Candidate pushes economic development

Editor’s note:  Ballots for the city election will be mailed to Whitefish voters Oct. 19. Ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Nov. 8.

John Anderson has an eye on economic development as he vies for a seat on the Whitefish City Council.

Anderson, an attorney who is chairman of the board for the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, is one of six candidates for three open seats on the council. He said his first priority is Whitefish’s continued economic recovery.

Fostering economic opportunity and having a long-term vision for the city are qualities he feels he can bring to city government.

“I want to continue the economic development we started at the chamber in helping businesses,” he said. “What we’ve tried to do in Whitefish is make the resources known.”

Anderson said he was instrumental in changing the chamber’s focus to economic development when he became chairman two years ago.

“Whitefish is transitioning to a more diverse economy,” he said. “Opportunities in knowledge-based businesses and light manufacturing will continue to enhance our existing businesses.”

Critical areas ordinance

Anderson said he is “one of the few people who have read” the entire ordinance that takes a comprehensive approach to regulating construction in drainage-sensitive areas.

While the law may be over-engineered in his opinion, he doesn’t think it has hurt real estate sales significantly. He favors studying and tweaking the ordinance if necessary.

“It’s the government’s job to look at regulations and make sure they’re serving the goals,” he said. “As far as the applicability [of the ordinance] I think people feel a lack of control. It has stoked the fires of discontent,” and the city has reacted by exempting several larger subdivisions, he said.

The “doughnut”

There may have been a better way to resolve the interlocal agreement conflict than putting the issue to voters in a referendum, Anderson said, adding that “now that it’s on the ballot it behooves Whitefish to get as much leverage as it can.”

If the referendum passes, however, it will “open up questions and uncertainties, and people deserve more certainty,” he said.

Whitefish will have to engage in a public process that considers an assortment of solutions. Getting legislative approval to create a doughnut council is an idea he favors, but Anderson said it’s unlikely that would happen. Annexation is another solution, but there are costs and consequences, and the city could end up back in court, he said.

An advisory board of doughnut area residents would be redundant to the role the Planning Board serves, Anderson maintained.

“I do think they should have representation,” he added.

City Hall

Anderson said he believes City Hall should remain in the downtown area but he doesn’t want the city to consider buying and retrofitting the Mountain West Bank building.

“I’m not concerned about [real estate] options expiring,” he said. “The market is such that if those sites aren’t available [when the time comes] others might be. I’m not sure why we should spend one dime in the next year or two.

“I’d like City Hall to stay where it is, but it will be a matter of how the numbers work out,” he said.

Budget

The best thing Whitefish can do for its budget is maintain the small-town character of Whitefish as it plans for future growth, Anderson stated.

He noted that Whitefish’s tax base has increased, and that’s a reflection that Whitefish is “a great place to live and do business.”

Anderson said he feels the $300,000 transfer from the sewer fund to balance the budget — a move criticized by some of his opponents — was appropriate.

“If you look at the need, there will be a need for stormwater improvements down the road, but it’s not imminent right now, so move the money where it’s needed,” he said.

That said, Anderson does believe the council has to put every budget under the microscope and ask, “Is this necessary?”

Perception

“I don’t think Whitefish is elitist,” he said. “People really like Whitefish and are proud of having a real community identity.”

He sees criticism of Whitefish as over-regulated as “pure political fodder.”

Anderson pointed to the recent compromise over expanding retail uses on the U.S. 93 strip as an example of how businesses and the city can work together. Under his leadership, the Chamber brought the two groups together to decide what type of building and zoning regulations should apply to businesses along the highway.

“Sometimes you lead from the front; sometimes from the back,” Anderson said. “It’s bringing people together to come up with their own solutions.”

John Anderson

Age: 43

Family: Wife, Shani, two sons ages 10 and 4

Occupation: Attorney

Background: Degree in biology from Beloit College, Beloit, Wis.; law degree from University of Montana; youth sports coach; served on Flathead Valley Marketing Task Force through Montana West Economic Development; Whitefish Chamber of Commerce board member for five years and current chairman of the board; has worked as a logger and held positions in engineering and operations of high-tech companies.

Email: johnwanderson@yahoo.com

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.