As the only incumbent in this year's slate of Whitefish City Council candidates, Frank Sweeney said he knows well the issues facing the city of Whitefish and evaluates situations based on merit and fact.

He also believes that being a City Council member is one of the most important offices a person can hold because local government affects people's lives in so many ways. He wants to help Whitefish have a more user-friendly city government.

Sweeney was appointed to fill out the remainder of Shirley Jacobson's term and has been serving on the council since January. He has lived in Whitefish for nearly 10 years and said he wants to keep Whitefish a special place.

The controversial streetscape project that is accompanying the reconstruction of downtown streets was the target of "much misinformation and miscommunication," he said. He said he believes the project was properly vetted, and maintains the city would not be doing it if officials didn't believe it will work.

While Sweeney voted in favor of the contract for the streetscape work, he tried to reach a compromise on the sidewalk widening issue, making a motion that would allow the contract to be amended without charge at the end of the six-week mock-up period if there was new evidence the design was flawed. That motion was defeated.

"The issue of sidewalks is not dead," though, Sweeney said. "We won't break ground until next spring. It could still be changed, and fairly inexpensively."

Sweeney believes the city needs an interlocal agreement with the county in the two-mile "doughnut" area, but noted that during the council's goal-setting session this year, one of the emerging priorities was finding a way to give that area some representation.

"I don't have any good answers yet" about how to provide representation, he said. "There are no clean fixes. We may need some legislative change."

Sweeney said the critical-areas ordinance, while "not perfect in its application," is beginning to work. Tweaking of the drainage-related law has been ongoing, he said, pointing to a recent council decision to lower some critical-areas fees.

Unlike the more rigid emergency ordinance that preceded it, the critical-areas ordinance "has allowed people to do some awfully good things with their property" even if they live in a drainage-sensitive area. He believes the law is science-based and will continue to evolve.

"I think we made it equitable for all," Sweeney said, adding that the approval process for the ordinance was "very public and very thorough."

There was likewise some misinformation that came with the city's recent update of lakeshore regulations, Sweeney said, adding that he made a number of amendments to clarify the regulations.

"I think we have a pretty good set of regulations that will be more easily understood and used," he said.

In other issues, Sweeney said he has been directly involved with fact-finding surrounding BNSF Railway Co.'s recent move to purchase property adjacent to the rail yard where underground petroleum-related contamination exists.

He's comfortable with the city's level of involvement and believes the city does "bring something to the table for citizens."

Regarding affordable housing, Sweeney believes the city has a role to play and needs to stay involved, but acknowledges there are and will continue to be weaknesses in the voluntary program until there's a clear definition of what affordable housing is.

Sweeney said he believes it's important for Whitefish to continue to be operated by the people who cherish it.

"On this level, the most important thing we can bring is an open mind of what Whitefish is and who it belongs to," he said, noting that he and his wife looked far and wide to find a community like Whitefish. "We found this place and fell in love with it."

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com