Dear citizens of Whitefish,

I have lived in and cherished the beautiful city of Whitefish since November, 2005, when I moved to the area as a business partner with Tom Nitopi to develop NXGEN International (as well as a deep and great friendship with Tom.)
Together, we have always wanted the company’s headquarters to be based in Whitefish where we employ over thirty team members.

I was born in Milan, Italy, on September 20, 1961, and was raised in Gela, Sicily, right on the beaches upon which General Patton landed two decades earlier to bring what we Italians always respectfully and emotionally call the “American Liberation.”
My dad believed deeply in strong education and encouraged my brother, Armando, and me to pursue it with a vengeance. I earned a doctoral degree in Electronics and Computer Science from Polytechnic University of Milan, after which I served two years as a Naval Officer.
Over the following years, mostly for business reasons, I have resided in London, Singapore (with 6-months stints in Seoul, Tokyo, Bangalore), Melbourne, Lebanon, Oregon, and now Whitefish.

One of my dearest memories is when I became an American citizen in March, 2017, at which time I committed myself to give back to my new motherland. I studied the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. These are two of the most amazing documents upon which a country can build itself, especially when you read them coming from a different culture! I realized that volunteering is the way that a successful community executes on our Founding Fathers’ idea of “the pursuit of happiness.”
Since I believe in youth, and the intrinsic goodness within young men and women, I have dedicated many of my activities towards mentoring youngsters.

I am thankful to have been a Scout Leader at Troop 1917, co-aided by my friend, Jim Ramlow. I am a Captain in the Civil Air Patrol. I have taught, once a year, for thirteen years at Leadership Flathead, and for two years in the Junior Achievement program here at Whitefish Middle School. I am an Angelflight pilot and a life member of the Museum of Mountain Flying where I am rated as a pilot of Miss Montana, the DC3 that I was honored to fly from Normandy to Germany during the 75th anniversary of D-Day. For the past two years, I have been a commissioner at the Glacier Park International Airport Board (FMAA.)

I have been blessed with a daughter, Caitlin Hunt (a graduate of WHS), who lives in West Glacier with my son-in-law, David Hunt (a graduate of WHS.) They live in West Glacier with my granddaughter, “Principessina Amelia.” I have also been blessed with a son, Ian Caltabiano (a graduate of WHS), who is completing college in Bozeman with a major in Financial Engineering. Ian is engaged to Katie Koterba and they are to be married later this year.

My passions that I pursue to the fullest are my faith, youth mentoring, flying, my business, hiking, skinning up the mountain, backcountry skiing, running 10Ks, ballroom dancing, and fixing my vintage pinball machine!

I am running for City Council because I believe in the need for balance in our City Council and, most importantly, in HONORING THE RESIDENTS of our town. Representation is a pillar of my electoral mandate, and I desire to bring to the Council not my voice, but the voices of ALL CITIZENS of Whitefish.

I fully understand that in every race there are winners and losers, and the cost might sometimes be higher than the return, but, to me, this is the essence of serving!

Finally, I am committed to my community, so I pledge to run again, both in the case I win or in the case I lose this time!


Credits to Clyde Dicks for editing