Davis touts work on housing issues, management skills

Q. What are the most challenging economic growth issues facing Whitefish, and what solutions do you propose for handling growth?

A. Whitefish has been blessed with a vibrant tourism-centric economy. Supporting the small businesses who make this happen and add so much character to our town is extremely important.

The city of Whitefish needs to stay true to its roots and support the folks who are building our community and the local economy, while standing strong against the outside pressures seeking to profit from growth that is not in the best interests of our town. This means continuing to improve our zoning regulations, while also planning for the future with detailed growth plans that prioritize public participation and build a shared vision for our community.

Q. Is the city of Whitefish doing enough to address affordable/workforce housing?

A. To the city’s credit, there is a well-thought-out comprehensive plan to address affordable housing, which will make a significant impact. The results take years to develop to fruition, and it’s a battle that our small town will fight for a long time.

As the chair of the Whitefish Housing Authority and Housing Steering Committee, I have been intimately involved with housing policy and it remains a very important issue to me and our community.  We have had several notable successes such as the $7 million tax credit grant for the Workforce Housing project under construction on Edgewood Place and the Inclusionary Zoning program which was passed this summer, and I believe these and other important steps will make a real difference in the long-term.

Q. Preserving the quality of Whitefish Lake and the small-town character of Whitefish are important issues for the resort town. What further steps can the city take to ensure these values are preserved?

A. Whitefish Lake is a defining feature of our town, and preserving this precious resource is of the utmost importance. The city needs to continue important initiatives to stop aquatic invasive species, prevent any harmful lakeshore development, and protect our watersheds.  After all, we also get part of our drinking water from it!

Once again, it all circles back to growth, and making sure we allow growth, but we stand up for what’s the right growth for our environment and our community as a whole.  

Q. What qualities make you the best candidate for a council position?

A. I have spent years in the trenches working on housing policy and other issues for our town, and by running for City Council I seek to continue that work on a broader set of challenges. Through my professional life and current volunteer work, I have extensive experience in the nuts and bolts of what makes good zoning and development policy, which is such a critical component of what City Council does.

I also manage a burgeoning business, and combined with a previous background in banking and finance, I believe I have the professional and management skills to be a good steward for that which is most essential to us. Most importantly, I care. I love this town and the people who live in it; it’s the best place I’ve ever lived. I want to keep it that way for our children and everyone else who calls our humble town Home.