C.F. incumbent Plevel hopes to continue serving community

Editor's note: This is the second of a series of stories on the five candidates for Columbia Falls City Council. Absentee ballots for the Columbia Falls will be mailed out on Oct. 19. Regular voting will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 8, at Columbia Falls City Hall from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Julie Plevel, a six-year incumbent, is one of five people running for three open seats on the Columbia Falls City Council.

While she hopes to retain her seat on the council, Plevel said she's glad the city's voters have some choices this election.

"We've had so many non-contested races. It's really nice for folks to have choices. The more community involvement the better," she said.

Plevel, Harvey Reikofski Jr. and Doug Karper are the three incumbents running for reelection. They're facing challenges by Darin Fisher and Sammi Johnson.

Plevel, who is 57, works as a Realtor and is co-owner of RE/MAX Mountain View. Originally from Lake Tahoe, she said she has lived in Columbia Falls since 1992 with her husband and their three children.

"We decided it was getting a little crazy [in Lake Tahoe] and wanted to find a new place to live. We came up and looked at the Flathead and it reminded us of what Tahoe was like when we were young," Plevel said of the move.

"We took a chance and it's worked out beautifully. It's been a wonderful place to raise a family."

Plevel first was appointed to fill a vacancy on the council in 2005. She was then elected to a two-year term and elected again to a four-year term that ends in December.

"We've done a lot of things in the last few years," she said of the council and its incumbents.

That includes completing a sewer system upgrade, a number of street repairs, working with the Montana Department of Transportation to install two new traffic signals on U.S. 2 - one at 12th Avenue West and one at Hilltop Road - and the purchase of River's Edge Park, she said.

"I think it's a legacy property that generations into the future will enjoy," Plevel said of the park purchase.

"It was a little controversial, expensive. But in the long term, people will look back and say that it was a good thing to do."

Plevel said that while she would like to see some empty buildings filled back up and some more economic development in the city, she doesn't see much the council can do on that front. That's more of a private-sector issue, she said.

"It's a problem for everyone. I think that what a council can do is just keep a close eye on the budget, make sure we're continuing to provide the services the community needs and keep going forward."

Plevel said she supports the work that is being done by groups such as First Best Place.

"It's been really nice to have that kind of civic involvement. It would be good if more people could get involved to lighten the workload. A lot of work needs to be done and it's really the citizens in the community that need to come out and make those things happen," she said.

As far as the Old Red Bridge goes, Plevel said she's not sure if it can be saved.

"It's a wonderful piece of history, but from a practical standpoint I just don't see how or where the money could come from to salvage something of that scale ... It's a shame, but unfortunately I don't think it's practical to try and save it."

Like many of the other candidates running for the Columbia Falls City Council, Plevel said she's not really out actively campaigning.

She said she'll just be happy to continue to serve the community in that role if given the chance.

"I think I have a pretty good head on my shoulders and just a down-to-earth point of view. I'm fiscally conservative and I think that's what we need."

Julie Plevel

Age: 57

Family: Husband, Patrick Plevel; three children, Aaron, Jesse and Russell.

Occupation: Broker and co-owner at Re/Max Mountain View in Columbia Falls.

Background: Has been a licensed Realtor for 19 years. Grew up in Lake Tahoe, where she met her husband, and has lived in Columbia Falls since 1992. A member of the Columbia Falls City Council since 2005.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.