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City Races Shape Up

By Beacon Staff

The deadline for candidates to file for city office has passed, making clear which elected offices throughout the valley will be contested, and which ones will not. In a so-called “off-year” election – meaning an election held when there are no bigger state or national elections going on – voter turnout is often much lower. The success of any candidate for municipal office could hinge on their ability to get out the vote, and margins of victory tend to be much smaller. Look for the campaigns to begin in earnest this fall, before the Nov. 3 elections.

KALISPELL
Mayor: Pam Kennedy (incumbent), Tammi Fisher
City Council: Ward 1 Bob Hafferman (incumbent, unchallenged)
Ward 2 Hank Olson (incumbent), Jeffrey Zauner
Ward 3 Jim Atkinson (incumbent), Marc Rold
Ward 4 Tim Kluesner (incumbent, unchallenged)
City Judge: Heidi Ulbricht (incumbent, unchallenged)

WHITEFISH (3 seats open)
City Council: Nick Palmer (incumbent)
Frank Sweeney (incumbent)
Chris Hyatt
Bill Kahle
Philip Mitchell
City Judge: Brad Johnson (incumbent, unchallenged)

COLUMBIA FALLS
Mayor: Don Barnhart (currently a city councilman, unopposed)
City Council: Michael Shepard (incumbent)
Dave Petersen (incumbent)
Matthew McConville
Shawn Bates