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FLATHEADBEACON.COM NEWS FEBRUARY 19, 2014 | 25

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The Roundup
ke 2014
Ma

From Beacon wire and news services
ear
righter Y
ZINKE REAPS BENEFITS OF B
FLATHEAD
SUPER PAC HE FOUNDED
A U.S. House candidate in Montana
KALISPELL AIRPORT TO OFFER is beneiting from a political action com-
FLIGHTS TO PORTLAND
mittee he created, leading at least one
Alaska Airlines is launching a new opponent and some experts to question
nonstop commercial air service between the legality of the peculiar arrangement.
Kalispell and Portland, Ore., this sum- Ryan Zinke, a former Navy SEAL
with
NEW mer, the airline announced Feb. 11.
who is seeking the Republican nomina-

The lights will operate daily June 9 tion for Montana’s lone congressional
through Aug. 23.
seat, created the Special Operations for
“We’re pleased to give our Paciic America (SOFA) super PAC to back Mitt
LIGHTING
Northwest customers convenient non- Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign.
stop service to another Montana city The committee now backs candidates
and connect Portland residents with who support the military — and their
one of the Big Sky Country’s most popu- irst candidate is Zinke, a 52-year-old
lar recreational destinations,” said Joe former state senator.
from
Sprague, vice president of marketing for Since October, when Zinke an-
Alaska Airlines.
nounced his candidacy, SOFA PAC has
The lights will depart Glacier Park spent more than $70,000 on television,
!
International Airport at 6:50 p.m. and radio and Internet advertising in sup-
arrive in Portland at 7:25 p.m. Paciic port of his campaign.
MASTERPIECECoast Time. Flights will leave Portland Zinke resigned from SOFA PAC in
at 3:55 p.m. PCT and arrive in Kalispell September. He said he had an attorney

at 6:20 p.m.
review the transition in the PAC’s lead-
“This new daily service will give ership to ensure there was no conlict of
Northwest Montana residents direct interest or violation of any Federal Elec-
access to the exciting city of Portland, tion Commission rules on campaign co-
but also great connection opportunities ordination. He also said he appreciates
within the Alaska Air Group network,” the PAC’s support but that it was not his
said Cindi Martin, director of GPIA.
decision.
To celebrate the new service, Alaska “I resigned weeks before we an-

Airlines is ofering introductory fares nounced,” Zinke told The Associated
starting from $99 each way. Tickets Press in a recent interview. “I wanted to
must be purchased by Feb. 26.
make sure everything was aboveboard
and squeaky clean.”
COMMISSION TO SEEK Zinke’s campaign has raised more
COMMENT ON WHITEFISH money than any other in a crowded ield
RIVER DESIGNATION
for the Republican nomination that in-
The Montana Fish and Wildlife cludes state Sen. Matt Rosendale, Rep.

Commission voted to move forward Elsie Arntzen, former state Sen. Corey
with the rule-making process to poten- Stapleton and conservative Drew Tu-
tially designate a non-motorized stretch riano.
of Whiteish River.
Most declined to be interviewed
At last week’s meeting in Helena, the about Zinke and SOFA PAC. Stapleton
commission reviewed a petition from said how the PAC operates is not his call
the city of Whiteish to amend the no- — “I’m not going to be the guy trying to

wake regulation for a section of river and call fouls,” he said — but that the appear-
allow only electric motors or manually ance of a conlict is there.
p
powered watercraft like kayaks from the “It’s not supposed to happen that we’ll hel
trestle to JP Bridge. The commission is way. You’ve not supposed to have a super
opening the matter to public comment PAC raise money for themselves then spread the light
in the near future and will hold a public hand it over with a wink and a nod and
hearing in Region One. A date was not be able to use it as a source of revenue,”
set as of Monday.
Stapleton said.
in your life

Oicials in the local Fish, Wildlife Paul Ryan, chief counsel for the
and Parks agreed with Whiteish that Washington D.C.-based Campaign Legal
the issue should be proposed to the state Center, said it is uncharted territory for
MASTERPIECE
commission and opened to statewide in- a person to hand over control of a PAC
put, but the local oice did not express to run for oice. He speculated it could
an opinion on the matter.
open the door for others to create super
In other action, the commission is PACS to rake in contributions from indi-

seeking input on proposed changes to viduals and businesses, then announce
regulations aimed at combating illegal their own candidacies.
ish introduction, or bucket biology. A “If this is permissible, one can en-
public meeting is scheduled for Feb. 24 vision the campaign-contribution lim-
at the FWP regional headquarters in Ka- its being completely eviscerated,” Ryan
2541 US Highway 2 E • Kalispell lispell, 490 North Meridian Road. The said.
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meeting begins at 7 p.m.

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(406) 752-0924 • www.masterpiecel1.com

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