For how many years have Third and Fourth Avenues East been a speedway? How many years have areas on the Westside of Kalispell been blighted? They have no curbs, no sidewalks, no speed bumps and hardly any stop signs.

Those homeowners on the Eastside and the Westside in Ward 3 need help, which is exactly what I am doing and will continue to do if I am elected to City Council.

I brought these very issues to the October 19 City Council meeting. The mayor agreed with me and the public works director assured me a traffic study would be conducted on Third and Fourth Avenues East and on Seventh Street and 11th Avenue West. Road safety and walking safety for our children is paramount. Helping my neighbors is important to me and is one of the reasons why I am running for City Council. I want to solve problems.

 My father, Cmd. Sgt. Major Herbert Osorio chose Kalispell as a family friendly town for us to live in while he had a year-long hardship tour of duty in Korea. My mother, a nurse, worked at Kalispell Hospital when it was run by the Catholic nuns. All of us were used to an Army life of constant moves, but this was the place we could put down roots and we did.

I graduated from Flathead High School as did all my siblings and my daughter. I am a graduate of Gonzaga University. Since 1986, I have enjoyed my work on the various boards, charities, community, public service and civic projects I have been involved with in Kalispell. I am a downtown business woman and member manager of a limited liability company which owns property in downtown Kalispell. I don’t have to punch into someone else’s time clock. I can take the time needed to serve my constituents. I have the experience, knowledge and stamina to do so.

The word “transformative” has been used a lot lately to describe the recent happenings in Kalispell. There are a lot of moving parts to the $10 million TIGER grant, the bypass, the growth policy, casino regulations, sewer bills, downtown parking, fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers, and the list goes on — which is why time is so important. A council person must have time to study the issues, make themselves knowledgeable, listen to their constituents, be available and I am.

 It is true I was not selected by City Council to serve out Randy Kenyon’s seat nor were 10 other candidates who all had experience in government, community service and involvement in Kalispell. I am old school. I think you pay your dues. You earn the trust and support of your neighbors because you have been involved and are knowledgeable about the needs of your community you have spent time serving. I have loved doing just that.

Rod Kuntz is correct that the Kalispell City Council is not a place to “gain experience, pad a resume, or push an agenda.” I have business experience and community experience and government experience. I have been selected by two different mayors to serve this city on the Impact Fee Committee and the Planning Board. Each of these boards deal with methodologies specific to future and present complex development and city growth policies. I do not need to pad my resume nor am I pushing an agenda.

I am proud to be endorsed by former Councilman Robert Hafferman. He did his homework and always asked, “How will it affect the taxpayers?” I know I can’t go wrong by following his example.

I have taken some heat for standing with my neighbors over the Westside parking ordinance. Thankfully, the facts have been well documented by an unbiased press. Everyone knows I did not threaten to sue the city. Everyone knows I strove to seek a compromise to avoid a lawsuit. Everyone knows, after the passage of the ordinance and being approached again by my neighbors, I stood with them. It is time to move beyond and ask ourselves is the parking problem really solved. Kuntz and I do not share the same answer to that question.

It is important to me to engage in facts and issues. When I ran against a six-term incumbent (Jim Atkinson) our race was marked with courtesy and I had a good showing. Yes, I have run for this office once before and I was one of 10 not selected by City Council to fill Kenyon’s vacant seat but I am still here ready and well-prepared to serve. I will be honored by the votes of my Ward 3 neighbors.

Osorio-Khor, of Kalispell, is a candidate for City Council Ward 3.