Whitefish voters pass school levy

by Hilary Matheson Daily Inter Lake
| May 2, 2017 12:12 AM

Voters living in Whitefish School District approved a levy request in Tuesday’s school elections, according to unofficial results.

The general fund levy request will generate $232,100 annually for the day-to-day operations of the elementary district. There were 1,167 votes in favor of the levy and 825 against.

Owners of homes with a taxable value of $200,000 can expect a $12.18 annual tax increase.

Whitefish voters also elected three trustees with three-year terms that went to Katie Clarke who received 1,284 votes, incumbent Heather Vrentas with 1,216 votes and incumbent Shannon Hanson with 1,092.

Catherine Catina received 907 votes to fall short of securing a seat on the Whitefish School Board.

In other trustee elections:

- Bigfork School District — Incumbents Dana Whitney with 686 votes and Paul Sandry with 668 votes will retain their seats on the school board. Both won three-year terms.

Candidates Monarae Tuhy received 228 votes and Marie Duncan-Wagers received 151.

- Columbia Falls School District — Incumbent Dean Chisholm received 1,059 votes, Keri Hill 949 and incumbent Barbara Riley 943 to win three-year terms on the school board.

Candidate David Shaffer fell short with 787 votes.

- Fair-Mont-Egan School District — Incumbent Jennifer Stebbins-Han will retain a seat on the board with 168 votes. Mark Thomas Siderius was also elected to the board with 153 votes. Both seats are for three-year terms.

Candidate Chad Roth received 86 votes.

- Kalispell School District — Incumbent Bette Albright received 2,626 votes and Diane Morton Stout 1,959 to win three-year terms representing the elementary district.

Candidates Rebecca Linden received 1,228 and Scott Plotkin 1,190.

- Smith Valley School District — Joshua Amundson was elected to a three-year term on the school board with 141 votes.

Candidate Robert Sutton received 58 votes

- West Valley School District — Tad Lisowski was elected to serve a three-year term with 272 votes on the West Valley school board against.

Candidate Erica Wirtala received 246 votes.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.