This letter is in support of Valarie Eve, who is running for the office of Whitefish city judge.

Eve believes in the mediation process to settle disputes between people. She would like to present the mediation process to the citizens of Whitefish. Valarie knows trained mediators who are ready and willing to mediate for a program in Whitefish.

Valarie has led the mediation program in Flathead County for the past three years, and I have had the privilege of working for her. This responsibility includes scheduling bi-weekly mediations for justice court, organizing training seminars for the mediators, being available for countless questions from the public on the mediation process, and she is very generous in giving her time to answer questions from the group of mediators that she leads.

Valarie has excellent communication skills, which strongly enhances her leadership capabilities. Through the years that the mediation program has been up and running in Kalispell, there is an approximate 85 percent success rate in cases reaching a solution without having to go to court. This saves and enormous amount of time and money for the justice system.

The mediation process resolves disputes more quickly and is less expensive than going to court. Resolution is private and not always a matter of public record. Mediation allows the parties to control the outcome of their case.

It is important for a mediation program to have a strong, organized, and enthusiastic leader, and Valarie Eve has performed that responsibility beautifully for the mediation program in Kalispell.

Please consider voting for Valarie Eve as your next city judge.

Renay M. St. Rose

Kalispell