Page 28 - Flathead Beacon // 6.1.16

LETTERS
Public Lands Are Essential to Our Livelihoods
I am writing today to express concern over the growing movement to wrest public lands from public control and sell them o to private or state ownership. As a non-native, I was drawn to Montana in large part by it’s majestic and far reaching public lands; lands like the Bob Marshall Wilderness and Glacier National Park; lands which help spur on a $6 billion per year tourism industry and allow a place for the public to recreate; lands which de ne our state character as Montanans.
In economic terms alone, public lands are an incredible asset. Last year, non-residents drawn here by outdoor tourism spent $3.6 billion in Montana, provided jobs in di erent and far reach- ing sectors of our economy and ensured quality of life of all Montanans. The loss of public ownership of public lands would be a hit to your and my pocketbooks as it would divert precious tourism dollars to places that encouraged public access to these places. Public lands are essential to our livelihoods in Montana.
Moreover, we need public lands because free and open space is a de ning part of our character as Montanans, and a ords up the opportunity to escape our busy valley lives and head for the hills. Everyone should be able to enjoy the freedom and space to hunt, sh, ski, hike, bicycle, camp, trap or recreate however they choose in the outdoors. This free- dom is good for our souls, our children and should be an integral part of the leg- acy we leave for our children’s children and beyond. Let’s keep public lands in public hands, and ensure the health and wealth of Montana for years to come.
Jonathan Cromwell Somers
Elect Keith Regier for State Senate
Montana needs strong, principled leadership in the Senate, and Keith Regier is the right man for the job.
Everyone who cares about Montana knows the di erence between princi- pled leadership and the “go along to get along” mentality that has been a disaster for Montana property rights, the rule of law, and the integrity of Montana’s gov- ernment. That is why we do not need to elect for our Senate a man with no expe- rience in government, and no experience in actually representing and listening to his constituents.
When my own representative here failed to protect property rights of citi- zens from or listen to our concerns about the disastrous Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Water Compact, Keith Regier did everything he could as a rep- resentative to ensure that those concerns were expressed in legislative hearings, proposed solutions through appropriate amendments to the compact, and in the end refused to support the 1,500-page document because of its damage to the citizens and Constitution of the state of
Montana.
I have heard nothing convincing from
Mr. Regier’s inexperienced but some- how well-funded opponent in the Senate race to convince me that he will protect Montana property rights or even be an e ective representative. Let’s not take a chance on him.
Our property rights and livelihoods are at stake in this election. Please send leader Keith Regier to the Montana Senate!
David Passieri St Ignatius
Time for New Leadership in Helena
My family has lived in what is now Senate District 3 for more than a century. I have lived here in the White sh com- munity all my life. I have always been interested in politics, and I’ve paid close attention to who has represented us over the years in the state Legislature.
Based on my knowledge of local polit- ical history, I write this letter to set the record straight on an issue in the cur- rent campaign between Don “Don K” Kaltschmidt and Keith Regier.
The issue is whether state senators should rst serve in the state House of Representatives before running for the Senate. That is not the tradition of our Senate District. The fact is that of the last ve senators from our district – Bob DePratu, Dan Wineberg, Ryan Zinke, Dee Brown and Bruce Tutvedt – only Dee Brown was a representative before becoming a senator, and even she did not go directly from the House to the Senate, as Keith Regier is now trying to do.
Regier should respect the intent of term limits, instead of trying to get around them. He should stand aside for a few years. He is trying to be a career politician, and we don’t need any more of those.
Now is a particularly important time for new leadership. For the White sh – West Valley Senate District, Don K exem- pli es the fresh approach to leadership that is our tradition.
Josh Akey White sh
Time for Change on Flathead County Commission
Tim Harmon is running for Flathead County commissioner. I would like to encourage all registered voters to vote for a change. Tim stands for common sense and is completely reachable. I’ve person- ally worked with Tim at our fairgrounds where he is the maintenance manager. He is a “go-to” guy who will get the job done. Tim has owned and managed his own businesses in the past. He will be a real asset to our county when it comes to standing up and doing the right thing.
My own personal experiences with the current commission has not been positive. The commission claims an open-door policy. Yes, you can get in the door, and you can even sit across from the
commissioners at their desks, but don’t expect any of them to talk to you about an issue. More than once I’ve tried. I got, “I’m not going to talk to you about that.” “That’s a personnel issue” or “That’s an HR issue.”
Once, when there were two openings on the Fair Board, three people applied and two current Fair Board members wrote a note of interest for reappoint- ment. According to county policy, the application was to be completed. The gentlemen seeking reappointment did not complete the application process. The deadline had come and gone. When this was pointed out to our commissioners, one would think the incomplete applica- tions would be thrown out. No, our com- mission extended the deadline. The com- mission reappointed the same two Fair Board members.
I’m ready for a change. I believe Tim Harmon would have done the right thing in this case. He is a man of his word. He means what he says and says what he means. Please consider a change for Flat- head County. Tim Harmon is that change.
Karen Enger Kalispell
Engaged with the Problems of Struggling Montanans
In the May 18 Viewpoints section of the Flathead Beacon Dennis Haverlandt made some comments about my Mon- tana Legislature service that had some truth and some misguided facts. He said I “decided that partisan politics were more important” and “the House of Rep- resentatives seemed as though they were totally disengaged with the problems that Montanans are experiencing.” It was the governor who was partisan when he vetoed 70 bills, including HB, 166 which would have lowered the state income tax rates. I sponsored HB 166 because I am engaged with the problems of struggling Montanans.
Mr. Haverlandt said that I did not score well with some organizations. I agree. I do not score well with left wing or left-leaning organizations. What he did not tell us is that I scored a 100 per- cent with Montana Family Foundation, a 96 percent with the Montana Chamber of Commerce and a 96 percent with the American Conservative Union.
Keith Regier, candidate Senate District 3, Kalispell
Sticks and Stones
Sticks and stones may break my bones but your words cut to the soul of me. I have had to learn to grow thick skin and not let the power of words cut into me because I will not give that power over to those who seek to destroy, all on the rea- son of political gain. The lies and attack ads against my husband, Derek Skees, and the other conservative candidates in the valley are vile and childish in that they have spun a tale using the tactics of a bully on the playground. Consider
this, the real issues are not blogged, not put in mail literature and not gossiped or turned into attack ads. The real issue is the future of Montana and the economic environment we will be going into in this legislative year.
Derek Skees has comprehensive busi- ness and legislative experience and the fortitude to stand strong to be a voice for the community. He listens to individu- als and respects the people’s rights. He is devoted to this community and the future of this state. Derek is committed to a Montana where his children and grand- children can live and prosper. He wants to make a di erence and participate in this state’s citizen Legislature. I am proud of Derek and how he has stepped up to make a commitment to family values and to build a business friendly commu- nity, and for that I have sacri ced much. I have sacri ced my security, my anonym- ity and my time. We the wives of candi- dates support our husbands and remind our children that the words of those who seek to lie and destroy will never hurt us. Take courage and stand up for principles, this is a character trait worth modeling when a citizen makes a di erence. Bullies must be stopped by those with courage to stand up. I appreciate your vote for Derek Skees in HD11.
Ronalee Skees Kalispell
Need to be Prepared for Catastrophic Oil Spill
Many individuals and organizations have written about the vulnerability of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River to a catastrophic oil train spill. There are great ideas of how to avoid a spill already out there, and I trust that BNSF will take these suggestions seriously. I think the Montana Public Service Com- mission should take a more active hand in trains safety. I also think that a spill response protocol supplied by BNSF should already be available to the PSC and concerned citizens for review. I am surprised that BNSF has not conducted a dye test on the Middle Fork to see how oil or other chemicals would act if released into the river. This information would seem essential to BNSF in its planning for a disaster response. Millions of gallons of crude oil travels along our wild and scenic Middle Fork every day and BNSF should pay for a dye study and implement it this summer along with a spill protocol before this winter. You heard me right. As BNSF is the one pro ting from the movement of the oil, it should pay for these studies and plans and not citizens of Montana. Do not wait until you have fouled the river to decide how the situation should have been dealt with.
Edwin Fields White sh
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JUNE 1, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM