Four candidates are running for three vacant seats on the Columbia Falls city council, setting up a competitive council race between one incumbent and several newcomers.

The Flathead Beacon is publishing a series of questionnaires with candidates for municipal elections across the valley this fall, where voters in Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls will see competitive races with potential to reshape all three city councils and elect a new mayor in Kalispell.

As for Columbia Falls, the city council has six members, and half the council’s seats are on the ballot this year, along with the mayor. The mayor and city council members are elected to four-year terms.

Mayor Donald W. Barnhart is running for re-election in an uncontested race. Mike Shepard, Paula Robinson and Jenny Lovering’

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