Candidates withdraw from race for Council, judge job

One candidate for Whitefish Municipal Judge is no longer seeking the position, and one candidate for Whitefish City Council has withdrawn from the election.

Attorney Tom Tornow’s campaign announced Thursday that he had pulled out of the race for Whitefish Municipal Judge. Tornow was part of a three-way race for the position running against Whitefish’s deputy city attorney Kristi Curtis and attorney William Hileman.

Tornow, in an email, said “it has become apparent to me that winning this race will cost more money than I am willing to ask people to pay.”

Incumbent Pam Barberis on Friday said she has withdrawn from the City Council race. Barberis was first elected to council in 2013.

“There are great candidates and I want to let somebody else have a turn,” Barberis said. “As a mom and a small business owner I just don’t have the time it deserves.”

Barberis was one of four candidates for City Council. Incumbent Andy Feury, along with newcomers Melissa Hartman and Ryan Gregory Hennen, are now the only remaining candidates for the three seats on Council.

Barberis said she has “loved” learning about the city government and hopes to stay involved on a smaller scale as a volunteer.

In the race for Municipal Judge, campaign signs for all three candidates have popped up all over Whitefish since filling closed in June. Both Curtis and Hileman continue to run for election.

Tornow had said he wanted to bring efficiency to the court and would do so by reducing the judge position to part-time and streamline the court process.

“I was running because I wanted to make Whitefish the best it can be; and to make the Whitefish Municipal Court better,” Tornow said in a prepared statement. “I have been going door-to-door meeting the residents of Whitefish and have knocked on 1,400 doors to date. It has been a wonderful experience. People have been very welcoming and I have enjoyed seeing the different neighborhoods and talking to the Whitefish residents. It has reinforced my opinion that it is the people that make Whitefish so special.”

Tornow has 37 years of experience as a lawyer, law professor and businessman. He has previously served as the substitute judge in Whitefish Municipal Court and has lived in Whitefish since 1991.

In his email, Tornow thanked Whitefish.

“Thank you for your support and consideration Whitefish, I remain committed to volunteering and serving our community,” he said.

Judge Brad Johnson, who has served as judge for 32 years, is retiring at the end of his term.

Election Day is Nov. 7.