Page 27 - Flathead Beacon // 5.18.16

LETTERS
Regier Doesn’t Have Montanans’ Interests in Mind
I am a casual observer of Montana politics, but what I observed in the last legislative session was disturbing. Party politics were extreme, which meant that little was accomplished, deeply a ecting you and me.
In particular, the House of Repre- sentatives seemed as though they were totally disengaged with the problems that Montanans are experiencing. The leader of the House was Keith Regier. Rather than leading, Regier decided that parti- san politics were more important. Thus, not much was accomplished in the 2015 session.
Looking at his voting record will reveal for whom he was serving, and it wasn’t the people of Montana. The AFL- CIO scored Regier voting for the aver- age worker at 14 percent. The MEA-MFT scored Regier voting for teachers and public workers at 10 percent. The MEIC scored him voting for our environment at 0 percent!
But do you know who scored Regier with a complete 100 percent? The Koch Brothers’ organization American’s for Prosperity! Regier seems as though his only interests lie with out-of-state bil- lionaires, not Montanans.
He is running again to put his billion- aire friends rst and us last. We can do something to stand up to these people, however. We have the opportunity to vote for a person who has demonstrated his commitment to Montana and his com- munity. Don “K” Kaltschmidt has proven his heart is with the people of White sh and the Flathead Valley. He has given back to his community over and over. He will do the same for us in the Senate.
Vote for Don “K” Kaltschmidt.
Dennis Haverlandt White sh
Don K: All Hat, No Show
All hat, no show. That’s describes state Senate candidate Don “K” Kaltschmidt.
For six years, we doughnut residents fought the White sh City Council as it trampled on our property rights and refused to allow us representation. Don K was a no-show.
In private meetings, Don K talked a big game about supporting our e orts. But in the public arena, where we needed him, he refused to help. He never wrote a letter to the editor. He never donated to our lawsuit. He never testi ed before the city council or county commission. Don K was AWOL.
Similarly, Don K has been a no-show on White sh’s extravagant City Hall. With his claimed business expertise, you would expect him to say, “Whoa, let’s not waste a ton of taxpayer money on a gov- ernment structure on one of downtown’s most valuable lots when we can do it for less money elsewhere.” Nope. Don K has been silent.
Don K says, “I’m a dealmaker.” Well,
anyone can cut a bad deal. We don’t need that. We need smart, principled conser- vatives who know a good deal for taxpay- ers and will ght for it – in public. Sim- ilarly, we need leaders who recognize a bad deal, and will oppose it – in public.
Don K refuses to take public positions on controversial issues. We don’t know where he stands on anything.
For instance, Roy Antley, moderator at the Flathead County Republican Woman hosted “meet and greet,” recently asked Don K and his Republican opponent Keith Regier whether they would support legislation to allow state legislators to carry a weapon while in state buildings. Don K said he’d have to think about it.
“That’s a tough one for me,” Don K said. “I would have to look at that issue. I’m not sure I’m ready to support that at this time. That’s a very, very important decision.”
In stark contrast, Keith answered, “The short answer is yes.”
In the Republican primary, I recom- mend residents support Keith Regier. He is a true conservative who answers tough questions. He fought hard against the water compact – in public. He stood up against overspending – in public.
And most importantly, when we need a ghter, Keith Regier shows up.
Rick Blake White sh
Elect Statesman Keith Regier
Within the realm of legislative elec- tions, it is rare to nd an individual run- ning for o ce that is actually a states- man, instead of a politician. While a pol- itician runs for o ce just to get elected and to serve their own interest, a polit- ical agenda, or a donor, a statesman has the passion to serve the people he or she represents, and makes decisions based on facts and principles. A statesman’s pri- mary concern is to secure freedom and liberty for future generations.
Of the two candidates running for Sen- ate District 3 there is only one statesman, and that is Keith Regier. Demonstrated by his years of service in Montana’s House, it is evident from his voting record that Regier always puts his constituents and the Montana Constitution rst and uses truth to keep power in the hands of the people. Regier has a clear understanding that the people must control the govern- ment that serves them, and has given his allegiance to the people, the state, and our country. A politician doesn’t have the courage to take a principled stand.
A good example of the di erences between a politician and a statesman is debate and actions surrounding the failed CSKT water compact, rst introduced in the 2013 legislative session. Contrary to what the politicians will tell you, the com- pact represents a gross overreach of the federal government in seeking to control most of the water in western Montana and takes property rights. Keith Regier stood by the people of Montana, listened
to citizen concerns, and did everything in his legislative power to propose amend- ments to the CSKT compact that would improve the document and resolve the constitutional and legal issues so obvi- ously present. He voted to uphold the speaker’s ruling that the Montana Con- stitution required a two-thirds vote to pass the CSKT compact.
Keith Regier will always refuse to play politics with the people’s money, so he did not support the state giveaway of $55 million to a compact that would violate property rights of Montanans. Mr. Regier is not motivated by a political agenda.
Choose statesman Keith Regier.
Catherine Vandemoer Polson
Kaltschmidt Understands Local Economy
Don “K” Kaltschmidt is a common guy who has accomplished a lot. He started out working in the woods, and has a chainsaw scar on his knee to prove it. While he has gone on to succeed in busi- ness, he is still fundamentally an ordi- nary hardworking guy who likes people. As he has succeeded, he hasn’t forgotten to share his success with the people of our community.
I’ve known Don K since our kids attended school together about 10 years ago. I like him. From my service on the White sh School Board I know we have quality local schools. I know Don knows that, too, and that maintaining excel- lence in our educational system is a top priority to him.
We are fortunate in the White sh area to have a tradition of solid, balanced thinkers representing us in the state Sen- ate. Bob Brown, Bob DePratu, Dan Wein- berg, and Ryan Zinke come to mind. As a railroad employee, I know we “rails” always got a fair shake from each one of these men. I know we will get that from Don K, too.
I doubt there is anybody in North- west Montana who better understands our economy, or how it a ects blue-col- lar workers, than Don. He knows local people, and we know him. He won’t get caught up in political games and forget about us. I ask the people of the White sh and our west valley neighbors to vote for Don K to represent us in the state Senate.
Brian McDowell White sh
Letter Writer Misrepresented Trappers
This letter is a response to Amanda Lanier’s letter in which she made some very melodramatic, uneducated argu- ments, and blatantly false statements to stir up negative emotions toward trap- pers in her hopes of abolishing trapping statewide on public lands. As a trapper I feel that she grossly misrepresented me personally and every other hard work- ing trapper out there. Trappers are gen- erally animal lovers, we work very hard
at our craft to avoid as far as is possible the unfortunate mishap when a domestic animal or a non-target animal are caught. And the truth of the matter is that when a non-target, or domestic animal, is caught, their feet are not “mangled” as she put it, but are generally completely unharmed due to the modi cations to traps that have came about in the last 40 years.
Now that I have defended trappers as much as there is space allowed, I would like to point out some false statements she made. No. 1) She said “Montana has no trap check requirements.” Anyone reading this can go to the Fish, Wildlife and Parks website under the furbearer regulations and read for themselves that trappers are required to check traps every 48 hours. Contrary to what she says, trapped animals su er very little while waiting in the trap, and are killed humanely with a .22 bullet. I’ve walked up on animals sound asleep in my traps before. She also said that “the musk- rat lodges at Smith Lake now appear to be empty”; she is apparently unaware that muskrats build their lodges every fall, and last year’s lodges are generally destroyed by high waters in the spring; so the very fact that there are lodges there at all, indicates that they are probably occu- pied. As for the study she apparently ref- erenced that stated “one out of four ani- mals caught by a trap will gnaw o their trapped limb” and “for every one target animal killed in a trap, two non-targeted animals are killed.” I don’t know what kind of novice trappers they used as their lab rats in those studies, but that cer- tainly doesn’t apply to my trap line nor any of the trappers I know.
There were many more statements in her letter that where equally false but there is not room enough to completely go over it. So, please don’t let her fool you. This is not a personal attack on her in any way, but her letter was ridiculous. Trap- pers are not the boogie man. Trapping is a very essential, e ective predator man- agement tool as well as good wholesome, challenging fun. If you’re recreating and your dog gets into someone’s set, simply release it. If there is any damage, notify the trapper, chances are they’d be happy to pay your vet bill.
Sure you’re irritated that they caught your dog. Don’t you think they’re irri- tated that your dog screwed up their set that they put so much time into? But when has a trapper ever tried to outlaw domestic animals in the woods? Why can’t we all accommodate each other in the woods? It’s called being civil. Why is there always someone trying to outlaw what someone else does just because it is an inconvenience to themselves? Can’t we all just live and let live? Happy trails!
Skylar Garrison Kalispell
MAY 18, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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