On Ted Lund

With the passing of Ted Lund, Whitefish has lost a dear friend and one of its leading citizens. At the same time, America has lost a perfect example of "the greatest generation."

If all levels of government in this world could be filled with leaders having the kindness and common sense of this very gentle man, all of our current problems could be resolved.

Harry and Nancy Brown

Whitefish

Divisive rancor

To the citizens of the Whitefish community, I recently received a mass e-mail from Rick Blake, proponent of We Love Stumptown. In this e-mail is Rick's conviction that Whitefish City Councilor Frank Sweeney and his wife focus much of their attention on Texas, and his observation that the Sweeneys donated money to Texas political candidates. Gosh, is this mind-blowing news or what?

Included in Mr. Blake's e-mail is an aerial photo of the Sweeney's Whitefish property. Isn't this borderline invasion of privacy? I am curious as to how many Whitefish business men and women maintain offices in other states. Is this a reason to be frightened, that a candidate for city council has been successful in his business practice? I think not.

I had the pleasure of serving with Frank on the A Trail Runs Through It advisory committee, where we developed a master plan for a thoughtful recreational trail system that will provide an important amenity to local residents and bring tourists dollars into our town.

I also had the pleasure of serving with Frank on the Whitefish City-County Planning Board, where Frank used his keen judgment and thoughtful demeanor to provide leadership as chairman of the planning board.

In two years of serving with Frank on volunteer committees, not once did he mention the word Texas. In fact, all we talked about was Whitefish

Mr. Blake, take your divisive rancor somewhere else. I encourage the thoughtful citizens of Whitefish to vote for Frank Sweeney, who has demonstrated a strong intellect, a passion for Whitefish, and who knows when to hold his tongue.

Greg Gunderson

Whitefish

Another mailer

I am writing to urge all registered voters in Whitefish to vote for Frank Sweeney to retain his position on the Whitefish City Council.

I live in the old railroad district, and over the spring and summer, we had many issues with BNSF Railway. We had many meetings, including one with railroad officials and our governor, and one with members of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, and we did walk-arounds with those groups through our neighborhood.

Frank Sweeney came to our meetings and supported us, and that is why I believe he deserves our support. On the other hand, I received a solicitation by mail — an expensive mailer — for my support for the other three candidates.

I noticed it was sent out by some anonymous group that had a Kalispell P.O. Box. I believe the folks in Kalispell have enough of their own problems without trying to influence our local Whitefish City Council election.

You never know when you might have a neighborhood problem of your own, and then you will want someone like Frank Sweeney to support you. I urge all registered voters to return by mail your election ballot after voting for Frank Sweeney, the most qualified of all candidates.

Suzanne Brooks

Whitefish

Served together

Phil Mitchell deserves our support for Whitefish City Council. In past dealings with Phil, I always found him to be honest and straightforward, and he did things the way he had promised.

When we served together on the Whitefish School Board, Phil was an outspoken supporter of what was right for both the students' future and the taxpayers' responsibility and burdens.

Charles Abell

Whitefish

Water quality

The crucial issue facing our community in the upcoming Whitefish City Council election is protection of our water quality. Frank Sweeney has promised not to compromise on the goal of maintaining our water quality.

It's become clear that some candidates would like to dismantle the building regulations that keep our water clean and free of chemicals and sediments that occur when building is permitted too close to our water source.

Candidates closely allied with real estate development and the building trade may not make unbiased decisions for the welfare of the whole community.

Please give serious consideration to the importance of protecting our water quality for the next generation. Don't hand over the power to destroy this safeguard to those whose profit motive may take precedence over the protection of our water quality.

Barbara Palmer

Whitefish

Wants Sweeney

I am writing to voice my support for Frank Sweeney for Whitefish City Council. I served with Frank on the Whitefish City/County Planning Board and was always impressed by his ability to understand complex issues and his willingness to consider a variety of opinions. Frank has a broad perspective and an open mind.

In my experience, Frank has been an advocate of growth and development. He has supported responsible, sustainable growth while keeping in mind the effects on our community.

I believe Frank realizes that much of our future growth will be "amenity based." In other words, people are coming here for the quality of life. Clean water, clean air, green open space will become increasingly important as our local economy changes with the times.

Frank contributed to the formulation of the Critical Areas Ordinance in an effort to keep our lakes and streams from being "loved to death." He realizes that it is much easier and less expensive to prevent pollution of our waterways than it is to wait until they are polluted and then try to reverse the process.Ê

Frank realizes that as we grow, our community becomes more complex and more diverse, with a large variety of people and opinions. He sees this as something that can unite us and that we can take pride in. Whitefish has lots of character and lots of characters.

This character hopes you will vote for Frank Sweeney for Whitefish City Council.

Kerry Crittenden

Whitefish

No fliers

I was going to vote for Phil Mitchell for Whitefish City Council, but now I and others will not vote for him.

Last Saturday, Oct. 17, after watching the soccer state playoffs at Smith Fields, everybody came out to their cars in the parking lot to find Phil Mitchell flyers stuffed under the windshield wipers on every car.

We all know how annoying that is. Sorry Phil, you lost my vote and others, too, by doing that.

Andy Apple

Whitefish

Special place

Election season is upon us, as is evident by the political paraphernalia throughout our great city — yard signs, pseudo billboards, candidate forums and, yes, even glossy mailers and "fact" sheets intended to educate our public on the folks running for Whitefish City Council.

If I didn't know any better, I would think we were in Washington, D.C., not small-town Whitefish, Montana. Regardless, the election season reminded me of how important it is to reflect on the positive aspects of our community, many of which are a result of the volunteer efforts your city council, citizen advisory committees and philanthropists have made to make Whitefish such a special place to live.

Whitefish is embroidered with signs of community spirit, cooperation and political compromise — the performing arts center, The Wave, a new public trails system, an expanding parks department, a vibrant and growing downtown core commercial area, a new emergency services center that will increase service to our citizens, and a commitment to preserving our environment without hindering reasonable growth.

Our citizens have much to be proud of this election season. Please take the time and do your homework. Regardless of your political position, respect the hard and diligent efforts your current and past councilors, volunteer citizens and benefactors have contributed to our community. Rise above the negative campaigning and rhetoric, and demand civility from your neighbors attempting to spin the election with misleading statements and blatant lies — it's the right thing to do in Whitefish, Montana.

John Muhlfeld

Whitefish City Councilor

Likes Mitchell

After reading about, asking questions and listening to the four candidates for three seats on the Whitefish City Council, I am voting for Phil Mitchell, Chris Hyatt and Bill Kahle.

In my opinion, this will give us a council that will listen to the concerns of the general public and use common sense in making important decisions.

Be sure to mark your ballots and send them in before Nov. 3.

Jack Fletcher

Whitefish

The low road

There they go again, taking the low road. If you live in Whitefish, you probably received a mailing this week attacking city council candidate Frank Sweeney. The mailer attempted to cast doubt on whether Sweeney actually lives and works in Whitefish. (He does. Has for 10 years.)

Reading the mailer was a depressing djˆ vu moment. Two years ago, the same people hired a private detective to spy on one of the city council candidates, and then dragged the candidate and his fiance into court in a lawsuit over his residency. The court quickly dismissed the case, but not before the councilor's private life was aired in public.

Private detectives, unfounded lawsuits, mailers full of innuendo — is this really how we as a community want to conduct our political debates? How we want to treat those who are volunteering to serve the community?

I don't think so. I don't think most of us here in Whitefish think that is any way to treat our neighbors.

If you don't agree with a candidate's viewpoints, fine. Say so. Campaign on the issues. Get your message out there. I encourage everyone, regardless of their viewpoints, to participate in the community's political life.

But let's not allow a few individuals who are in the minority to turn things ugly in our community. Let's not be known as a place where personal attacks come with the territory when you stand for office. We need to encourage public participation, not discourage it. Let's be known as a community that has a fair and open discussion of the issues, where everyone can feel comfortable participating and having their voice heard.

If you don't like the nasty mailings, stand up and say so. Stand up for fairness. Stand up for a healthy public process.

Nancy Woodruff

Whitefish