Whitefish City Council candidate Giuseppe Caltabiano

Giuseppe Caltabiano is one of eight candidates running for a seat on the Whitefish City Council. The others are Ben Davis, Andy Feury, Kristen Riter, Phil Boland, Vincent Dell'Omo, Judy Hessellund and Terry Petersen. Mark Owens' name also will appear on the November ballot, but he told the Daily Inter Lake he is no longer running, citing personal reasons.

Name: Giuseppe Caltabiano

Age: 60

Family: Divorced, two grown children, one grandchild and a second on the way.

Occupation: Partner and president of NXGEN International, which manages business internship programs for youth.

Background: Former naval officer and pilot. Holds a doctorate in electronics and computer science from the Polytechnic University of Milan. Before moving to the U.S. in 2002, worked to improve the central business district in the city of Melbourne in Australia. Spent one year teaching algebra and calculus at Sand Ridge Charter School in Lebanon, Oregon. Served as scoutmaster of Boy Scouts Troop No. 1917 in Whitefish. Currently volunteers as an Angel Flight pilot and Civil Air Patrol captain. Serves on the board of Glacier Park International Airport.

Contact: Email: caltabianogiuseppe@gmail.com — Website: gman4whitefish.com — Instagram: @gman4whitefish — Facebook: facebook.com/gman4whitefish

Why do you want to serve on the Whitefish City Council?

My children grew up in Whitefish, and I have lived and worked here for nearly two decades. I love this community and want to give back by serving.

How should the city address its shortage of affordable housing, while responsibly managing growth and development?

The city's primary focus should be to reconsider its existing policies to see how they unintentionally contribute to more costly housing. Present zoning, architectural standards, setback requirements and impact fees contribute to the high cost of housing and should be thoughtfully reexamined. Present policy seeks (against both logic and experience) to increase the supply of low-cost housing through government-imposed price manipulation. Investment in basic housing should be a rational economic choice for prospective builders, lenders and purchasers. In a housing market free from price manipulation and excessive regulation, the demand for lower-cost housing can be satisfied by an increase in supply.

As a council member, how would you prioritize the implementation of the city's Climate Action Plan?

The city can and should take reasonable, cost-effective steps to reduce its carbon emissions in coordination with the county and state. I would give priority to an effective recycling program and infrastructure, and to managing with more urgency the collection of the piles of garbage left to rot in various city's areas! I do not think a full-time Climate Action Plan coordinator is needed for this purpose. Security and safety are a higher concern. I would consider hiring more police staff (and emergency services) first. I would consider closing downtown to "nonresident" traffic (out-of-state, noncommercial vehicle) during certain days/times of the week, and charging "nonresidents" for parking both in the city's covered garage as well as along the streets (easily electronically implementable with the equipment and software that the city already owns).

A measure on the November ballot will ask voters to renew Whitefish's 3% resort tax. Should the measure pass?

I support a renewal of the 3% resort tax because, unlike property and income taxes, it applies to tourist spending. It also contributes to improved streets and roads and property tax relief. I would like to explore state law changes allowing the property tax relief to apply to property owned and occupied by residents rather than to nonresident property owners. I am in the process of studying a case for possible application of "resident discount policies."

How should city officials continue to lead through the Covid-19 pandemic?

The city should define specific standards for its employees by applying appropriate medical information, but under state law may not impose those standards on private businesses or organizations. The city can also continue to update the relevant Covid information and keep the citizens updated and educated on its emergency center webpage here: cityofwhitefish.org/alertcenter.