During a candidate forum Wednesday night, Whitefish City Council candidates weighed in on several pressing issues facing the resort community, from a critical shortage of work-force housing to deteriorating water quality in Whitefish Lake.

For the most part, all four hopefuls — two incumbents and two challengers for three open seats — were on the same page about how the city is providing local government.

Incumbents Richard Hildner and Frank Sweeney are both seeking a second four-year term. Katie Williams, manager of Great Northern Brewing Co.’s Draught House, and John Repke, a semiretired financial analyst, round out the slate of candidates.

The third open seat currently is held by Sarah Fitzgerald, who was appointed to fill out John Anderson’s term after he resigned.

Slaney Barton and Sarah Lundstrum had filed but have since dropped out of the race.

Unopposed incumbent Mayor John Muhlfeld also participated in the forum.

Mail ballots will be sent Oct. 14 for the Nov. 3 election.

Sponsored by the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce and the Whitefish Pilot, the forum allowed each candidate to expound on questions asked by Chamber Director Kevin Gartland and Whitefish Pilot Editor Matt Baldwin.

Candidates first were asked whether the city has appropriately spent its tax-increment finance district revenue, and what the remaining unallocated $4 million should be spent on before the tax district sunsets in 2020.

Hildner said previous councils have spent the money wisely. He’d like to see remaining tax-increment revenue possibly used for property acquisitions in the City Beach area and any improvements that would spur the town’s economic viability.

Williams took issue with the city’s use of tax-increment money to build a new City Hall. She said it may not be appropriate because she believes the new facility won’t increase the city’s tax base. She’d rather see tax-increment money earmarked for work-force housing solutions.

Sweeney, however, said he believes using a small portion of tax-increment revenue for City Hall is “more than appropriate.”

Repke, who has lived in Whitefish full-time for a year and part-time for eight years, agreed with the incumbents that the city has spent its tax-increment revenue wisely. He’d like to see remaining funds spent on affordable housing and further development of the city’s bike path network.

Muhlfeld said the city’s use of tax-increment money for the reconstruction of Whitefish High School was a landmark project. Remaining revenue could be spent on extending city utility lines to areas that need an extension of services. Breathing new economic life into the former Idaho Timber facility might be another good project, he said.

Regarding a question about whether city residents should have been able to vote on the City Hall and parking structure project, all candidates generally agreed it’s the council’s role and responsibility to decide budget issues such as the construction of a new City Hall.

“The city has been well-planned and developed,” Repke said. “City Hall has been in the works for some time. If everything is put to a public vote, I don’t know how you govern.”

Muhlfeld said the City Hall project has been one of the “most vetted projects” the city has undertaken.

Candidates were asked what role the city should play in cleaning up septic contamination in Whitefish Lake. They agreed the city should be involved in protecting one of the city’s prized assets.

“As goes the lake, so goes Whitefish,” Hildner said. “It’s one of our most important resources and we need to extend services where it’s feasible and economically viable.” He favors a septic inspection program.

Muhlfeld said offering incentives for residents along the lake to hook up to city services would help.

Work-force housing was discussed, with council hopefuls agreeing a recent housing summit and forthcoming housing task force are important first steps to addressing a shortage of affordable housing.

Williams pointed out that only 58 percent of the people who work in Whitefish are able to live in the city. That’s not a good scenario, she said, given that new hotels are under construction and that will increase the need for service industry workers.

Candidates talked about the “grit” of citizens that gives Whitefish its small-town character.

“Grit is hard-working people,” Williams said. “A lot of us sacrifice salary for quality of life.”

During closing comments Williams said she may be inexperienced and young, but “I embody the grit we’re all talking about today. I’m boots on the ground ... I want to live in Whitefish.”

Candidates lamented the breakdown in communications between Flathead County and the city of Whitefish that resulted from the legal battle over planning jurisdiction of the “doughnut” area outside Whitefish. Sweeney called it the city’s “most vexing issue.

“We have attempted to and will continue to try to work with the county,” Sweeney said. “In recent years they haven’t been willing to listen. We need to rebuild the relationship.”

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