It’s difficult to judge which special interest groups can best influence our local elections. These groups, or individuals, can ably draw attention to specific candidates and issues through advertising, public gatherings and lawsuits. But how that translates into votes is far less clear. Recently, the conservative pro-property rights group American Dream Montana announced its ambitious […]

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer deserves a lot of credit for a state budget that is clinging to the black amid the worst recession in a generation. As a Democrat, he is considered a fiscal conservative, which is rare for his party. But as he becomes increasingly attractive to the national press that continues to feature […]

For those running for elected office, experience matters. Each candidate’s pitch to voters includes a lengthy biography of accomplishments, awards and pertinent endorsements from those already working in the public sector. The pedigrees are familiar and, often, so are the faces. It can be maddeningly cyclical. When glancing at this year’s local election roster, you […]

Whenever a tax is involved the issue is sure to be criticized, often with merit. But there is little to dislike about the recently created Kalispell Tourism Business Improvement District, which allows participating hotels to charge guests a $1.25 fee per night and use that money to promote tourism in the city. The room for […]

Most of us consider Montana’s primaries to be “open” in that anyone can vote by simply choosing to fill out a Democratic or Republican ballot on June 8. But there are limits to that openness since, while you don’t have to register with either political party to participate, you are still pigeonholed into picking between […]

As expected, Kalispell City Council voted last week to prevent any new medical marijuana dispensaries from opening up by adopting a zoning ordinance that prohibits establishing businesses within town limits that conflict with federal law. The timing is ironic, since the state of Montana is currently involved in a highly publicized lawsuit that challenges federal […]

I have always been fascinated with Iceland and, recently, everyone else has been, too. But not for the reasons Icelanders would prefer. Not for its thermal pools. Not for the lofty life expectancy of its residents. Not for Björk, either. Iceland has made news for a recent volcano and something far worse: banking. While the […]

There is stigma attached to being employed in the public sector. You are accused of inefficiency, ineptitude and, if you serve on a council or board that wields any sort of power, bias. But if working for the “man” was derided before the recession, it has only worsened since. And the Flathead is a prime […]

In a move that can be described by a number of adjectives (bizarre? vengeful? shrewd?) Gov. Brian Schweitzer asked western Montana officials to show support for the state Land Board’s decision to lease Otter Creek coal tracts before receiving state grants funded by stimulus money. The ultimatum infuriated liberals and came just weeks after the […]

The deadline for legislative candidates to file for office has now passed and the first campaign issue, at least for Republicans running for state office, has emerged: whether to repeal health care reform. A GOP lawmaker told me weeks ago that, if health care reform was made federal law, her party planned on introducing legislation […]

Planning Director Jeff Harris’ contract is up for review in front of the Flathead County Commission in June and Kalispell’s ever-churning rumor mill suggests that the governing body has no intention of renewing it. That decision is completely within their right. If commissioners have decided that Harris has performed poorly in his role, voters expect […]

It appears that the city of Kalispell may ban medical marijuana dispensaries because a state law legalizing the businesses conflicts with a federal law and over concerns that catering to potheads may ruin the city’s broad appeal to tourists. These arguments are equally insane. I agree with, and have previously stated, that the medical marijuana […]

In the Beacon office, we have a sales executive who is originally from Calgary, Alberta. Proud of it. And, like many of those who have citizenship in both countries, when it comes to hockey, he roots for Canada. While I would like to argue that he took the Canadians’ first loss in men’s hockey to […]

There is something to be said for the number of economic symposiums that have been held in Kalispell since the first of the year. It’s evidence that political and business leaders alike are fully aware that the Flathead economy is in dire straits and there is no easy answer as to how it should be […]

Roger Koopman, the former state representative from Bozeman, has returned this primary season with hopes of grooming Republicans in his image and fielding challengers to those who don’t make the conservative cut. He has sent out a questionnaire to GOP candidates under the banner of his newly formed group, Montana Conservative Alliance, so he can […]