No lines expected for CF elections

All races on Nov. 8 ballot

are uncontested

By NANCY KIMBALL

The Daily Inter Lake

Columbia Falls election judges should be able to get a good nights rest Nov. 8.

If not, it shouldnt be because they had to stay up late counting votes in the city election.

Not only are there no contested races among the six openings up for grabs this year the city has only seven elected seats of power but the ballot went begging for even one formal candidate to fill one of the two-year council vacancies.

On Wednesday, new council appointee Julie Plevel said she would be open to accepting the two-year post if her name is written in by city voters.

One thing is for sure: The city will have a new mayor next January. Jolie Fish is the sole candidate for the job.

Fish has been on the council since January 2000 when she stepped in to fill the final two years of Councilman Doug Karpers term after he moved just outside city limits, then was elected to her own four-year term that started in January 2002.

She replaces Mayor Susan Nicosia, who steps down to be more available as her three young children are growing through their school years.

Fish wants to spearhead continued work on the three prime issues she identified that have been facing Columbia Falls in recent years: Crafting a new growth policy, planning for a sewer plant expansion and laying out a plan for city roads.

With the limited experience we have now with our new planner, Lisa Horowitz of LH Land Use Consulting, who this summer began teaming up with Kate McMahon to provide planning services to Columbia Falls, Fish said the city needs to ensure that still goes well for the long term.

Based on the limited experience, I am optimistic. Its a new direction. I was impressed with what was presented to us at the last council meeting.

She said she welcomes the give-and-take that comes with differences of opinion and helps lay out alternative options.

Ive enjoyed my time on the council, and Ive learned so much, Fish said. I feel I still have so much to learn that is of interest to me. Being a part of a seven-member panel that makes a difference in the community is of interest to me.

Besides the mayors position, there are five openings on the City Council.

-Three of those openings are for standard, four-year terms.

One is being vacated by Fish. Tad Rosenberry left another opening Sept. 1 when he stepped down from council service because of schedule conflicts with his new employment.

Charles McCubbins is running for re-election to his position, the other four-year term open on the council.

Michael Shepard has filed for one of the four-year terms. He would be returning to council service after a five-year hiatus. Shepard first came on the council in January 1996, was elected to a second term four years later, then resigned in September 2000.

Harvey Reikofski, who has been filling out the remainder of Claudette Hohns term after she moved away last year, is the third candidate for a four-year term. Remaining in his current seat would mean his term would have ended in two more years, but he opted for the full four-year term.

-The remaining two council openings are for two-year terms.

In addition to Reikofskis post, the other was vacated last year when former Councilman Sam Hagen also moved out of town.

Karper, whose home in a subdivision along Talbott Road was annexed into the city since he stepped down from his earlier council service in 2000, was appointed to fill Hagens position. Karper has filed to finish out the final two years of that term.

Plevel became the newest member of the council when she was seated at the Oct. 17 meeting in Rosenberrys vacated position.

Although her service began long past the deadline to file a formal candidacy or to formally declare her write-in status, she is interested in filling out the final two years of her council position.

Reporter Nancy Kimball may be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com .