Quiet election shifts makeup of city council

There were no yard signs, no election mailers and not a single letter to the editor printed about the slate of council candidates in this year’s city election. Even the Whitefish Chamber’s council candidate debate was canceled due to a lack of interest.

While the local campaign season was eerily quiet on all fronts — and in stark contrast to recent Whitefish elections — the results tallied Tuesday night signal a significant shift in the makeup of the Whitefish City Council.

Three new councilors, including former mayor Andy Feury, Pam Barberis and Jen Frandsen, will officially take their seats in January.

Outgoing councilors Phil Mitchell, Chris Hyatt and Bill Kahle chose not to run for re-election.

Feury garnered 29.36 percent of votes, followed by Barberis with 26.15 percent and Frandsen with 25.87 percent. Life Noell tallied 17.73 percent of votes to finish fourth in the four-person race.

Whitefish Municipal Court Judge Bradley Johnson ran unopposed. He garnered 96.91 percent of votes.

Voter turnout in Whitefish was 27 percent.

City Council

Three positions open

Andy Feury    1,025   29.36%      

Pam Barberis    913  26.15%      

Jen Frandsen    903  25.87%      

Life Noell           619  17.73%      

Municipal judge

Bradley F. Johnson(i) 1,096   96.91%