Kalispell’s next Mayor is Ryan Hunter, who prevailed over Kisa Davison by less than 300-votes, re-proving that every vote counts. The scorecard: Hunter 2,930, Davison 2,667 and Sid Daoud 1,790. Ryan Hunter appearing on the KGEZ Good Morning Show the morning after the election. You can listen to it in the In Case You Missed It Section.
Sid will continue to represent Ward 4 on the City Council, which is going to look quite different in January. In Ward 1, Sandy Carlson will retire after 3-terms replaced by Wes Walker, who won by less than 400-votes. Ward 2 was already decided with Lisa Blank winning by acclamation, replacing Council President Chad Graham. Ward 3 will be represented by Kyle Waterman, who won handily over Kyle Voigtlander and Wes Gardner. In Ward 4, the only incumbent to win…Jed Fisher wins over Bruce Gutherie by less than 250-votes.
In Columbia Falls, Mayor Don Barnhart cruiss into his 5th term with no opponents. The City Council will include incumbent Paula Robinson and newcomers Marijke Stob and Christopher Semok.
No changes in the Whitefish City Council with Ben Davis, Andy Feury and Giuseppe Caltabiano pushing-back a challenge from Nathan Dugan.
Flathead County will begin building a new Public Safety Facility on Kalispell’s South Side, with voters approving the new bond issue by a little over 4,700-votes.
In Columbia Falls, the expansion of their High School will have to wait for another day. The bond issue failed by nearly 1,800-votes.
