Voters head to the polls for municipal elections

Heidi Desch, Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell, Mont.
·3 min read

Nov. 7—Voters in Flathead County's municipalities are heading to the polls to determine contested Council races. In Whitefish, a proposed change for the city's resort tax will also be decided.

Election Day is Nov. 7.

Kalispell voters will decide four seats on Council. Incumbent Sid Daoud in Ward 4 is the only candidate running unopposed.

In Ward 1, incumbent Kari Gabriel faces challenger Wes Walker.

Incumbent Sam Nunnally is running to retain his Ward 2 seat over challenger Gabriel Dillon.

And in Ward 3, incumbent Ryan Hunter is being challenged by Kevin Aurich.

Municipal Judge Alison Howard is running unopposed seeking to retain her seat on the bench.

For in-person voting, all four Kalispell wards vote at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Trade Center building from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Absentee ballots have been mailed out, but it's too late to return them by mail. Those can also be dropped off at the Trade Center building.

WHITEFISH VOTERS are set to determine a proposed shift in the spending for the city's resort tax and the Council race.

City Councilor incumbents Frank Sweeney, Steve Qunell and Rebecca Norton are on the ballot. They face four challengers Nathan Dugan, Jim Ramlow, Nancy Schuber and Kent Taylor.

Mayor John Muhlfeld is running unopposed, seeking his fourth term.

Municipal Judge Caitlin Overland is also running unopposed seeking re-election. In late 2021, Overland was appointed to serve as the new judge following the death of Judge William Hileman.

Councilors, the mayor and the municipal judge all serve four-year terms.

Ballots include a resort tax initiative which, if approved, would change the allocation of the resort tax so that 10% of the tax be designated specifically for community housing development projects and programs starting Feb. 1, 2025. The city estimates that over 20 years this could generate about $27 million.

Like other resort tax uses, City Council will have to approve specific projects and programs funded by the tax. The city has said that funds could be used to develop housing in partnership with private or nonprofit entities in exchange for deed restrictions or it could be used for programs such as homebuyer assistance, acquisition of deed restrictions and rental assistance.

The 3% resort tax is collected on "luxury" retail sales, lodging, at restaurants and for prepared food and alcoholic beverages. Funds generated from the tax go to property tax relief, streets, parks and beginning in 2025 toward maintenance of the Whitefish Trail.

For the Whitefish election, absentee ballots can be dropped off at City Hall, 418 E. Second St. In-person voting takes place at City Hall on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

IN COLUMBIA FALLS, voters will select candidates for three seats on the City Council.

Incumbents Darin Fisher, John Piper and Kelly (Hamilton) King are on the ballot, as well as challenger Kathryn Price.

For the Columbia Falls election, absentee ballots can be dropped off at City Hall, 130 Sixth Street West. In-person voting takes place at City Hall on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For questions about how to vote, call the Election Department at 406-758-5535.