Palmer drops out of race

Councilor Nick Palmer announced near the conclusion of the Whitefish City Council's difficult Aug. 17 meeting that he is withdrawing from this fall's council elections.

Two of Palmer's amendments failed earlier that night — one to strike language in the mobile vendors regulations and one to reduce the width of sidewalks in the Third Street and Central Avenue streetscaping projects.

Referring to the street-scaping vote, Palmer said the council had 'resolved some things, but we didn't do it right."

By voting to approve construction bids before the Central Avenue mock-up was given a full six-week test, the council had "broken faith" with the people, he said, especially considering the "huge" majority opposed to the streetscaping project.

Palmer said he expects to see a backlash by the voters. He said a group of "well-funded" real estate developers with "three of their candidates' on the ballot were already talking about taking over the council this fall.

A new council could be expected to weaken the city's Critical Areas Ordinance and what Palmer called a 'slow-growth policy," he said.

Palmer added that he could count on one hand all the people who are committed to Whitefish, and he named them.

"It's been an honor to serve on the council, but I've had enough," he concluded.