Contested races mark city council elections
The Daily Inter Lake begins publishing its municipal election candidate question-and-answer profiles in today’s edition.
Absentee and mail ballots go out Oct. 16 and must be returned to the Flathead County Election Department office by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5, signed by the name of the voter on the envelope.
Mail-ballot elections will be conducted for Whitefish and Columbia Falls.
Kalispell will have a polling place on Nov. 5 at the Trade Center at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.
Whitefish has a five-way race for three open City Council positions. Frank Sweeney is the lone incumbent seeking re-election. Council members Richard Hildner and Katie Williams are not running for re-election.
Joining Sweeney in the Whitefish election will be Ben Davis, Rebecca Norton, Harry “Hap” Peters and Steve Qunell.
Whitefish Mayor John Muhlfeld is running unopposed for a third four-year term.
In Columbia Falls, all three incumbents whose terms are expiring are running for re-election. They include Darin Fisher, Doug Karper and John Piper. Newcomers seeking a council seat are Steve Hughes and Clay Lundgren, setting up a five-way race for the three seats.
Kalispell has only one contested race, in Ward 3, where incumbent Rod Kuntz faces a challenge from Ryan Hunter.
In Ward 1, incumbent Kari Gabriel is seeking re-election with no opposition.
In Ward 2, incumbent Wayne Saverud is not seeking another term, and Sam Nunnally is running unopposed for Saverud’s seat.
In Ward 4, Sid Daoud is running unopposed for the seat currently held by Phil Guiffrida, who is not seeking re-election.
“This is a good time to remember to verify or update your voter registration no matter where you reside in Flathead County,” Flathead County Election Manager Monica Eisenzimer said.
For more information, go to the Flathead County Election Department website at https://flathead.mt.gov/election/
The Inter Lake’s candidate profiles will be featured on Page A-3 throughout the next couple of weeks.