Letters to the editor Nov. 4

The greater good

Meeting the housing needs for everyone in Kalispell will take a long spectrum of creative solutions. Fortunately, Kalispell is blessed with an array of organizations and bright minds who can work together to meet the needs along this spectrum.

I am the executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley. Habitat for Humanity builds homes for people between 30% and 80% of the area median income (AMI). We all know that nowadays even people up to 200% of AMI are having a hard time finding a house to buy in the Flathead Valley. As a result, our valley is losing talented members of our workforce. They are leaving because they just “can’t get ahead” or find a way to settle down here.

When I came up with a proposal for a joint venture between Habitat Flathead and the private sector in order to meet this demand for homeownership from our workforce, Kisa Davison was the first person to say, “Yes! I will work with you on that.” For the past 10 months, Kisa has been working tirelessly with our team on this workforce housing project. In many ways, Kisa could have profited from her involvement on this workforce housing initiative during her campaign. She never exploited her involvement in this project. I am sure her construction company won’t profit from her involvement in this project either.

I truly believe Kisa is quietly and steadfastly working with Habitat Flathead to create up to 100 more affordable homes for the workforce in Kalispell because she is truly committed to making Kalispell a better place for everyone. I know Kisa as someone who is dedicated to working for the “greater good.”

— MaryBeth Morand, executive director, Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley

Pedestrian safety a top issue

As the parent of two school-age children who are constantly on the move in our neighborhood, pedestrian safety is an important issue for my family. Whether it’s walking to and from school, riding bikes to the park or running off to a friend’s house to play, my kids are outside navigating our neighborhood sidewalks and streets almost every day. 

Ryan Hunter’s commitment to improving pedestrian safety is one of the many reasons he has my vote for mayor of Kalispell.

During his time on City Council, Ryan’s record reflects that he listens and responds to community concerns around this issue. He pushed to find funding to build sidewalks where they are missing and repair sections that are falling apart. Ryan supported a speed reduction measure on East Oregon Street where residents have serious concerns about the speed of traffic as cars cut through the neighborhood from U.S. 93 to Whitefish Stage. My neighborhood faces similar challenges, and I am confident that, as mayor, Ryan will listen and take action to improve the safety of the streets where we live.

This is just one important example of the many ways in which Ryan Hunter is a model civil servant. Honest, straightforward, and transparent, Ryan’s work on City Council over the last six years shows that he listens, engages, and responds to the concerns of Kalispell residents. I love this beautiful city we call home, and I want a mayor with the energy and experience to move our city forward in ways that are thoughtful and strategic. Ryan’s years of civic service and voting record make him the right man for the job.

Please vote for Ryan Hunter for mayor of Kalispell.

— Jennifer Stephens, Kalispell

The right leadership

As our city enters a pivotal period of growth, we need a mayor who understands both the opportunities and the risks. I believe that Kisa Davison is precisely the leader we need.

Kalispell is not immune to the housing affordability crisis. Many of our working families, young professionals and essential-service personnel are being squeezed out by rising rents and lack of inventory. Ms. Davison knows how to engage the construction and development community, how to work through zoning, building-permits and affordable-housing partnerships — not merely pay lip service. Her commitment to treating growth as a solvable challenge (rather than a threat) is a practical, future-forward approach for our city.

Further, the question of how City Hall listens to the people matters. When residents feel disconnected from decisions about our downtown, our infrastructure or our safety programs, trust erodes. Ms. Davison’s emphasis on town halls, technology-based outreach and inclusive governance gives me hope for a more transparent and responsive city government.

Downtown revitalization and public safety are equally core issues. With her experience as the chair of the Business Improvement District and her background in youth-programming and community engagement, she brings real-world leadership to these priorities.

For those of us who believe Kalispell’s best days are ahead — if only we get the right leadership — I urge you to join me in supporting Kisa Davison for mayor. Let’s choose experience, collaboration and practical results.

— Renae Gugler, Kila