Candidates file for municipal races in Flathead County
Jun. 13—With the deadline to file closed as of Wednesday, a slew of candidates is in the running for municipal offices in Columbia Falls, Kalispell and Whitefish.
Municipal elections will be held Nov. 4.
In Kalispell, eight candidates filed to run for City Council with only four spots open.
Councilor Sandy Carlson is being challenged by Wes Walker in Ward 1. Carlson first took office in January 2014 before being reelected in 2018 and again in 2022.
Walker unsuccessfully ran against the other Ward 1 representative, Councilor Kari Gabriel, last year.
Lisa Blank is running unopposed for the Ward 2 seat held by Councilor Chad Graham. Graham announced earlier this year that he was not running for reelection.
Three candidates are making a run for the Ward 3 seat held by Jessica Dahlman. Dahlman did not file for reelection, according to the Flathead County Election Department.
Former Councilor Kyle Waterman is making a run for the seat, which he held from 2018 to 2021.
He made two unsuccessful bids for the Montana Senate in recent years, both times running as a Democrat. He ran for Senate District 2 during the 2020 election cycle and for Senate District 4 during the 2022 cycle.
Wes Gardner and Kyle Voigtlander are also running for the Ward 3 seat.
In Ward 4, incumbent Councilor Jed Fisher is being challenged by Bruce Guthrie.
Municipal Judge Alison Howard is running to retain her seat on the bench in Kalispell. She was appointed interim judge in January 2023 following the departure of the previous judge and put on the ballot in November 2023. She is running for a full four-year term in the upcoming election.
Mayor Mark Johnson is not seeking reelection and Kalispell Business Improvement District Chair Kisa Davison along with Councilors Sid Daoud and Ryan Hunter have all filed to run for the position.
IN COLUMBIA Falls, incumbent Mayor Don Barnhart filed for reelection. He has served in the position since 2010.
Councilors Jenny Lovering, Paula Robinson and Mike Shepard all have expiring terms this year. Robinson is the only incumbent to file for reelection.
Newcomers Marjike Stob, Christopher Semok, Beth McBride and Hannah Pennington also filed for a spot on Council.
IN WHITEFISH, Councilors Andy Feury, Ben Davis and Giuseppe Caltabiano are running to retain their seats.
Challenger Nathan Dugan also filed for candidacy. Dugan previously ran for a spot on Council in 2023.
Mayor John Muhlfeld's seat is not up for grabs, as his term ends in 2027.
Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@dailyinterlake.com.
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