Council gets down to business

It's been a tumultuous week in Whitefish politics.

Just hours before the new City Council members were sworn in, District Judge Kitty Curtis dismissed a temporary restraining order and denied a request for a preliminary injunction that would have stopped John Muhlfeld from taking office. He emerged victorious in a lawsuit that challenged his residency, and common sense seems to have prevailed in the suit ironically filed by Common Sense in Whitefish Government.

The courtroom and later the council chambers were packed with Muhlfeld supporters and he was given a standing ovation as he was sworn in. It's great to see people so interested in city government.

Another loose end was sewn up when the new council picked Martin McGrew in a tie-breaker vote. McGrew and Turner Askew tied for a council seat following a vote recount in November. Both men are true public servants who care about Whitefish. Askew graciously accepted defeat and offered to serve the city in any other way possible.

Now the newly seated council can settle in for what should be an exciting year. First up on the agenda is the embattled critical-areas ordinance later this month.

Speaking of politics, a new election year is about to formally unfold.

Candidate filing officially begins Jan. 22 and closes March 20 for this year's general election.

Among the positions up for election in our area are two state Senate seats, all state House seats, one county commissioner position and the clerk of court post.

We encourage citizens interested in working to make a difference to step forward and run for office.

Beyond these local government positions, it promises to be a busy political year, with most top-tier state-government jobs (plus U.S. president) up for election.

The picture on the front page of Thursday's Inter Lake was worth about 5,000 feet of shoreline.

That's how much shoreline could potentially be protected from erosion with a "brush barrier," two parallel rows of wooden fence posts stuffed thick with recycled Christmas trees. Thursday's picture made it clear how practical such a barrier is on the sensitive Flathead River near Flathead Lake.

Christmas trees without tinsel, flocking or other ornaments can be taken to a designated drop-off site at the Crossroads Christian School parking lot near the intersection of Montana 83 and Montana 35. Kalispell also has been collecting Christmas trees left on the curbside in order to share them with the program.