Page 17 - Flathead Beacon // 10.14.15

Council Candidates Look to Keep Momentum Going in Columbia Falls Five people are running for three seats in the upcoming municipal election
BY DILLON TABISH OF THE BEACON
A noticeable buzz is surrounding this
year’s municipal election in Columbia Falls, where optimism is springing forth and economic development is gaining momentum.
All five candidates running for city council are echoing excitement for the community, reflecting the progress of a town that has struggled with high unem- ployment and few candidates in years past.
“I think ultimately the council that’s been in place has done a great job. I wouldn’t take anything away from them,” John Piper, one of this year’s candidates, said. “I want that to continue, to be fis- cally responsible and try to hold that line on taxes so we can afford to live here.”
“It’s an exciting time in Columbia Falls,” incumbent Doug Karper said. “For 30 years we’ve been trying to get to the point where I think we are now.”
Election day is Nov. 3 and absentee ballots are available Oct. 14. Voting will be conducted at City Hall, 130 Sixth St. W.
This year’s election features two incumbents running for re-election — Karper and Darin Fisher — and three newcomers vying for their first four-year terms: Piper; Frederick “Erick” Robbins;
and Tyler Lee Furry.
Shawn Bates filed to run for the coun-
cil but has withdrawn his candidacy after being hired by the city’s public works department.
Incumbent Julie Plevel is not running for re-election, guaranteeing at least one new member will join the seven-mem- ber council, which features six council- ors and the mayor.
Karper, a maintenance supervisor with the Columbia Falls school district, is a longtime councilor who first began serving in the early 1990s.
“I still have some passion for the city and what’s going on with this urban renewal,” he said. “I would just like to be a part of that going forward.”
Karper credited the council for main- taining the town’s identity as a business friendly community and keeping infra- structure from falling apart.
If re-elected, he said he would stay focused on being proactive in making sure the former Columbia Falls Aluminum Company plant is properly cleaned up.
Fisher echoed similar plans and enthusiasm. He said he was proud of his first term serving on the council and that he wants to stay involved in the town’s progress.
“We’ve got a great city council right
now and a great city manager,” he said. “I think that Columbia Falls is going good places and I want to keep my fingers in that and help direct that.”
Fisher, a trails manager for the U.S. Forest Service and a budding business owner who is opening a new brewery on U.S. Highway 2 with his wife, Carla, said the cleanup of CFAC is vital to the town and that he hopes to help furnish Colum- bia Falls’ redevelopment efforts.
Robbins, a real estate agent who has lived in Columbia Falls for nearly 12 years, previously served on the Colum- bia Falls City-County Planning Board and felt inspired to get involved again with local government.
“It’s a prime opportunity to help guide our town as we go through what I antici- pate is a growth phase,” he said.
He said his top priorities would be the cleanup of CFAC, as well as helping eco- nomic development continue in a respon- sible manner.
“The city has made a name for itself as being business friendly. I’d like to see that trend continue but obviously some over- sight is needed,” Robbins said.
Furry, a 29-year-old web designer and developer who has lived in Columbia Falls for nearly three years, said he was inspired to join the race to “show that
young people in our community could step up and try to help out.”
Describing himself as Libertarian, he said protecting against unwarranted gov- ernment overreach is important. He said the city should try and learn from Lib- by’s Superfund cleanup when address- ing CFAC’s future. He also said a prior- ity of his would be maintaining Colum- bia Falls’ identity as a town with strong industry while developing a healthy tour- ist economy.
“I want to help keep Columbia Falls a cool Montana town where we can still have an industry and service-based econ- omy and people can afford to live here,” he said.
Piper, a supervisor at the Montana Veterans Home, said he ran when there appeared to be a shortage of candidates, but remains committed to the race.
A lifelong Columbia Falls resident, he said it is important to keep the city’s his- toric industries intact and to maintain affordable housing. Revitalizing down- town is important, he said, along with cleaning up CFAC.
“I don’t have a specific agenda. I think just from my longevity in the community, I think I’d be a good liaison between the city and the general public,” he said.
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OCTOBER 14, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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