Whitefish hosts Western Governor’s meeting

For the second time this decade, Whitefish will play host to the annual summer meeting of the Western Governor’s Association next week as the top elected officials from 10 states join other dignitaries to discuss issues facing the American West. The conference, held mainly within the Whitefish Performing Arts Center, is expected to draw about 500 attendees. It begins Monday afternoon and concludes Wednesday with the election of a new chair and vice-chair. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock is currently in his final year as the association’s chair. Headliners at the event include: Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke — a Whitefish native who was the state’s lone U.S. Representative until President Donald Trump tapped him for his current post; U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell; actor and musician Jeff Bridges; Bozeman-based mountain climber Conrad Anker; and Republican pollster and commentator Frank Luntz...more