The Star-News will host a candidate forum for McCall City Council candidates tonight at  6 p.m.  in the Community Room at the McCall Public Library.

The forum is open to the public and there will be an opportunity to ask questions of the candidates. Questions can also be sent in advance to McCallNews@cherryroad.com.

There are five candidates vying for three seats up for election on the McCall City Council in the Nov. 4 election.

Name: Wayne Dolik

Age: 75

Occupation: Retired business owner of Wayne Company & Associates, sales/marketing and real estate lender, CEO San Diego Cutlery

Where Born/Raised: Chicago/Orange County, California

Education: Fullerton Jr. A.A. attended College University of California Irvine

How long Lived in McCall: 15 years

Previous government experience: Current Elected McCall Committeeman for the Valley County Republican Central Committee 2016-present.

Clubs, organizations, other activities: Past President of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, Anaheim, California; Vice-President of the Men’s Club at the McCall Municipal Golf Course 2013-2023.

If elected, Wayne Dolik said his main goal would be to be responsive to the needs of local citizens.

Dolik is one of five candidates vying for three seats on the city council in the Nov. 4 election. Challengers include Julie Thrower, Bob Giles, Lyle Nelson and Michael Weaver. Each seat carries a four-year term.

“I am a 75-year-old man running for City Council. You ask why? Because leadership works in a bubble,” Dolik said.

“We need leaders who are close to the people. Unfortunately, people do not always get what they want or need. To get people who are engaged to represent the American people will be a challenging feat. So, why not let a few of us try,” he said.

The single issue that motivated Dolik to run is that “the city needs someone who plays golf on its city council,” Dolik said.

“When city management decided to operate the city’s Municipal Golf Course, with all city employees, they should have followed the same plan they followed with Parks and Recreation a few years earlier,” Dolik said.

Dolik asserted that the city should have brought in a professional management team to consult with the city.

“Do you know the McCall Municipal Golf Course is the center of the McCall Community? Our golf course is a community gathering place,” he said.

“I have seen the Sheriff and Police Chief here on the Golf Course but, not a single Council Member here in years,” Dolik said.

“Letting McCall grow without harming its rural environment or infrastructure,” is the greatest challenge facing the city, he said.

The structure of McCall city government needs to change, Dolik said.

“We have no continuity of government,” he said. “We need a full-time mayor; instead, we have temporary business managers.”

“The City lacks proper oversight of public entities,” Dolik said.

To improve local housing options, the city should “let people travel here,” he said.

The city’s impact area should be decided by county and city, Dolik said.

“Lastly, we need to consider legal issues and spending limits and budget considerations too,” he said.

Name: Bob Giles

Age: 72

Occupation: Member of McCall City Council, Mayor.

Where Born/Raised: Sacramento, California

Education: B.S. degree in biological science, University of California, Davis; M.S. and M.F. degrees in forestry, Oregon State University.

How Long Lived in McCall: 27 years

Previous government experience: 35-year career with the Boise and Payette National Forests.

Clubs, organizations, other activities: Certified alpine ski coach with the McCall Winter Sports Club.

Awards and recognitions: Several City Achievement Awards over the past five years.

Family members at home: Wife, Renee Giles.

If reelected, McCall Mayor Bob Giles would help the city be intentional in the management of growth and in improving community health.

Giles is seeking reelection to the McCall City Council. The council elects a mayor from the city council members.

There are five candidates vying for city council in the Nov. 4 election, including Michael Weaver, Wayne Dolik, Julie Thrower and Lyle Nelson. Each seat carries a four-year term.

“I care about the people in our community and want to continue to be part of a local government that is in touch with what our residents and visitors desire for our future,” Giles said.

Giles listed the most important issue that motivated him to run was the need to increase workforce housing opportunities in McCall.

McCall’s local housing incentive program is working as intended because there are strong partnerships with the McCall-Donnelly School District, St. Luke’s McCall and private developers, Giles said.

The program offers developers a $10,000 incentive to deed restrict local housing and $20,000 if that housing adds regulations that make it affordable, by city standards.

McCall should further address affordable housing by implementing the highest priority items in the city’s housing action plan, he said.

Giles listed the greatest challenge facing the city in the next few years as pulling together the resources of the private sector, residents and local governments to achieve the outcomes identified in the city’s comprehensive plan.

Giles cited recent feedback on social media that the city council is perceived as inflexible, out of touch or slow to make changes as something happening in the city that needs to change. As an example, Giles mentioned social media posts that called for building design changes.

“Discussing these issues in council meetings and workshops would help everyone gain a better understanding of the way forward,” Giles said.

Now that Valley County has redrawn the McCall area of impact, the council should stay focused on the issues that matter to voters, like protecting Payette Lake—the city’s sole source of drinking water—and providing certainty in the way growth takes place around the city, he said.

“We need to stay engaged with Valley County commissioners, the State Legislature, and the Governor’s Office to make sure unintended consequences of the new legislation are considered,” Giles said.

Name: Lyle Nelson

Age: 76

Occupation: Retired community health administrator

Where Born/raised: Born in Boise, raised in McCall

Education: Graduate of United States Military Academy at West Point, master’s degree in systems management, University of Southern California

How long lived in McCall: 38 years

Previous government experience: McCall City Council, 2021-present

Clubs, organizations, other activities: St. Luke’s McCall Community Board, current board chair; Boise State University Resilience Institute, Advisory Committee, 2021-present; West Central Mountains Youth Advisory Council, Board member, 2012-present; Valley County Opioid Response Project, Steering Committee, 2020-present; McCall Ski Heritage Foundation, Board Member, 2017-present

Awards and recognitions: President’s Award for Distinguished Leadership, St. Luke’s Health System; U.S. Biathlon Hall of Fame; U.S. Flag Bearer and Team Captain, 1988 Olympic Team; Co-author, “Spirit of Champions”

Family members at home: Wife Marcia Witte, MD; son Nelson Witte (16); daughter Lilianne Witte (13).

Lyle Nelson was motivated to run for reelection to the McCall City Council to promote and protect the culture and quality of life in McCall from the pressures of excessive growth.

Nelson is one of five candidates vying for three seats on the city council in the Nov. 4 election. Challengers include Wayne Dolik, Julie Thrower, Bob Giles and Michael Weaver. Each seat carries a four-year term.

“I believe I am well prepared to help McCall identify and address current and future pressing priorities,” Nelson said.

Nelson listed those priorities as starting a project that results in “truly affordable and secure housing for locals” and to approve and fully implement the city’s climate action plan.

“The housing incentive program is helpful, but too sparely used to offset our housing affordability problems. It’s only one arrow in the quiver,” he said.

“We need to be a leading partner in a coalition that builds subsidized, yet attractive, apartments for entry level wage earners,” Nelson said.

The greatest challenge facing McCall in the next few years is natural resource sustainability, he said.

“I believe the city can take a greater leadership role in aligning and galvanizing key stakeholders around long-term strategic actions,” Nelson said.

McCall should remain engaged in the land planning process now that Valley County has redrawn the McCall area of impact, he said.

“We must continue our efforts to convince county and state agencies and officials that nearby sensitive lands, especially adjacent to waterways, need stringent protection from development,” Nelson said.

“McCall has an exceptionally caring and engaged community, and collectively we can achieve our vision to be a small, diverse town committed to maintaining our environment and character,” he said.

High-volume tourism is harming the local ecosystem, Nelson said.

“We need to educate visitors how to be more environmentally sensitive and to create activities and infrastructure to support environmental stewardship,” he said.

Name: Julie Thrower

Age: 52

Occupation: Attorney

Where Born/Raised: Born in Arlington Heights, Illinois; raised in Escondido, California

Education: B.S. in biochemistry, University of the Pacific; Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology, Johns Hopkins University; J.D. University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

How Long Lived in McCall: 9 years

Previous government experience: McCall City Council since 2022; U.S. Department of Justice trial attorney from 2007-2016.

Clubs, organizations, other activities: McCall Biathlon Club, volunteer legal services to environmental/conservation nonprofit groups.

Family members at home: Husband Larry, children Ethan and Ava

Julie Thrower said she is running for reelection to the McCall City Council because “I deeply care about the future of our community.”

Thrower is one of five candidates vying for three seats on the city council in the Nov. 4 election. Challengers include Bob Giles, Wayne Dolik, Lyle Nelson and Michael Weaver. Each seat carries a four-year term.

“Being on City Council has given me a deep understanding of our city’s needs and our collaborative approach to solving complex problems. I would like to continue advocating for our community’s needs to enhance our quality of life,” Thrower said.

Thrower listed her priorities as water quality in Payette Lake and promoting “multi-modal transportation.”

The city should work with the Payette Lake Watershed Advisory Group and others to develop a data-driven lake management plan and support its implementation, Thrower said.

The city should also champion initiatives that enhance year-round connectivity of the town by supporting pathway connections, measures to enhance safety and providing better opportunities for people to commute and explore without a car, she said.

The greatest challenge facing McCall in the next few years is managing impacts from tourism and vacation home related growth, Thrower said, citing existing city policies and programs as beneficial ways to address the problem.

“McCall hired a housing planner last summer to implement the strategies we’ve identified in our Housing Action Plan. Having dedicated staff to implement our plan is key to improving our local housing options,” she said.

“This last year, we’ve increased incentives for deed restrictions that require an affordability component, and with the passage of the street local option tax this last May, we made funding available to support required street and sidewalk improvements for developments providing deed restricted housing,” Thrower said.

When asked what needs to change, Thrower said the city should be more aggressive about engaging in issues that affect the city but the city does not control directly.

“We’ve had a Valley County waterways management plan that prescribes a 500-foot no wake zone that the county is responsible for implementing. I’d like to see the city be a more active participant in supporting such efforts,” Thrower said.

“Overall, I believe Council needs to have more discussions on how to engage with each issue when it comes up and have follow through with a plan,” she said, referencing the city’s letter in opposition to the DF Development Red Ridge Village proposal.

Name: Michael Weaver

Age: 56

Occupation: Owner, McCall Home Watch Service; formerly operations facilitator at May Hardware, now part-time.

Where born/raised: Born in California, raised in Eagle, and Spokane, Washington.

Education: High school graduate with years of continuing education. Studied political science in China and Japan, participated in a pilot program for computer-aided graphics and web design, and attended international business school in Zurich, Switzerland.

How long lived in McCall: 10 years

Clubs, organizations, other activities: Organizer and committee member, Toys for Tots; Thelon Management Advisory Board. Enjoys snowboarding and mountain biking.

Family members at home: Wife Jodi and MCPAWS chocolate lab, Hedy.

Michael Weaver said he is running because he has a passion to make a difference and bring a fresh perspective to the McCall City Council.

Weaver is one of five candidates vying for three seats on the council in the Nov. 4 election. Challengers include Julie Thrower, Bob Giles, Lyle Nelson, and Wayne Dolik. Each seat carries a four-year term.

“Running for office was always a matter of when, not if, for me,” Weaver said. “Some say that city council has limited influence, often serving a ceremonial role, but the past four years have shown how divisive rhetoric, fear, and a lack of common sense can split our community.”

One of Weaver’s main goals would be to work with Valley County to adjust to the new impact area, ensuring all voices are heard over special interests.

“With Valley County’s recent redrawing of the impact area, I’d seek to serve as a council liaison, working toward clear agreements with the county that protect our lake and open spaces from unchecked development,” Weaver said.

“I’ll support community input sessions to ensure transparent land use planning, free of hidden agendas. I’ll keep an eye on county policies, striving to preserve our lake, trails, and views while promoting balanced growth that benefits locals, not outsiders,” he said.

Weaver listed managing growth as the greatest challenge facing McCall.

“I’d focus on balancing today’s needs with future readiness, bringing a unique perspective to adapt to changing circumstances and ensure sustainability,” Weaver said.

Weaver also said the local housing incentive program falls short.

“Contractor and developer incentives appear to offer little impact on overall project costs, though I look forward to gaining deeper insight as a councilor,” he said.

Weaver believes workforce housing should be a bold, collaborative effort.

“I’m cautious about creating another district focused solely on its interests. The sewer and school district silos hinder town-wide collaboration,” he said, adding that maybe more of the local option tax revenue should support housing to offset tourism’s impact.

“I’m exploring ideas such as a community investment group—businesses pooling resources for housing with a fair return, a unified approach to meet McCall’s needs,” Weaver said. “For example, May Hardware shows self-driven success. Other growing businesses struggle with housing costs for skilled workers; they could use our support.”