House District 10 includes Kila and parts of western Kalispell, including neighborhoods near Kalispell Middle School, Stillwater Road, Spring Creek and Ashley Creek.

CATHERINE C. ALLEN 

Political affiliation: Democrat 

Age: 44 

Town of residence: Kalispell 

Occupation: Full-time mom and freelance photographer 

Background: University of Montana graduate with high honors in history and music; Glacier Symphony and Chorale member; Flathead Warming Center innkeeper; regularly involved my kids’ schools, sports and other activities; formerly worked as a retail manager, English as a Second Language tutor, personal stylist, wedding cake baker and transcriber 

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

I think it’s a terrible time to give our wealthiest residents a tax break while keeping the tax burden the same for everyone else. Only single households making above $65,000 and joint households making above $130,000 will see a cut. It amounts to a $120 million revenue loss for the state, and that’s a conservative estimate. Our schools are chronically underfunded due to a broken funding formula and inadequate state funding. The state is $7 million short on Medicaid and reneged on its promise to provide a 3% rate increase for Medicaid providers. 

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? 

Yes, and there’s more to do. When the second phase of the reforms kicks in this year, commercial properties below $2.2 million in value will see a property tax reduction from 1.9% to 1.5%. This will help businesses that were hit hard last year absorbing the residential property tax cuts. However, owners of long-term rentals and multi-family homes still haven’t seen relief. Their enrollment for tax credits needs to be made automatic going forward, and we need to carve out a heritage exemption for family cabins so people can afford to keep them. 

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

When I’m in Helena, I will ask one question about every bill: is this a statewide problem or something Kalispell’s own officials understand better? Property taxes and school funding are statewide issues, so I’m hoping to help fix those. But zoning, licensing and short-term rental rules belong with our city commission, not a one-size-fits-all state mandate. Kalispell has no self-government charter like Whitefish does, so state overreach hits us harder. I will oppose bills like Senate Bill 336, which would’ve stripped local rental zoning power. 

TERRY FALK

Political affiliation: Republican 

Age: 65 

Town of residence: Kalispell 

Occupation: Mortgage loans 

Background: Current and former board member for several organizations 

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

Montana needs to be competitive with other states for business growth. Jobs are an important part of affordability. Lower taxes will promote growth in jobs that pay well.  Lower taxes equal more and better jobs, which expands the tax base which pays for Medicare, roads, prisons, law and justice. It is always better to grow revenue than have to cut budgets. We now have a track record in Montana of lowering taxes that increase revenue. Let’s keep growing our economy for the good of all! 

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? 

Our property tax issue wasn’t resolved by the 2025 Legislature. Many Montanans are very upset, and when you shift taxes to businesses and agriculture, we all pay the price. Also, the 2025 tax bills are horribly complex — this is not necessary. Even the Department of Revenue told me in committee this week they are still working through the changes. Did you know about 23,000 mobile home owners did not get the tax benefit? Let’s improve the tax base with responsible natural resource development. Plus, timber harvesting will lower our housing costs. 

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

We need to do what’s right. Our county commissioners are doing right. The 2025 Flathead County budget was $1,211 per resident. Missoula County’s 2025 budget equaled $2,235 per resident. Why the difference? Flathead County does the budget right. Everyone wants accountability from local and state government— it’s good for all. It’s what we do in our private lives also — it leads to success for everyone. This includes DUIs and uninsured motorists.  We can work together for everyone’s good!