Taylor aims to bring budget sense to city government

After 17 years of living and working in Whitefish, Kent Taylor is ready to make some time in his busy schedule to be more involved in the community.

As owner and manager of the Hidden Moose Lodge, Taylor said his friends and peers have been urging him to run for a City Council seat for a while.

"At first I was like, 'You are out of your mind,'" Taylor said. "I run a full-time business."

But he eventually warmed to the idea of serving on the council after considering that such an opportunity rarely comes around.

Taylor and six other candidates are vying for the three open seats on the Whitefish City Council in the mail-ballot election that begins Wednesday.

Aside from his business, Taylor has been involved in the Whitefish community by serving as a board member on the Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation and coached soccer when his two children were younger.

Of the attributes he would bring to the council, Taylor said he has a strong business sense. In addition to running his own lodge, Taylor previously worked as an operations and marketing manager for Westin Hotels.

"I have a strong budgetary and fiscal background," he said.

Such a background would be useful on the council, Taylor said, since he believes the most pivotal issue facing Whitefish is the budget and the way it is handled.

"The budget dictates everything," he said.

Taylor said he thinks the city could be more efficient in the ways money is allocated, citing the system of bike trails that is planned but not yet completed.

"We need to get it done," he said. "I'd like to see it completed before I die."

Taylor said his budgetary and fiscal experience could be an asset in implementing such projects.

He said he agrees with some other residents of Whitefish that proposals for infrastructure improvements are excessive.

"The capital improvement projects should be reviewed and prioritized," he said. "Growing for the sake of growing is not OK."

Growth in the area also is creating congested traffic and a shortage of parking in downtown Whitefish. "It would be nice to move the parking off of Central," Taylor said.

Taylor said that eventually an additional parking lot and perhaps a parking garage could be built.

As for traffic, Taylor said that in the summer he can't seem to make a left-hand turn on Baker and Second Street, the intersection he considers the worst in town.

"The lights need to be put on a delay," he said. "A solution must be out there."

Another issue related to growth facing the council is the critical areas ordinance, Whitefish's attempt to protect waterways.

Taylor said a balance must be found.

"We need to protect water quality but we can't devalue someone's property in the process," he said.

As for the two-mile-wide planning area outside Whitefish city limits - where the city dictates growth and development - Taylor said the city should not impose too much regulation.

"The city and county should be involved to some extent so that there is a cohesiveness, but the city shouldn't be dictating," he said.

Reporter Amy May can be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at amay@dailyinterlake.com