When Northern Plains Independent Publisher Darla Downs took on the Roosevelt County Attorney, alleging that he was not qualified to run for office there, it was a David-versus-Goliath situation.

David won.

Downs was a newspaper publisher and an accountant by background. Frank Piocos was running for election to an office which he had been appointed after the county attorney, Austin Knudsen, was elected as Montana’s Attorney General.

Yet a careful reading of the law and her frustration at inaction led her to begin a challenge that not only required her to fight on behalf of the Roosevelt County residents, but would take her all the way to Helena – on her own – in the process.

Downs challenged Piocos’ bid for re-election by pointing out that he was not a resident of Roosevelt County, rather, he had a residence in nearby Valley County and sometimes lived in Yellowstone County.