Page 30 - Flathead Beacon // 10.22.14

30 | OCTOBER 22, 2014 OPINION
LETTERS
SUPPORT BLASDEL FOR STATE SENATE
As a resident of Senate District 4, I would like to encourage my fellow citizens to vote for Mark Blasdel for the Montana Senate. It was a privilege to have Mark Blasdel represent us for the last four terms in the Montana House of Representatives in House District 11. I am proud to have voted for Mark for four straight terms in the Montana House. Mark was the Montana Speaker of the House in the 2013 legislative session and I was proud to have him in that position. Mark has an impressive history of service during his tenure in the House. He was repeatedly voted a Champion of Business by the Montana Chamber of Commerce. He was always a staunch supporter of business and jobs, individual private property rights, keeping the size of government in check, low taxes and supporting our Second Amendment rights. Mark has always been one of the most informed, knowledgeable and approachable representatives in the Montana Legislature. You could always count on Mark to protect life, liberty, freedom and our pocketbooks. We need to keep Mark, so I urge you to join me in supporting Mark Blasdel for the Montana Senate District 4 in the upcoming general election.
Isabel H. Larsen Kalispell
GOP: GONE OFF PATH?
Recently, I am reminded of our ‘60’s Rockefeller, Goldwater and Nixon political tornado. Eventually, Ronald Reagan rose up, quelled the storm, achieved governorship of California and then became one of our finest American presidents. Reagan-era solidarity was comforting, unifying and dignified, unlike the unsettling disruption and infighting by a few schemers in Flathead politics. Regrettably, “a few” portending Republicans got it terribly wrong for our Flathead.
Republicans definitely have the ability to present the best our GOP has to offer, but not this time. Commission candidate Phil Mitchell and his campaign handlers do not seem to respect that a public service candidate is currently obligated to demonstrate they are capable, caring enough or worthy to stand before the people of Flathead and participate in open public voter examination.
The Mitchell camp demonstrates they don’t seem to really represent us by offering a sincere and open Q & A examination with the public. The apparent lack of either the ability or caring to elaborate on public concerns, outside of a campaign handler controlled environment, should be of great concern.
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The refusal to openly accept and answer our public’s non-scripted questioning leaves responsible voters with highly warranted doubts. Furthermore, an insulting campaign of scripted sound bites and printed bullet points only supported by a game of “the most political signage wins” is unacceptable. To validate our concerns, you may now witness the “few” increasingly continue to attempt to scheme, distract and manipulate you, as well as malign and attack any and all opposition. It’s their way, hopefully not yours.
I, for one of many, will not jeopardize nor compromise our Flathead’s future by voting for Phil Mitchell. My genuine concerns will not be trumped by political party blindness, personal emotions or self. Rather, my concerns are borne of a patriotic American belief in dutiful representation of all “we the people” in our Flathead.
Cal Scott, Flathead County commissioner Columbia Falls
SCHNEBEL’S BAD ARGUMENT
As a seasonal resident and property owner within Whitefish city limits, and a full-time resident of the state of Tennessee where I am a registered voter, I’m delighted to learn in the opinion of Stacey Schnebel as demonstrated by her actions that it’ll be OK for me to vote in Whitefish city elections even though I live elsewhere. Why should my vote from 2,000 miles away be disallowed when Schnebel’s vote counted in several elections even though she lives some 20 miles outside of Whitefish? Who is to argue over 1,980 miles?
Following that same argument, why couldn’t those folks who live in the doughnut have voted illegally in Whitefish city elections along with Schnebel? Most of them lived closer to the city than she did. Perhaps they could have voted those heavy handed regulatory rascals out of office and saved a whole bunch of money spent by the city on lawsuits.
Ben Whitten, Germantown, Tennessee
SCHNEBEL HAS OUR BEST INTERESTS IN MIND
Stacey Schnebel, candidate for Flathead County commissioner, is definitely not a “Wannabe” as so called by Rick Blake in his letter to the editor.
She IS the president of the Trapline Association, which puts on Cabin Fever Days in the Canyon and donates all proceeds to local charitable and volunteer causes.
She IS the vice-president of the Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and IS dedicated to the economic advancement of that city.
She IS a member of the Tourism Key Industry Network, part of the Governor’s Main Street Montana program, a group working to improve Montana’s economy.
All of the above are volunteer unpaid positions dedicated to improving the
economic well being of the community. She IS also a local business owner and manager with a large stake in the
economic health of the local community. Stacey IS a well-spoken, intelligent candidate who will have the best interests of all the citizens of the county in mind, and open to the input of all citizens of the
county.
Rick Blake, the writer of the
“Wannabe” letter to the editor is, I would suggest, the real Wannabe.
He wants to be like the Koch Brothers ... form a PAC and attack the political opposition with personal innuendo and invective, as he did in the elections of 2012. I would think the voters would recognize that if it smells like scat, it’s scat.
Disclaimer: Stacey Schnebel IS my daughter-in-law, and I think she’s the
best.
William J. Schnebel Whitefish
MITCHELL HAS CHARACTER WE NEED
I met Phil Mitchell about 30 years ago at a fellowship study. Over the years Phil has stood for our nation’s founding principles, i.e. integrity, fairness, generosity and a faith in our Creator. Phil has maintained these values, which can be seen in his family, occupation and his efforts to give his community these same opportunities, so that all will be able to succeed based on their efforts and not the cronyism of government.
We have just watched a commissioner who held up the principles of the Republican platform to get elected, but was just a RINO who now supports the Democratic party, which platform includes homosexual marriage, aborting unborn persons, massive government deficit spending, natural resource policy of analysis/paralysis and excluding God from public schools, government and now from the military.
The federal money spigot has run dry and all the funding that the states and counties are getting is funny money. There is a fiscal day of reckoning coming. A friend helped me this summer and wore a T-shirt that said “It is easy to be flexible when you are spineless.” Phil is not spineless, and I know him to be very charitable with his time, money and work ethic. We need the character of people like Phil, who will not be swayed by the bias of social feel good trends which will be a detriment to sound fiscal policy in Flathead County. Phil Mitchell’s yes is yes and his no is no.
My thanks to Phil and his family for their faithful commitment to our community and encourage you to vote for a proven leader who is grounded in the founding principles of our nation.
George Everett Kalispell
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