Former councilor Mitchell to run for commissioner

Phil Mitchell says he’s ready to take the next step in his political career.

The retired Whitefish businessman and former city councilor has filed to run for the Flathead County Commissioner District 1 seat currently held by Cal Scott.

Mitchell served on the Whitefish City Council from 2010 through 2013 and served on the Whitefish School Board from 2002 through 2007.

“I learned a lot as councilor and as a member of the Whitefish School Board,” Mitchell told the Pilot. “This is the next step. The valley interests me and I think I could be a benefit to the commissioners.”

Mitchell, 61, has filed as a Republican.

As a city councilor, Mitchell was known as a budget hawk who kept close tabs on Whitefish’s spending. He says he’ll bring the same conservative and frugal philosophy to the county.

He believes the county’s budget is in good shape, but says a budget of that size “can go awry quickly.”

Mitchell favors county control of the two-mile planning “doughnut” around Whitefish “in order to give doughnut residents representation.”

While on city council, Mitchell voted against appealing Flathead District Judge David Ortley’s decision last year in favor of the doughnut to the Montana Supreme Court.

Mitchell doesn’t agree with the ongoing litigation struggle.

“Going to court is never a solution,” he said. “That’s my frustration with this.”

If elected, Mitchell says he’d be open to working with Whitefish on planning for its entry corridors.

“That seems to be the important thing,” he said. “The city should work with the county on that.”

Mitchell says he doesn’t have a hidden agenda.

“I’m known as person who doesn’t hide my thoughts,” he said. “I don’t think I’m going to change that.”

A Flathead Valley resident for 35 years, Mitchell spent many years constructing golf courses around the world, including the Iron Horse course on Big Mountain.

For the past eight years, he has served as the volunteer manager for Smith Fields in Whitefish. He also served as volunteer construction manager of Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish.

He and his wife Belinda have operated several small businesses in the valley, including a retail chocolate store and a furniture refurnishing and antique business.

They have two grown sons, Jeremy and Daniel.

Mitchell received his college degree from Cal Poly. He is a National Rifle Association member and says he has never filed for bankruptcy.

Commission candidates filing for bankruptcy became an issue in 2012 when it was revealed that three candidates, including Scott, had filed for bankruptcy.

Scott was appointed commissioner following Jim Dupont’s death in March 2012; he was elected in November that year to serve the remaining two years of the District 1 term. District 1 generally includes the northern tier of the county.

Mitchell’s campaign co-treasurers are Su Dupont, widow of the late Jim Dupont, and Lyle Phillips, a retired Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. manager.