
He’s accepted the position and will be sworn in Jan. 2.