Gamas Running to Take JoP Seat

Christine Gamas is in the running to claim the Valley County Justice of the Peace seat in November's upcoming election. Gamas, who currently serves as the Clerk of Justice Court, is running against her current boss, Justice Christy Hillman.

Gamas was born in Vancouver, Wash., and raised in northern California. She met her husband, a Glasgow native, while he was serving in the Navy at Alameda Naval Air Station on the San Francisco Bay. While in California, she attended San Jose State University for two-and-a-half years while majoring in business. She also worked for a manufacturing company doing human resource management and scheduling.

After her husband retired from the Navy, they moved back to Glasgow and she has worked here ever since. In Glasgow, Gamas has worked for the Fair Committee, IGA and Dawn Anderson before she took on her role at Justice Court 11 years ago.

"I feel that I can be fair and impartial in making decisions," replied Gamas when asked why she should get the job. She also wants to increase the court's availability and wants to increase hours especially as concerns are being raised due to Keystone XL appearing on the horizon. Specifically, she wants to expand the hours from the current 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. schedule the court is currently on.

Gamas also highlighted her experience at Justice Court stating that she had served as a substitute justice already and had handled the administrative aspects of both jury and bench trials. Gamas stated that she was already attuned to the summoning process, jury pools, computer and clerical work of the office. "I feel I'm pretty well-rounded in being able to do the job as Justice of the Peace," said the candidate.

In response to being asked what her motivation for the job is Gamas stated, "Because I like to be fair and understanding. Everybody has issues and problems and you've got to be fair and impartial and listen to their side, while still going by the Montana Codes."