Slaney re-enters council election

Whitefish City Council candidate Barton Slaney was in the election before he dropped out. Now he’s back in again.

Slaney told the Pilot early last week he was dropping out of the election because he had “too many irons in the fire.” He also declined an invitation to participate in a candidate forum held Oct. 7. The forum was attended by each of the other four candidates in the city council election, along with mayor John Muhlfeld, who is running unopposed for a second term.

But on Oct. 2, Slaney told the Pilot that he was staying in the race. He said he never sent notification to the state Commissioner of Political Practices that he was withdrawing his candidacy and that his name will appear on the ballot.

“We’ll ride it out and see what happens,” Slaney said.

Three council seats are up for election.

Incumbents Richard Hildner and Frank Sweeney are seeking re-election. They are challenged by Katie Williams, John Repke and Slaney.

Mail-in ballots go out next week. The election is Nov. 3.