Former senior executive and business

owner Doug Wise, 66, announced his candidacy for Whitefish City

Council this week. Originally from Tennessee and North Carolina,

Wise bought a home in Whitefish in 1995 and he settled here

permanently in 2007.

Prior to his retirement he owned Wise

Connections and was a business consultant.

Wise is a member of several local

community service boards, including serving as the vice president

of the Whitefish Lake Golf Association, a member of both the Parks

and Recreation and Hugh Rogers Wag Park boards, a Rotary Sergeant

at Arms and a member of the Moose Lodge.

Sen. Ryan Zinke said in a press release

that Wise is “enthusiastic, understands business and is a supporter

of keeping Whitefish a special place to live and work.”

Wise joins Richard Hildner and John

Anderson as candidates who have filed to run for the three open

seats left by outgoing councilors John Muhlfeld, Ryan Friel and

Turner Askew.

Muhlfeld is running for the mayor

position. Current Mayor Mike Jenson’s term expires at the end of

the year. He will not seek another term.

Prospective candidates seeking to run

for city council or the mayor position have until June 30 to file

with the county Election Department.