Columbia Falls has an uncontested city council election this year, following Matt McConville's withdrawal of his candidacy last month. His name remains on the ballot, however.

Both Mike Shepard and Dave Petersen are running for re-election. Shawn Bates is up for election to the vacant post left by Harvey Reikofski, who is stepping down after four years on the council.

Council member Don Barnhart is running unopposed for mayor and is virtually assured of leaving a vacancy. His council position will be filled by appointment after the new council is sworn in next January.

Shepard describes himself as a fiscally conservative lifelong Republican who listens carefully to constituents but sticks by his final answers in council decisions.

He said the city needs to pursue grants for municipal projects, tap into the consortium of state and federal dollars, look at long-term low-interest loans - perhaps from local banks so the money gets turned over locally.

"Tax dollars are very limited, in light of the fact we don't know what Plum Creek is going to do long-term with the mills in town, we don't know what CFAC is doing," he said. "The mills themselves will impact young people and they may end up moving elsewhere to find work and ultimately we may end up losing our population base."

Overcoming people's attitudes is an obstacle he sees to moving the city forward. Some opposed using the Cedar Creek Reservoir land-sale money to buy land for River's Edge Park but, he said, "that will be a showcase park."

Shepard aims to get through the next four years without raising taxes and "keep looking for ways to squeeze everything out of the budget possible."

Petersen likes the sense of community in Columbia Falls. He's proud of the Nucleus Avenue revitalization fostered through passage of a decay ordinance, expanded downtown business zoning and cooperation with Tree City USA, for example.

The city is lucky to have the skills of Finance Director Susan Nicosia who helps locate grants, he said, but polishing the uptown's appearance could help attract business investment and grow the tax base.

Progress has been good "but we certainly could pay more attention to the downtown," he said. "Some people invest a significant amount of money to build or remodel a building and next to them are people who don't even care … It's a matter of respect."

Listening is important in council service, he said, but so is the willingness to give an opinion, ask all the questions and challenge the status quo.

"Some of the community just have to be open to the idea that these things can happen, will happen and they're not going to negatively affect our quiet little town," Petersen said. "Some consider any change to be bad. I don't look at it that way. As there's more growth in town, it's good for everybody."

Bates said he is taking a run at council service to be sure "tax dollars are being spent appropriately and in a way that is going to move the city forward and to serve our community in the best way possible."

City streets need some work, he said, and infrastructure such as sidewalks could be put in place. City parks are a great amenity, "but I don't think the city should be overspending on parks. I think it should be a happy medium."

As a young family man, Bates feels he could represent the direction the community should go. Rational thinking, common sense and attention to detail are his strong points, he said.

A good council member is strong in "communication, listening, being objective with ideas and being open to suggestions of what people in the community might want," he said. Those will be important skills, too, in finding a way through the current economy and searching out new funds - with grants being a great way to go, he said.

"I think that we need to think outside the box on some of this stuff and maybe be a little bit more open to different zonings and things like that," Bates said, to "create business and create jobs and maybe revitalize the economy a little bit."

Reporter Nancy Kimball can be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com