West Valley man vying for commissioner

The Daily Inter Lake

West Valley resident Kip Willis is the seventh Republican to enter the race for Flathead County commissioner.

Willis has worked in the aerospace industry and as a business consultant for about 30 years, with much of that time spent traveling in Asia and Europe. Currently, he is an ISO 9000 quality auditor, helping companies achieve and maintain their ISO 9000 quality certifications.

He and his wife, Shirley, moved to the Flathead a few years ago. They have two school-age children.

Willis said he has been a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for many years. More recently, he's been involved with the Flathead Citizens for Quality Growth, a group that sued the Flathead County Board of Adjustment last year in a dispute about a West Valley gravel pit.

Willis is running for the board's District 3 seat, which currently is held by Bob Watne.

Other Republicans who have filed for the position are Dale Lauman, Brian Fulford, Kim Fleming, Gerry Banzet, Kathy Robertson and David Reynolds.

No Democrats have filed for any county elected offices.

The filing period for county positions ends March 23. The primary election will take place June 6.

In 2004, five Republicans and one Democrat vied for Commissioner Howard Gipe's seat on the board. Joe Brenneman won a narrow victory over Denise Cofer, becoming the first Democrat elected to the board in more than a decade.