City polls open until 8 p.m. today

Voters in Kalispell and Columbia Falls vote today in city elections. Polling places open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Whitefish is conducting a mail-ballot election. Ballots that haven't been mailed must be delivered by 8 p.m. to Whitefish City Hall or to the Election Department at the courthouse in Kalispell.

In Kalispell, voters will choose between incumbent Mayor Pam Kennedy and challenger Tammi Fisher. Four city council positions are up for election as well; only two are contested. Kalispell voters cast ballots at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Expo Building.

For Kalispell City Council positions, Jeffrey Zauner is challenging incumbent Hank Olson in Ward 2 and Marc Rold is challenging incumbent Jim Atkinson in Ward 3.

Incumbent Kalispell Municipal Judge Heidi Ulbricht is unopposed in her bid for re-election.

Columbia Falls voters have one mayoral candidate, council member Don Barnhart, who is vacating his seat to run for mayor.

In Columbia Falls, residents vote at City Hall.

There are three City Council seats on the ballot and three candidates - incumbents Mike Shepard and Dave Petersen plus newcomer Shawn Bates.

Matt McConville's name will be on the City Council ballot, but he has withdrawn his candidacy.

Whitefish has four candidates vying for three City Council seats: incumbent Frank Sweeney and challengers Chris Hyatt, Bill Kahle and Phil Mitchell.

Nick Palmer's name will appear on the ballot but he has withdrawn from the race.

Whitefish Municipal Court Judge Bradley F. Johnson runs unopposed for re-election.

Kalispell Public Schools also has two issues on the ballot: a $2.8 million building reserve levy for the elementary district and $4.1 million for the high school district.

Kalispell voters and county residents who live in a school district that feeds into Flathead or Glacier high schools will decide whether to pass the levies.

Voters inside Kalispell city limits, including those who are part of the West Valley School District, will vote at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.

Voters in feeder districts will vote on the high school levy at the following locations:

n From 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Evergreen Junior High School, Helena Flats School, Lakeside Elementary, Somers Middle School and West Valley School.

n From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Smith Valley School.

n From noon to 8 p.m. at Cayuse Prairie School, Creston School, Deer Park School, Fair-Mont-Egan School, Kila School, Marion Fire Hall, Olney-Bissell School and Pleasant Valley School.

For more voting information, call the Election Department at 758-5535 or visit http://flathead.mt.gov/election.