Letters to the editor Oct. 12

Kalispell needs a steady hand

This November, Kalispell stands at a real crossroads. Our community will decide what kind of city we want to be — and who we trust to lead us there.

The choices for mayor are pretty clear to me: We can elect a very liberal politician who wants to reshape Kalispell in the image of big-government progressivism, a former libertarian who offers no real plan or platform, or a strong conservative leader who believes in building Kalispell.

The leader we need is Kisa Davison.

Kisa isn’t a politician chasing headlines or higher office. She’s one of our many business leaders who has rolled up her sleeves for this community time and again. She understands that leadership isn’t about slogans; it’s about solving problems, listening to people, and making sure local government works for families and businesses, not against them.

Under Kisa’s leadership, Kalispell will stay focused on the basics: public safety, fiscal responsibility, and supporting the small businesses that make our town thrive. She knows we can grow while keeping our community values, the very values that make Kalispell such a special place to live.

This election is about direction. Do we want to gamble on ideologues and opportunists, or do we want a proven conservative who will protect our community, manage growth responsibly and fight to keep Kalispell a place we’re proud to call home?

I’m voting for Kisa Davison, not because of party politics, but because she’s the only candidate who will stand firm for the people of Kalispell. I hope you’ll join me.

— Rep. Amy Regier, R-Kalispell

Responsible decision making

I have not made any decision about my vote for mayor this cycle, but I do want to report for the reader’s benefit on a recent opinion piece that attributed to Ryan Hunter a desire to turn the Buffalo Hill Golf Course into an unpoliced public park. 

I was all ready to fire off a letter in response and caught myself at the last second and decided to reach out to Mr. Hunter himself directly, to confirm whether or not this is truly his position. To his credit, I got an email response back in under an hour explaining that he had suggested the notion for consideration, but after discussion with various community members and researching the history of the course and its original gift to the city of Kalispell, changed his mind. 

All of us would benefit from providing our leaders the opportunity to advance ideas, solicit public input and be willing to change their minds based on new facts, alternative perspectives and common sense. This is not to my mind, flip-flopping, but rather- responsible decision making. As voters, let’s understand that consistency is an important quality, but it should not preclude folks from changing their minds as they learn more. 

As a Flathead native, while I pine for the nostalgic days of my youth in our valley, I understand that there are different facts on the ground today. We should honor our past, try to preserve all the best of our community and adapt where appropriate to current and future needs!

Let’s preserve Buffalo Hill Golf Course, maximize its positive impact on our community and find ways to utilize this beautiful space to benefit everyone!

— Bob Lopp, Kalispell

Thoughtful planning

Ryan Hunter mentioned me in his Oct. 2 letter. Specifically, he said he “shared Diane Etter’s frustration about Kalispell’s rapid growth.”   

I need to correct that statement, I am not frustrated about the rapid growth, I am frustrated and angry about the city’s decision to place huge numbers of  high density housing (650 units) right smack in the middle of single family neighborhoods in a rural location.

In driving around Kalispell and noting the many new high rise apartment blocks, I see that they are all located in much more appropriate spaces, either in mixed-use neighborhoods, or in more urban settings, with some separation from single family neighborhoods. So what happened with the approval of the huge high-rise development along West Springcreek Road? It is so out of character as to be ridiculous.

Hunter also states that he is a strong advocate of infill development to reduce sprawl. I can’t think of a better example of urban sprawl than putting 650 high-density units 5 miles from the city center.

Hunter further states that “approving development on currently undeveloped land — a stage all developed land once went through — is never easy. Well, this tract of land was previously zoned and approved for 225 single family homes, so it must have been easy at one point, and that zoning actually followed the Kalispell growth plan and the Kalispell zoning regulations. It was the rezoning that Hunter and the rest of the City Council are responsible for that is problematic. If they had followed the stated regulations and growth plan, it actually would have been easy.

Kisa Davison has stated that she will be more careful and thoughtful about locating high density housing. Therefore, I support her enthusiastically for mayor of Kalispell. She has the leadership qualities and experience to tackle housing problems and the many other issues facing Kalispell.

— Diane Etter, Kalispell