Whitefish business traced to Ohio presidential candidate

Reports emerged last week tying a Whitefish-based business to a well-known Republican presidential candidate.

According to campaign contribution documents filed July 30, a Whitefish-based LLC named MMWP12 contributed $500,000 in June to New Day Independent Media Committee Incorporated, a super-Pac backing Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s run for the White House.

The company lists an office on 13th Street in Whitefish as its address.

The Center for Public Integrity reviewed the business filings for the company and found that it’s controlled by another Whitefish company, K2M LLC.

That company lists its officers as venture capitalist Mark Kvamme, along with Paul Johannsen, managing partner of National Parks Realty of Whitefish.

The two partnered at Great Northern Ventures in developing the Homestead project on Star Meadows Road. In 2007, they proposed a detailed plan to develop Block 46, which never panned out.

Kvamme has worked with Gov. Kasich in leading the JobsOhio nonprofit to assist with the state’s economic development.

Kvamme made his fortune as a partner in Bay Area-based Sequoia Capital, which financed Google Inc., Yahoo Inc.

He has made many financial contributions to organizations in Whitefish over the years, including to the North Valley Food Bank and the Whitefish Community Foundation.