Election 2013: Meet council candidate Life Noell

Life Noell has seen a lot of changes in Whitefish since his family first moved here in 1996 from Florida. Businesses and buildings downtown have come and gone and the town as a whole has progressed and expanded.

Having experienced those transitions firsthand, Noell says he’ll bring a hometown perspective to the conversation if elected to Whitefish City Council.

Noell, 31, campaigned unsuccessfully for city council in 2011, although he garnered more than 500 votes in the contentious election on a shoestring budget of just $50.

He’s decided to run again because he believes he has something to offer the city that he loves and calls home.

“I have to keep believing that eventually voters will be ready for someone like me,” Noell told the Pilot in a recent interview.

Noell first became active in local government after receiving a five-year deferred sentence in 2010 for his involvement in a marijuana-growing operation in town. Attempting to distance himself from those charges, Noell volunteered for the Whitefish Weed Advisory Committee, and later was appointed to the Whitefish Park Board.

“I didn’t want to look like a public enemy,” Noell explained. “I thought about what I could do to get out of the shadow of the deed I was guilty of.”

“I don’t think cannabis is a bad thing — in fact I’m an advocate for it. But I didn’t want people to think I’m a problematic citizen.”

He continues to serve on the Weed Advisory Committee.

Noell believes it’s vital for citizens to be active at the local level.

“Think globally, act locally,” he said. “Inside every local politician there is someone who wants to make a greater difference, but you have to start somewhere.”

Noell says he is entering the election with no agendas and no hidden plans — it’s just an important time to get involved, he said.

“You can be the person that complains, or be the person that does something,” he said.

Parking downtown

Noell says there has been a need for more downtown parking for as long as he can remember. A parking garage, he said, is the solution that will bring the greatest benefit.

“Businesses will quickly be able to see the benefit,” he said. “I recognize that a parking garage could be an eyesore. But if it’s built well, it could link into our local aesthetic.”

He also supports the decision to keep City Hall in its current location.

Tax increment finance

Noell says the use of Whitefish’s tax increment finance funds have and will continue to benefit everyone in town.

“We will have to stay focused and act responsibly when spending the remaining TIF as it runs out,” he said.

As a member of the Park Board, Noell has been a leading advocate of using TIF funds to build the proposed Sky Park footbridge over the Whitefish River between City Beach and Birch Point Drive.

“I voted every time to keep Sky Park as the top priority,” he said.

Planning for development

Noell is a proponent of growth, so long as it’s done smartly.

“A lot of people who I grew up with think if I get elected that I’ll keep Whitefish exactly how it was 15 years ago — as if we’ll somehow keep it from growing,” he said.

“Growth is good, but growth is change, and sometimes people have a problem with change. We need to make sure we’re growing at the right rate.”

Addressing the need for more affordable housing in Whitefish would be a top priority for Noell if elected.

“It’s crucial we provide for families and stay on top of senior housing,” he said.

Planning doughnut

Noell says the dispute over the planning doughnut and the long slog through litigation has not been good for anyone involved.

“I have yet to hear a positive result from either side of this issue,” Noell said.

He’s ready to get the city back to the conversation table.

“I hope we can approach the county with a new hand shake,” he said.

Whitefish Lake

A recent study shows that aging septic systems along Whitefish Lake are threatening lake water quality.

Noell says the integrity of the lake should be protected and annexation is a tool that should be considered.

“As properties are annexed, connecting more lakeshore homes to city services will help reduce current problems and help prevent problems in the future,” he said.

He said ultimately there needs to be a maintenance program with inspections and regulatory policies.

— Editor's note: This article was edited to correct that Noell no longer serves on the Whitefish Park Board.