Whitefish Realtors meet on city attorney

It was an enlightening meeting today (Dec. 9) in Whitefish. Some 30-40 Whitefish Realtors called the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors (NMAR) president and Government Affairs Committee to task for trying to overthrow the constitutionally-elected Whitefish government and oust John Phelps, Whitefish City Attorney, as they successfully did to former city planner Bob Horne.

They strenuously objected to NMAR acting like a government instead of merely being an association of Realtors. They were mortified or embarrassed that their real estate clients were demanding to know why the association was acting so evil in its quest to sell more property.

I gave my own testimony, as I was privy to how all this started years ago while serving on the NMAR Government Affairs Committee myself. I was out voted 12-1 to pursue a vendetta against Whitefish government back then. It has been ongoing since then.

Essentially, NMAR president John Osweiler, NMAR Government Affairs Committee chairman Dan Ritter, NMAR Government Affairs executive director George Culpepper and NMAR director and “initial instigator with a personal agenda” Whitefish broker-owner Greg Carter were all called on the carpet by the congregation of Whitefish Realtors in attendance.

I seriously doubt if the meeting results will change anything, as NMAR under the leadership of John Osweiler is totally out of control. He has political ambitions that he is using this NMAR presidency to perpetuate. But, he was directed by the Whitefish Realtors to write a public letter of apology to John Phelps for denigrating him in the press, while George Culpepper did so on TV news and in the press — pronto. We’ll see if he does it.

Many Realtors approached me after the meeting, thanking me for my testimony and expressing fear to speak up themselves, as they are afraid of reprisals by NMAR against them.

They were angry and bitter about the NMAR’s political action committee, RPAC, as well, which is presided over by John Osweiler and only funds Republican candidates in Flathead County. Some gave me their business cards, others merely shook my hand, said thanks, and hurriedly departed before they could be noticed. This, in America, with its First Amendment Constitutional rights.

Bill Baum is a Realtor who lives in Martin City.