Page 6 - Flathead Beacon // 10.15.14

6 | OCTOBER 15, 2014 NEWS Commission Race: No Criminal
FLATHEADBEACON.COM
READER POLL
FLATHEADBEACON.COM
Have You Been Paying Close Attention to the Midterm Elections?
Charges for Voting Allegations
By MOLLY PRIDDY of the Beacon
The midterm elections take place in less than a month, and the race for Flat- head County commissioner, a contest be- tween Stacey Schnebel and Phil Mitchell, continues to heat up.
Last week, Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan announced he wouldn’t look into allegations that the Democratic can- didate Schnebel engaged in illegal voting in 2009 and 2011.
The allegations, made by Flathead County Republican Chairman Jayson Peters on Oct. 1, accuse Schnebel of com- mitting misdemeanor offenses when she moved to Coram in 2008 but continued voting in Whitefish municipal elections in 2009 and 2011.
Peters alleged such voting shows that Schnebel and her husband Seth are guilty of a misdemeanor according to state law, and that state law also says someone who is found guilty of violating Montana’s elec- tion laws “must be removed from nomina- tion or office.”
On Oct. 9, Corrigan said it is protocol for his office to refer complaints about po- litical practices to the Commissioner of Political Practice’s office.
As for misdemeanor charges, Corrigan said it was not anything his office would pursue.
“It’s pretty easy (not to pursue the case) on legal grounds, given the statute of limitations for a misdemeanor is one year,” Corrigan said. “There’s nothing to pros- ecute as far as criminal offense.”
Corrigan said as much in an Oct. 9 re- sponse letter to Peters.
The two candidates have met up in can- didate forums around the valley, including one held in Bigfork on Oct. 6 and another in Kalispell on Oct. 7.
The Oct. 7 forum was held at Kalispell City Hall and moderated by Kalispell May- or Mark Johnson, who spoke with candi- dates for government whose seats include the city; the list involved multiple candi- dates for state legislator, along with the
76% YES
TOTAL VOTES: 142
Did You Visit Glacier National Park This Summer?
Flathead County commissioner candidates Phil Mitchell, center, and Stacey Schnebel speak during a forum in Bigfork. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
two commission candidates.
Each candidate spoke one-on-one with
Johnson, who asked the commission hope- fuls about their takes on the relationship between Kalispell and the county; busi- ness development tools the county can use to grow the economy; and what each candi- date thinks about the ideas for the couplet redesign on U.S. Highway 93 in downtown Kalispell.
Schnebel called the relationship be- tween the county and city “contentious at best,” and said there isn’t enough commu- nication back and forth, and “not a lot of respect.”
She said commissioners should at- tend Kalispell council meetings and board meetings to try and breach the divide.
Mitchell said he thinks Kalispell and the county are “getting along fine,” and that he knows what intergovernmental re- lationships shouldn’t look like after work- ing on the Whitefish City Council during the doughnut legal battle.
The county needs to show respect for the cities, Mitchell said, and there should be more face-to-face meetings to solve problems.
As for business development, Schnebel said the county should be as welcoming as possible to potential businesses, and the county needs to anticipate future industry trends to stay relevant for new businesses.
Mitchell said the county needs to pro- mote its “specialness” to potential busi- nesses, and highlighted the success of or- ganizations such as TeleTech as proof that this area is attractive to businesses.
Regarding the couplet, Schnebel said she believes the continued revitalization of downtown Kalispell will likely mean avoiding a four-lane highway running on one side of the historic courthouse, and that such a design would impair pedestri- an traffic.
Mitchell said the two proposed designs – with two lanes on each side of the cou- plet or all four lanes on one side – need to be considered, and the county needs to sit down with Kalispell and the Department of Transportation to discuss the needs and wants for the couplet.
Absentee voting started on Oct. 6, and the general election is Nov. 4.
[email protected]
38% NO Should Montana
RECYCLER’S GEAR SALE
RECYCLER’S GEAR SALE
S a t u r d a y
BRING IN your used, well cared for Nordic, Tele and Alpine Touring ski gear, technical clothing, or climbing equipment (No Alpine skis) from Oct. 27th-Oct. 31st forcheckinandpricing.
Nov. 1 - sale starts at 9am
135 Main Street in historic downtown Kalispell • 406-752-2446
RECEIVE 100% STORE CREDIT
ON ITEMS SOLD!!
Save the Date! Ladies Night Nov 21st
www.rockymountainoutfitter.com
62% YES
TOTAL VOTES: 121
Allow Same-Sex Marriage?
50% YES
TOTAL VOTES: 220
50% NO ONLINE POLL RESULTS ARE NOT SCIENTIFIC
24% NO
NORTHWEST MONTANA’S PREMIER MOUNTAIN SHOP