Ratliff, Whitacre square off in council election

Havre ophthalmologist Marc Whitacre said his work in the city, such as restoring the former federal post office and former Masonic Temple Building with his wife, Erica Farmer, show what he can bring to City Council if elected.

"I want to make the city a better place, and I think I've got some ideas on how to make it happen," Whitacre said.

Whitacre faces Havre High School teacher Lindsey Ratliff for the Ward 3 seat now held by Jay Pyette. Pyette did not file to run for re-election.

Ballots in Havre will be mailed out to voters Friday.

Whitacre said he is interested in taking on issues such as substance abuse and establishment of a ground ambulance service that can provide transport to Great Falls.

Whitacre said the condition of the city's infrastructure is a long-term problem that needs to be addressed. He said he supports the proposed mill levy that would fund the repair of city streets.

"You have to spend money to fix things. It's not going to fix itself and it's only going to get worse with time," Whitacre said.

The proposal would generate an estimated $15 million over 20 years or $750,000 annually.

"You will pay. Now the question is whether you will pay a tax that is well spent or whether you pay more for paying for the repairs that result from poorly maintained streets and a poorly maintained water supply," he said.

The issue of how to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries has been a subject taken up by cities throughout Montana. In Havre, the council's ordinance committee has discussed whether medical marijuana dispensaries should be able to have storefront advertising.

Whitacre said he opposes allowing medical marijuana dispensaries being allowed to advertise in their storefronts.

He said he believes that even though Montana voters have voted to legalize the sale and use of medical marijuana, it sends the wrong message to the community, visitors and is overall a bad influence.

Whitacre was one of five people appointed by Mayor Tim Solomon to an ad hoc committee created to look at how the city can address the problem of derelict vacant properties.

The committee was created after Samantha Clawson, a homeowner in Havre and grant writer at Montana State University-Northern, asked the city to consider creating a vacant property registry ordinance, or VPRO, to address the issue of derelict vacant properties.

The committee has been looking at what other communities with VPROs have done to address the problem and what Havre can legally do to fight blight and derelict property ownership.

Whitacre said that at the committee's last meeting it was suggested there be a specific definition of vacant properties and a sliding scale where the more derelict properties were subject to higher financial penalties as time passed.

Whitacre said he is in favor of such a proposal.

Cities and counties are grappling with how best to meet expenses with available revenue. He said if given the choice between raising revenue and cutting services he would rather raise revenue.

"Once damage is done to critical city infrastructure, then you are just, you are driving towards a brick wall and turning your head away knowing that something bad is going to happen and ignoring that it is going to happen," he said.