Letters to the editor Oct. 23

Vote Davison for responsive leadership

As CEO of GL Solutions — employing nearly 100 talented individuals here in Kalispell — I’ve seen firsthand both the promise and the challenges our city faces. Kalispell needs a leader who truly listens, advocates and revitalizes from the heart. That’s why I’m proud to support Kisa Davison for mayor.

During my time serving alongside Kisa on the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce board and our downtown revitalization committee, I witnessed her commitment to engaging and empowering residents. She consistently brings people together to find consensus, negotiate effectively and drive progress.

Kisa’s leadership platform centers on open communication, public safety, fiscal responsibility and affordable housing through free-market solutions — critical issues I’ve discussed with her. She understands that growth is inevitable but must be met with strategic planning and inclusive dialogue. Importantly, Kisa is focused on removing regulatory barriers and empowering developers to build the homes our families need — workable, free-market fixes, not heavy-handed mandates.

We’ve endured years of a City Council that too often followed rather than led. Kalispell now needs a mayor who will hold City Hall accountable and champion residents’ voices. Kisa is that leader — principled, pragmatic and proven.

I urge voters to stand with Kisa Davison: for downtown revitalization, meaningful job creation, affordable housing and responsive leadership our community deserves.

— Bill Moseley, Kalispell

Hunter is for the working class

I am a proud member of the Northern Rockies Labor Council — a small but mighty coalition of local unions, working together to support working-class people as we stand up for decent wages, affordable housing, and enough quality of life to actually enjoy life.

Our council reached out to all our local candidates in the hopes of learning more about them. Ryan Hunter didn’t just send a rote statement or offer talking points. Instead, he sat down with us — literally — and had an honest conversation about his vision for Kalispell. He answered tough questions about our city’s past, its current challenges, and our shared path forward. He listened. He showed respect for working families not with slogans, but with substance.

He is not just built to lead, he has led, using evidence, transparency and ingenuity. Ryan Hunter has our enthusiastic support, as I hope he will have yours, in his run to become the next mayor of Kalispell.

— Madeleine Claire Fritschler, Kalispell

Hunter understands planning

Without thoughtful planning, sprawl will reshape Kalispell; the streets, neighborhoods and open spaces we love could look very different in just a few years. Ryan Hunter has a plan: thoughtful growth, a vibrant downtown and a walkable, livable community that remains affordable for families who call this place home.

In a time when so much feels uncertain on the national stage, it’s comforting to see a local leader who is steady and reliable. Ryan is someone we can count on. He has proven he will work tirelessly for this community and for Kalispell’s future.

I speak from personal experience. I’ve faced housing insecurity here; my three children and I moved five times between 2020 and 2025. At times my rent was more than half of my full-time salary. That struggle showed me firsthand how real the consequences of unaffordable housing and unplanned growth can be. In my work in social services, I see this daily: families priced out of rentals, seniors forced to choose between gas, food, heating and rent, and neighbors who have lived here for decades wondering if they can stay.

Ryan understands these challenges and acts on them. His experience in urban planning, years of service on City Council, and deep commitment to Kalispell make him the leader we need as mayor. With Ryan Hunter as mayor, we can ensure growth works for us, not against us, and that’s why I’m supporting him this November.

— Mandy Gerth, Kalispell

No kings

As a resident, I am proud that the No Kings demonstration was both well attended and peaceful. Having lived for six years in West Berlin during the Cold War, even my teenage mind could recognize the stark contrast between the impoverished, oppressed East and the prosperous, free West.

The constant presence of soldiers and tanks on the military bases also taught me that freedom is fragile — and must be protected.

There’s a saying that “every correction is an overcorrection.” With that in mind, I hope our government treads lightly when it comes to any tendencies toward authoritarianism.

— Kia Ricchi, Kalispell

‘Truth or Treason’

If you only see one movie this season, be sure to watch “Truth or Treason,” based on the true story of teenager Helmuth Hubener, who dared to distribute in Germany during World War II, quotes from literature banned by the Nazis, that exposed their lies.  

It is currently showing at many theaters and will be at others in the near future.

During this critical time for our country, it serves as a potent reminder of what each of us are called to do to ensure the continuance of our democracy.

As revolutionary patriot and Founding Father Thomas Paine said during our war of independence from Great Britain, “It is the duty of every man [and in our times, women, too] as far as his ability exists, to detect and expose delusion and error.”

— Elizabeth (Betsy) Wood, Kalispell