Senate District 4 includes central Kalispell and Evergreen and has been served by Sen. John Fuller, R-Kalispell since 2019. 

AMY REGIER

Political affiliation: Republican 

Age: 48 

Town of residence: Kalispell 

Occupation: Registered nurse 

Background: Flathead Republican Central Committee precinct committeewoman 

Do you support Gov. Greg Gianforte’s initiative to implement a 4.7% flat state income tax? Why or why not?

I support the initiative to implement a 4.7% flat state income tax. Research has shown that a flat tax system is associated with higher incomes and faster economic growth.  Philosophically, creating economic classes with different tax brackets only increases government control. The government should not be picking winners and losers nor disincentivizing success. 

The 2025 Montana Legislature implemented a number of property tax reforms. Do you support these efforts? What other steps should the 2027 Legislature take to address property taxes?

I did not support the property tax shifts that were signed into law. The bills only worked to shift the tax burden onto businesses, agriculture and many hard-working Montanans owning a second home. While some Montanans may have seen a slight decrease in property taxes, they will however begin to pay for that decrease with higher costs for goods and services by the businesses bearing the burden to the tax shift. Using tourism dollars to offset property taxes as well as trimming the state budget should be a priority for the 2027 Legislature. 

How will you balance your legislative priorities with local jurisdictional independence and control? 

The least amount of government is the best, and the most local government is the best because it’s closest to the people. Limiting government should be a focus of all our elected officials whether federal, state or local. Leaders should not be focused on gaining more control but on providing services — for example, public safety and certain infrastructure — and then stay out of the way of citizens’ success. 

KYLE WATERMAN

Political affiliation: Democrat 

Age: 51 

Town of residence: Kalispell 

Occupation: Downtown retail shop owner 

Background: Kalispell City Council member and president; Past president of the Kalispell Daybreak Rotary; Western Montana Mental Health Center chair; Flathead Suicide Coalition member 

Do you support Gov. Greg Gianforte’s initiative to implement a 4.7% flat state income tax? Why or why not? 

I’m not a hard no — I want to hear the proposal. What I want to hear is how Kalispell Main Street, School Districts 5 and 50 and economic development for Flathead manufacturing are going to be fully funded before considering cuts in revenue streams. 

The 2025 Montana Legislature implemented a number of property tax reforms. Do you support these efforts? What other steps should the 2027 Legislature take to address property taxes? 

My priority will be to make sure the surge in commercial property taxes are invested back into Kalispell and that second home taxes rebalance commercial property taxes for Kalispell’s Main Street. Then, I want to make sure that Kalispell’s police, firefighters and infrastructure are alternately funded so Kalispell City Council can keep up with growth without having to raise property taxes more. 

How will you balance your legislative priorities with local jurisdictional independence and control? 

Serving on Kalispell City Council has taught me the importance of local control. Local decisions affect the character of our town, the effectiveness of our first responders and the privacy of our citizens. Keeping small effective government means pushing back on state and federal overreach into our schools, healthcare and local government.