Candidate eligibility

For whatever reason (or reasons), the Whitefish City Council race in Whitefish has become a one-sided mudslinging contest and not from the proponents. It appears that a faction has taken it upon themselves to be the leaders of this effort, and more importantly has turned it into what appears to be almost a personal vendetta.

Personal issues, such as how much time one spends with their wife or family, how much property they own or where, how much money they donate to whatever cause, or how much time they take off, should not even be issues in a local race unless that is a legal requirement to be eligible. I don t believe those are requirements for the city council position.

I don t recall hearing any complaints when a few years ago our mayor was absent several months outside the U.S. doing business. Or of past councilors who have lived here not long at all or, better yet, those who have chosen to build substantially large homes that are not really in keeping with our community design.

Has anyone checked on the eligibility of all the candidates, or is there a select club? Do I hear tones of discrimination here?

I have worked for both state and county governments and been involved in city, state and county elections in some phase or another, either through employment or personally. My husband ran for the positions of county commissioner, mayor and councilor but was lucky enough to win only a council position and subsequent re-election.

So, with more than 35 years of voting eligibility, I have seen many electoral races. Those running for office are to be commended for their community service, be it school organizations or public service. I applaud them also for whatever qualifications they have to offer for the privilege of serving their community.

If you don t want to be an adult and take your duties responsibly, take your toys and go home, just like you do when you don t get your own way. If you want someone to agree with you 24 hours a day instead of showing a little intelligence, make a recording of your voice and put it in a robot. Or, I guess, you could always pay someone to see things your way.

It is your responsibility as the voter to ferret out the facts and the truths. Go to meetings and listen, speak to the individuals running for office, and study documents of proposed programs or projects. If you don t understand something, ask questions, don t rely on other people providing information.

If you are concerned about your community, your family and your friends, exercise your rights and privileges get the full story, correct information and facts. Don t jump on the bandwagon of someone who thinks they know or just likes to blow hot air. We may have freedom of speech, but be informed The only foolish question is one not asked. Get the facts.

Rita Hanson

Whitefish

Negative politicking

Editor 's note: This letter was addressed to Rick Blake.

Dear Rick,

Although we have not been close friends, I have considered you a friend over the years. Perhaps because we have always been cordial and civil to one another at social gatherings, or while watching our kids playing sports together.

I 've also enjoyed the friendship of your wife and kids. Great lady. Great kids. I know you must feel lucky to have them.

I try very hard to have patience for and understanding of everyone I come to meet. Try to find the good in people. I appriciate the generous donations your family has made over the years to various projects around this great community. But I m afraid I fail to see any good at all in your PAC tactics over the past few years. In fact, all I m seeing is bad, Rick. Real bad stuff for this community.

Two years ago, I gave you a piece of my mind at a Christmas party because you had put out a political mailing, smearing and deliberately misrepresenting the truth about my good friend and neighbor, Mike.

I told you that I thought that was male cow excrement and that you ought to knock it off. Your reply was, It 's just politics, to which I replied, No,it 's not, Rick. It 's divisive, inaccurate and, it stinks.

You then did it again the following year to my very close friend John. Blatant lies and misrepresentations, Rick. Again, I told you to knock it off.

Now, for the third straight year, you 're doing it again to my friend and neighbor Frank. The most troubling part, is that you know you 're doing it.

Three strikes and your out, pal.

I know I speak for a large segment of the full-time Whitefish population who have had it with your tactics. You and your small handful of PAC pals who can obviously afford to spend your money on these rediculous glossy smear cards are really doing a number on the community at large. All I find myself asking before I pitch them into the trash can is why? Why are you guys doing this? What 's the point? It 's backfired twice already and left you personally and your PAC with egg all over your faces. Why again, Rick?

I do hope you find your way back from this ugly place you dwell in when election season rolls around. It 's really quite nice here, and if you look closely, I think you will find that our city councilors work very hard to keep it that way.

Give my best to your family.

Scot Blair

Whitefish

Something stinks

Something stinks in Whitefish this year and I can smell it all the way out here in Hawaii. What stinks is the garbage that is being spread around during this campaign.

Should we be surprised? Not really. The city has faced considerable challenges over the past several years, and some folks who don t even live in Whitefish continue their radical, anti-government campaign and the personal attacks that hide the fact that their candidates don t even know the issues.

They spread an idea that if we just eliminate regulation, we could still enjoy a clean lake, a special downtown and a small town feeling that characterizes the best America has to offer. Well, you don t even have to leave Flathead County to realize what lack of regulation brings.

So let 's be clear the PACs associated with the recent attacks on Frank Sweeney and the candidates they support do not have the best interests of Whitefish in mind. They spend thousands on personal attacks rather than work towards solutions. Meanwhile their candidates admit that they don t know the Critical Areas Ordinance and they have a distorted (at best) view of what keeps our downtown vital.

Frank Sweeney knows what 's best for our town because he listens, he does his homework and he is a tireless volunteer.

Let 's also be clear our downtown is what makes Whitefish what it is. It is the economic engine that supports our growth and our long-term sustainability. Our council can and should do everything in its power to keep downtown vibrant and growing.

For the past three years, Frank Sweeney has been a big part of making that happen. How many towns in America still have a family-owned hardware store?

Let 's be clear about one more thing Whitefish is a big star on National Geographic 's recent Geotourism MapGuide, and it was recently ranked as a top-10 cool town in Arthur Frommer 's Budget Travel magazine.

This is no accident. We can thank the hard work of people like Frank Sweeney for this national recognition. The nasty PACs and their candidates have criticized eco-tourism as nonsense.

It 's time to put out the trash this year and listen to the truth. Elect Frank Sweeney for Whitefish City Council. He is the only candidate with the experience and courage to do what is right for all of us and our great town.

Steve Qunell

Hawaii

Distorted truth

I have been motivated to speak out with regards to our upcoming election of Whitefish City Council seats. As I have sat in my Portland apartment while awaiting my return to Whitefish, I have had time to watch from a distance how our community has acted thus far, to try and fairly elect individuals who have volunteered to represent us on our city council.

The actions of a couple of members from our community has been deplorable. The erroneously labeled voter information mailing, and more recently Rick Blake 's nearly libelous attack flyer, remind me of a couple of spoiled boys who spray graffitti on buildings so they can just be seen.

Why have these two grown men distorted the truth so blatantly with regard to such a fine man as Frank Sweeney, who has been a member of our community for the past 10 years? Frank is a man who has selflessly given many hours to our community so as to allow all of us to live in a Whitefish which will remain beautiful, thriving and charming.

He believes that we can have economic growth and retain the characteristics which we all love in our community. He brings to the council chambers a clear, sharp mind, not clouded by the financial self-interests of a few. He wishes to represent the majority and listen to our wishes and concerns before casting his votes.

Please, as the community moves through this election process, focus on the positive attributes of each and every candidate, the contributions that they have made to our community thus far, and pay attention to the truth of the matters as we know it from respected members of our community. Let us not be led astray by the false and inflammatory attacks of those who put their own interests ahead of the needs of our community. Let 's show that Whitefish can have a positive political process and fairly elect the three finest individuals our community has to offer.

David Sobba

Portland

Hype and spin

As you listen to the political hype and spin, you have to ask yourself but one question is Whitefish going in the right direction?

If you think it is, vote for incumbent, Frank Sweeney. If not, vote for Bill Kahle, Chris Hyatt and Phil Mitchell.

We have seen a lot of dramatic change and controversy in the last four years, so as a community, are we going in the right direction? You decide. Please vote.

Bick Smith

Whitefish

Good neighbor

If you want to see an example of someone who has deep roots in Whitefish, come and spend a day in the neighborhood of Frank and Paula Sweeney.

In the spring, you would find them working the land on their 24-acre farm, preparing their garden from their wintered-over compost pile, planting vegetables and herbs, and tending to the numerous apple and pear trees.

When summer arrives, and Frank walks down the lane to pick up his mail, his kind observations result in his arriving on his tractor to plow a neighbor 's overgrown field.

Fall brings a harvest which Frank and Paula insist on sharing, repeatedly leaving boxes of potatoes, squash and tomatoes on their neighbor 's porch.

Soon, Frank knows the time is arriving when his neighbor brings in logs from the woods to be split. Every fall, he shows up with his truck, hauling his log splitter, which he places by the wood pile so his neighbor doesn t have to split them by hand.

We are those neighbors.

Mary and Larry Delaney

Whitefish

Likes Mitchell

We support Phil Mitchell for Whitefish City Council because we believe that he has demonstrated his commitment and dedication to this community by his many years of giving of himself and his talents to make this a better place to live and a better place to raise kids.

As a long time citizen of Whitefish, he has served his community well, and we commend him for his willingness to serve again in this capacity. We know Phil to be straightforward, honest, direct and not afraid to address difficult issues

This city desperately needs someone with Phil 's business abilities to provide a common-sense approach to hard issues. As a taxpayer, you will definitely have true representation from Phil Mitchell.

He has no ax to grind, and I believe he has a compassion for those who suffer under the property-tax load that currently exists.

It is now time to have a council member that represents the common folks of Whitefish. Please vote for Phil Mitchell.

Lyle and Judy Phillips

Whitefish

Texas lawyer

In about 2006, I hired attorney Frank Sweeney, who now wants to be elected to the Whitefish City Council. He represented me for more than two years.

For nearly a year, my Whitefish real estate office was in the same building as Mr. Sweeney 's office. We shared a wall. Thus, I saw him frequently and it was natural to hire home.

During the entire time he represented me, including late last fall, he often was in Texas. Over the many months he represented me, he told me multiple times he was still practicing at his Texas law office.

He frequently was unavailable. When he was not in Texas, he was somewhere else, like Paris, or traveling with his wife, or participating in out-of-town horse functions.

I replaced Mr. Sweeney with another lawyer. I hope voters replace him too.

Tina Lawrence

Whitefish

Doughnut vote

I live in the doughnut and I care. I am happy with our current Whitefish City Council. I care about the city that I have called home for the past 18 years, and I care about my good friends Frank and Paula Sweeney, who I have known for 12 years (and they have lived here for the past 10 years).

I used to think that I shouldn t get too involved in Whitefish city politics because I live in the doughnut, but I am compelled to speak up now. There are people who are registered to vote in the doughnut, and though they claim to love Whitefish, they and others focus on negative attacks rather than on the issues that our city faces.

The nasty mailings that have shown up in mailboxes don t offer any positions on the issues, solutions or vision. Instead, they attack the character, home, business and family of Frank Sweeney (the incumbent), an outstanding citizen who is the best and smartest candidate for Whitefish City Council.

In my opinion, the negative mailings and the polls are misleading. They are against Frank Sweeney because of his support for water quality, planning, access to public lands and maintaining Whitefish 's small-town character by investing in our downtown.

The Whitefish City Council election has become quite ugly, with sign stealing, and it 's full of false innuendoes. I wonder if the people who do this would advise their children to be a candidate. These types of tactics are what give politics a bad name. Who will want to run next time?

Negative voices may seem to be speaking the loudest in our election, but the loudest voice is your vote. So send back your ballot right away, and I encourage you to vote for Frank Sweeney. He is a good and honest man.

If you didn t get a ballot, register to vote or have recently moved, call the county election department at 758-5535 and vote.

So let 's get on with resolving the issues that we all face together and get back to enjoying the great community that is our home.

Joan Vetter Ehrenberg

Whitefish

Wants Sweeney

Whitefish is my community of choice. This election seems unusually divisive. In particular, the attacks on Frank Sweeney are unwarranted and untrue. I 've known Frank for several years and consider him to represent a voice of reason, of thoughtful consideration and with the betterment of the community as foundations for his decision-making. He is experienced and very well qualified for the job of city councilman in Whitefish.

Water quality for White fish Lake and Whitefish River is near the top of everyone 's list of priorities for Whitefish to protect the quality of life we all enjoy and the economic vitality of our community. Both water bodies are currently classified as impaired. Visual observation of Whitefish Lake indicates that something undesirable is occurring there. I m confident the studies currently underway by the Whitefish Lake Institute and the Flathead Lake Biological Station will help us understand why.

The Critical Areas Ordinance was created to address community water quality priorities and concerns. Frank, along with representatives from every sector of the community (including substantial public testimony) created, modified and finally forwarded for public comment and adoption an ordinance addressing Whitefish water quality concerns. It is not perfect but has been structured to provide as much freedom as possible for development while still addressing critical water quality concerns. We should thank Frank and all the dedicated authors for their work.

As to the 'streetscape projects, I drive a dually pickup with an extended cab and will have no problem operating on Central Avenue with wider sidewalks. I believe the 'streetscape projects will enhance our downtown. My personal hope is that the resulting 'streetscapes will include bowers of flowers everywhere to draw residents and visitors like bees to honey to share in the best Whitefish has to offer.

I urge you to vote for Frank Sweeney for Whitefish City Council. He will help continue making Whitefish a better place to live and visit.

Don Spivey

Whitefish

Need change

What is the best for the community? In my humble opinion, I would have to say that the very best thing for the community of Whitefish is to have a change in the current council makeup.

The three top candidates, Chris Hyatt, Bill Kahle and Phil Mitchell, seem to have the ability to listen and sincerely care for the people who live and try to work in the community. By simply voting for those three gentlemen, you will have an equal and balanced city council that will listen to each other and the public they serve.

I have never in my political career as Columbia Falls mayor and Flathead County commissioner been more talked down to, flatly ignored, ridiculed and made to feel like I was not worthy of acknowledgment than when Mr. Sweeney spoke.

When it came time to vote for a kinder Critical Areas Ordinance, he publically stated he would not vote for it and if there was an ordinance more restrictive he would vote for that.

Please know that he does not represent the community of Whitefish but his own big-city attorney attitude and beliefs. Voting for the top three candidates will give the council a good balance which will mean a kinder happier and gentler community, like the one I grew up in.

Gary D. Hall

Columbia Falls

Too many regs

Phil Mitchell is right about too many regulations in Whitefish except for one more that we need.

When I drove down Spokane Avenue, looked west on Third Street and saw that the beautiful pine trees next to the Presbyterian Church had been cut down, I just about died, and I am so surprised that other people have not written in to the Whitefish Pilot about it, too.

There are hundreds of cities in state after state that have adopted regulations that you cannot cut down existing trees for sidewalks, parking lots and buildings, etc. This is one issue that our city council members who make up our regulations are very wrong about.

We need to make this a regulation that they cannot cut down existing trees, and if for some reason one has to be taken down, that it is replaced. My heart just died when I saw this.

Unless this so-called beautiful sidewalk has silver, gold or diamonds in it, it is neither more valuable nor prettier than the beautiful trees that were there. You can put a sidewalk around the trees. Now it 's just another ugly concrete sidewalk with the trees gone.

Please, we must make this a regulation of the city of Whitefish, and if these projects are paid for by the residents of Whitefish and their city taxes, these projects should be voted on by the citizens of Whitefish to say if they want it or not.

I moved here 31 years ago, and I chose this town for the beauty and quaintness of it. It does not need to be changed. That 's why this is such a popular little town.

Come on people stop chopping down the trees and pass a regulation that further trees cannot be cut down for the sake of our town for now and the future.

Shirley Howke

Whitefish

No respect

I am appalled at the Whitefish City Council 's lack of respect for the citizens of this community. This council is spending our money frivolously and making it more difficult to live here. They are taking away the quaint beauty of this town.

If Frank Sweeney really did care about Whitefish, why is he insistent upon changing the character of our town and suing anyone in the process?

Do you want your roads plowed this winter or have your tax dollars spent on wider sidewalks and lawsuits? Why has Mr. Sweeney told us he 's a good guy with good intentions while proving the opposite by his votes?

I do not trust Mr. Sweeney with our town. For lack of a better term, he 's a part-timer. I cannot vote for Mr. Sweeney. I hope you do not either.

Bonnie Leahy

Whitefish