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By DANIEL LOCKE | Staff Writer

HELENA – The qualifying period for Helena’s Municipal Election has passed, meaning the community officially knows the mayoral and city council candidates it will have to choose from.

The mayor’s seat is up for grabs and all five places on the City Council will have contested races.

After incumbent Brian Puckett announced he would not be seeking reelection in January, Helena will be choosing a new mayor. Puckett served only one term, citing a stroke he suffered in August that hospitalized him for multiple days as his reason for not running again.

Puckett explained that even when making difficult decisions that were met with criticism, he always had Helena’s best interests in mind.

Additionally, three City Council members are not running this cycle. Chris Willis, Place 1, Laura Joseph, Place 4 and council president pro tempore and Hewy Woodman, Place 5, are the sitting members who will not be serving on the next council.

The contest for Place 1 on the council will be between Dominga Gardner and Cathy Hammann.

The race for Place 2 will be between sitting Council Member Andy Healy, one of two current members running for reelection, and James Carroll. If elected, Healy would be serving his first full term after being appointed to take Chris VanCleave’s place after he stepped down due to health issues in January.

Council President Alice Lobell, the other incumbent seeking reelection, is going for her third term. She will be going up against Dennis Wilson and Ray Yokel for Place 3.

Place 4 is a two-candidate race, with Brooke Dodson and John Wilder facing off.

The Place 5 contest is the most crowded in the 2025 Helena Municipal Election with four candidates pursuing the spot. Rebekah McDow Henderson, Jeff McDaniels, Alex Miller and Michael Rodgers will compete for the final place on the council.

The mayoral race will also be a three-way contest. George Pickle, Russ Powers and Billy Rosener are Helena’s choices for the job.

Helena residents can vote in the Municipal Election on Tuesday, Aug. 26 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting will take place at the Helena Community Center. Helena residents who reside in Jefferson County will vote at Southcrest Baptist Church.

Those who want more information on the election can view it at CityofHelena.org/election-information.