EDITOR’S NOTE: Below are profiles of candidates for the City Commission Election, which will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 2. There are three open seats. The all-mail ballot will also contain three ballot issues — Park County local-option marijuana excise tax (which voters in Park County outside of Livingston will also vote on), adding self-governing powers to the existing form of local government, and general obligation bonds for the railroad crossing project.
Karrie Kahle
Age: 46
Profession: Park County Environment Council, business and community partnership director; Chico Hot Springs, evening property manager
Education: Bachelor’s degree, broadcast and cinematic arts, Central Michigan University
City Commission candidate Karrie Kahle believes she is ready to take the next step to holding an elected position.
Kahle, 46, served as the community director of the Yellowstone Gateway Business Coalition that successfully stopped two gold mining companies from mining land in Paradise Valley in 2020. The coalition is a pro-business, pro-property rights group representing thousands of employees and their families in the Yellowstone region.
Since March, Kahle has worked as the business and community partnership director for the Park County Environmental Council. The mission of the council is to work with the community to safeguard the land, water, wildlife and people of Yellowstone’s Northern gateway through grassroots organizing and community advocacy.
“I’ve been involved in the community for a while,” said Kahle, who has lived in Livingston since 2012. Before that, she lived in Gardiner for three years and worked at Yellowstone National Park as assistant banquet manager from 2009 to 2012.
“I have a lot to learn, but I have a good background from the work I’ve done in the community over the last few years,” said Kahle, who also is a member of the Park County Housing Working Group, a group of engaged citizens determined to find solutions for Livingston’s lack of affordable housing.
Kahle said she will vote yes on the marijuana excise tax that’s on the ballot.
“We need a broader tax base,” she said. “We need more money for roads, infrastructure, firefighters, etc., so I am for that.”
But she will vote no on the proposed new railroad crossing project.
“The language is too vague,” she said. “It doesn’t say whether it will be an overpass or an underpass. It makes it difficult to vote for. There’s not enough information and I don’t feel comfortable voting for that.”
Kahle said she will vote yes for the city of Livingston to change it’s form of government to a self-government charter, another issue on the ballot.
“This will give the city more options in the way it governs itself,” she said. “And it allows us to be more creative as a city government.”
“I really hope to be a strong and fair leader for Livingston and be a voice for the citizens,” said Kahle. “I felt like the timing was right for me to run for office. I always wanted to try and run for elected office. I love our community here and this is an important time for us the way our community is growing.”
Falisha Kaufman
Age: 42
Profession: Owner, Jewel Healing Spa & Salon
Education: Associates degree, Northwest Shoal Community College
Falisha Kaufman is a small business owner in Livingston who believes she can make a difference if elected to the City Commission.
Kaufman has owned Jewel Healing Spa & Salon, a downtown business on Main Street, since 2017. She has lived in Livingston with her husband, Brad, a fly-fishing guide, and three children since 2009.
“Growth and change are inevitable and we need to be responsible with growth, and fixing our infrastructure,” said Kaufman, who is a native of Phil Campbell, Alabama. “I want to be a voice for the locals.”
“We need to pay attention to how fast Bozeman has grown, but we don’t want to lose our small-town charm,” said the hairdresser, who also has licenses as a nail technician and cosmetologist.
Kaufman said she fell in love with Livingston when she first visited more than a decade ago.
“It’s beautiful, there’s nothing like it,” she said.
“We wanted a slower pace and wanted to get to know our neighbors,” she said. “You can do that in Livingston. I know my neighbors and I listen to what our citizens want.”
Regarding the marijuana excise tax on the ballot, Kaufman said she would vote against it because she believes it is unclear where the tax dollars would go. “I’m very transparent and want to know exactly where we are spending our tax dollars,” she said.
One of Kaufman’s pet peeves is the lack of parking in the downtown area.
“We need more public parking, and parking passes for downtown business owners,” she said.
But the biggest issue facing the city is the lack of housing, said Kaufman.
“We desperately need more affordable housing,” she said. “This is a major issue.”
Torrey Lyons
Age: 34
Profession: Community planning researcher, self-employed
Education: Bachelor’s degree, environmental studies, University of Vermont; master’s degree, public policy, University of Utah; Ph.D., metropolitan planning, University of Utah
A former professional snowboarder from Utah, Torrey Lyons moved to Livingston in July 2020 and quickly got involved in the community.
He has served on the city’s planning board since January and helped to craft Livingston’s new strategic growth policy.
“Being a part of the planning process and hearing from Livingston citizens on how they want to grow is important,” said Lyons. “We need to create policies that are reflective of the growth policy.”
In other community involvement, Lyons is a member of the Windrider Transit Committee, and a member of the steering committee for the Livingston Trails and Active Transportation Plan.
Regarding the ballot issues, Lyons said he is undecided on the marijuana excise tax vote.
“I need to do more research before making my decision,” he said.
He plans to vote no on the proposed new railroad crossing project ballot issue. And he will vote yes on changing the city’s form of government.
“It will provide additional tools for growth and expansion,” he said.
Other issues important to Lyons are protecting the natural environment — most particularly the Yellowstone River — and creating more job opportunities.
“The lack of access to economic opportunity needs to be addressed,” he said.
Lyons said his least-favorite thing about Livingston is its lack of affordable housing.
“Affordable housing is a very important issue,” he said. “We need more infill development and growth to happen within the existing footprint of the city. People in Livingston don’t want urban sprawl.”
Lyon’s favorite things about Livingston are access to the outdoors and the city’s strong historic character.
“I love the city’s pedestrian-oriented design,” he said. “And the mountains are just better in Montana.”
During his free time, Lyons still likes to snowboard and also skateboard at the city’s skateboard park.
Quentin Schwarz
Age: 63
Profession: Carpenter, cabinet maker
Education: Attended Northern Arizona
Quentin Schwarz has lived 30 years in Livingston and is finishing up his first full term as a city commissioner. He’s the only incumbent commissioner up for re-election.
“It’s been a pleasure to serve the community and I want to keep moving forward and progressing,” he said. “We have had some challenging times but we got the strategic plan finished, and that’s another tool to help guide us. I think we’re in a really good place”
Schwartz is proud of what the City Commission has accomplished over the last four years and pointed to the completion of a new sewer plant and upgrades to downtown streets and sidewalks.
“The sewer and water upgrades were huge,” he said. “We’re progressing slowly, but there’s still a lot to do. We’re growing inward and trying to provide more services, and we’re working on the housing issue.”
Schwarz said he will vote yes for the new railroad crossing project ballot issue.
“I want to continue to see the city grow and really want to see another railroad crossing done during my time,” he said.
He will vote yes for the marijuana excise tax, another ballot issue.
“I think it will pass and every little bit helps,” he said. “Any sales tax we can get is good for our community.”
Schwarz helped hire City Manager Michael Kardoes, and believes Kardoes has done a “very good job.”
“He takes a lot of heat for things, but what he’s doing is from the direction of the City Commission. He answers to us,” said Schwarz.
The carpenter said if he’s voted in for another four-year term that he is “looking forward to working on our housing situation to bring affordable housing to our city.”
He believes the key to solving the local housing crisis is more public-private partnerships.
Schwarz said he will vote yes to changing the city’s form of government, still another ballot issue.
“A charter form of government will allow us to do more partnerships on a broader scale,” he said.
Schwarz said his favorite thing about Livingston is the size of the town and the community.
“The people are warm and it’s an inviting place. And we are surrounded by natural beauty,” he said.
The native of Waukegan, Ill., and Cubs fan said he would also like to see a new recreational center built in Livingston.
“We’re working on a way to pay for it,” he said.
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