Some city council members biased

Representative government is what should exist in the city of Whitefish. If a citizen has a complaint, opinion or comment, they should be heard without being slandered, attacked or discredited by the Whitefish City Council members or the mayor.

During the last several weeks, some city council members have revealed their bias, arrogance and lack of interest in public opinion. Their own bias is so great they are attacking the messenger and not listening to the message.

Citizens and groups beware. If you have an interest in the community and want to make Whitefish a better place for you and your family, only voice your opinions when they agree with the current council’s views.

Just look at the articles by our elected officials (Jacobson, Palmer, Metzmaker) smearing Commission for Fair Land Use and Government (CFLUG) and Sensible Land Use and their members.

These organizations are not much different than the Heart of Whitefish, which joined with the mayor and city council to develop the Whitefish Downtown Master Plan.

The point is that we all have special interests, and many of us belong to numerous organizations which sometimes have conflicting special interests.

I know for a fact that CFLUG members are interested in the community, water, environment, responsible land-use, fair rules and property-owner rights. Members gave up hours of their own time to research, consult and meet to improve the critical areas ordinance.

CFLUG’s concern arose out of Ordinance 06-08 — a law the new Critical Areas Advisory Committee has confirmed was not a good law. Realtors in the group are particularly interested in understanding the issues and being able to explain to their clients the effect on land values. It is required as part of their profession.

These are active citizens who have an educated point of view and are interested in preserving property-owner rights. Consultants brought in from somewhere else imposing their laws on us do not always have the best solution to our situation.

City council must go back to being representative, listening to the people and groups who are involved in the community and doing what is right for Whitefish. And to the citizens, elect candidates who will balance out the now-known biases that are present on our council.

Peter Elespuru lives in Whitefish