Page 16 - Flathead Beacon // 4.27.16

H ELECTIONS 2016 H
Flathead County Commissioner Pam Holmquist. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
Flathead County Commission candidate Tim Harmon.
GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
GOP Candidates Square O for Commission Seat Republican Pam Holmquist challenged by Tim Harmon for Flathead County Commission District 2
BY MOLLY PRIDDY OF THE BEACON
The three-person board of the Flat- head County Commission serves as the legislative and executive branches of government, not only responsible for the nancial decisions within the county, but also many of the decisions respon- sible for development, zoning, and the overall direction the county takes into the future.
The county is broken into three dis- tricts, and one commissioner represents each. Once elected, a commissioner holds their seat for six years, with elections rotating through every two years.
This year, the District 2 seat, currently held by Pam Holmquist, has its turn on the ballot. District 2 encompasses the southeastern part of the county, includ- ing Evergreen.
Holmquist has held the seat since she was rst elected in 2010. As a Republican, Holmquist faces an intraparty challenge from Tim Harmon, who is also seeking the GOP slot for the general election in November.
Voters will choose between which- ever Republican wins the primary elec- tion in June and Democratic candidate Eileen Lowery. Since Lowery doesn’t have another Democrat to face in the primary, she will move on to the general election, assuming a write-in candidate doesn’t win.
In her tenure thus far with the county commission, Holmquist said she contin- ually learns something new due to the
variety of work she faces each day.
“I think I t the job pretty well, I nd it extremely interesting,” Holmquist said. “I’ve always liked a good challenge, and
I get that.”
Before joining the commission, Holm-
quist worked for 38 years in the service industry with her family’s business, Rocky Mountain Marine, in Evergreen. That experience helped her with inter- personal connections, and Holmquist said one of the best aspects of her job is when people stop by or call her with questions.
Holmquist has been part of several signi cant votes in her term, such as the decision to create zoning in the recently nished saga of the White sh dough- nut; the emotionally fraught process of upgrading the county’s Agency on Aging facilities with a new building; voicing the county’s opposition to accepting Syrian refugees without further research; and formally opposing the water compact with the Confederated Salish and Koo- tenai Tribes.
She has also served as the chairperson of the board since taking over the spot in 2012 after former Commissioner Jim Dupont’s death.
When it comes to her accomplish- ments, Holmquist, 63, said she’s proud of her work with the county’s nances; as an example, she pointed out a capital lease that was re nanced to save the county nearly $90,000.
Also, as the chairperson, Holmquist is able to take individual actions that
she has enjoyed. Once, when there was a logjam at Spruce Park, she signed a let- ter allowing the sheri to remove it. Last summer, when the town of Essex was threatened by wild re, Holmquist signed a letter allowing crews to thin trees in a county park to reduce fuel. Those trees were decked, taken to the mill, and the county’s parks and recreation depart- ment earned about $10,000 from the pro t.
“That’s why I love the job,” Holmquist said. “It’s just the little things you can do.”
She also said her work creating the Property Owner’s Bill of Rights in the county’s growth policy is a highlight, because “I’ve done what I said I would do.”
Harmon, 54, is no stranger to the inner workings of Flathead County gov- ernment. As the maintenance supervisor at the county fairgrounds for the last 15 years, Harmon said he understands the county’s issues and believes he can make a di erence when it comes to government transparency.
The decision to make a run at the com- mission came after the county’s tumultu- ous series of decisions regarding private property threatened by the erosion of a blu on White sh Stage Road. Initially, the county agreed to facilitate a FEMA grant for the project, but then pulled its support for fear of liabilities. The District Court then ruled the commission must work with the homeowners on the grant.
“Those people went to bed for a while
thinking their government’s going to help them,” Harmon said. “And that’s what government is supposed to do. Those cit- izens had to sue to get their government to follow through.”
Before his time with the county, Har- mon, a 1980 graduate from Flathead High School, managed the Four Corners Lounge south of Kalispell, which changed from a bar to a convenience store. Har- mon managed the family property and businesses for 20 years.
Since this is the rst time he’s run for any elected o ce, Harmon said his posi- tion as a relative newcomer gives him a fresh perspective. For example, Harmon said he wants to improve the commis- sion’s transparency with the public by changing meeting times to evenings in di erent towns within the county.
“A majority of the meetings are Wednesdays at 2 p.m. in the commis- sioners’ chambers,” Harmon said. “The majority of people are working. We have an engaged community. We have engaged voters. They’re hungry for information.”
The overcrowded county jail will play a major role in the future, Harmon said, and he would like to search for a solution that doesn’t end with generally increas- ing taxes.
“Why is it always a crisis with govern- ment?” Harmon said. “The only input we have in the future is being proactive today. You can’t change the past.”
The primary election is June 7. The general election is Nov. 8.
mpriddy@ atheadbeacon.com
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APRIL 27, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM