Page 28 - Flathead Beacon // 10.29.14

28 | OCTOBER 29, 2014 OPINION
LETTERS
SCHNEBEL WILL BEST REPRESENT THE COUNTY
Voting is a civic duty, a privilege, and a right. Casting the right vote for the right person is an individual decision based on information that should be provided by a candidate to the voting public. I have become increasingly leery of those who put their “own best interest” first. A commissioner that is future minded and transparent in approach will get my vote in every election.
Local government should serve and benefit its citizens. Our libraries, parks, waterways and public lands that ensure the high quality of life that many of us seek are under the control of an elected few. It is important to understand that our local leaders make a big difference in how we live. As an educator and a parent in the Flathead Valley my vote will be for the individual that will represent the interests of the community members that they serve.
We have the opportunity in the Flathead Valley to create a more sustainable community – farm-to-table for our meals on wheels, innovative approaches to our solid waste and recycling issues, as well as looking into health initiatives for healthy citizens. I will vote for individuals who will make decisions now that will benefit our future generations.
The three county commissioners who appoint board members, approve our county budget and vote on the big decisions that face our county need to work full time in cooperation with our county department heads and boards as a voice for all the people of the Flathead Valley. My vote is for Stacey Schnebel as our next county commissioner; she will respectfully represent the people of this county.
Allison Mitchell Columbia Falls
MITCHELL SUPPORTS THE COMMUNITY
Our family has been part of Flathead County for five generations. We love it here, have a grandchild growing up here, other grandchildren and family who visit here often, and expect to spend the rest of our days here. That’s why we think it’s important to elect Republican Phil Mitchell as the next Flathead County commissioner. Phil’s philosophy is such that he will not look at party, but what is best for the people. Over the years, we’ve volunteered often in many areas of the valley. Between us, we’ve worked on economic development, emergency services, healthcare and schools to name a few. We do it because we care about Flathead Valley. We know Phil Mitchell cares, too. Whether he’s mowing lawns at
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sports fields or helping to build local food banks, Phil is supportive of the community and willing to help. That’s why we trust Phil to do right by our seniors, starting with making sure they have a great AOA facility with quality services. We also trust Phil to do right by all our county residents – to make sure that our economy grows and property rights are respected. Please join us in voting for Phil Mitchell for county commissioner.
Turner and Nan Askew Whitefish
LIESER WILL WORK HARD FOR WHITEFISH
Having testified and worked with Rep. Ed Lieser on his bill to put forward septic tank inspections, I know first hand how hard he works for water quality for Whitefish. Unfortunately, the Republican- led House Natural Resources Committee did not support the bill. Ed Lieser has a strong commitment to public service and consistently puts Montana first.
Ed serves on the boards of the Whitefish Lake Institute, the Whitefish Fire Service Area, the Whitefish Fire Safe Council, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation and the Whitefish Legacy Partners. Ed will continue to build coalitions to improve our quality of life here in Montana and I encourage you to re- elect Ed Lieser to the Montana Legislature for House District #5 in Whitefish.
Joan Vetter Ehrenberg Whitefish
VOTE FOR RUSSELL AND VANDYKE
Length of service and who is “most qualified” is greatly discussed in the current judicial races. In connecting the dots, factor in money and special interest groups seeking political or personal advantage, and the real judicial qualification, which is ruling by the law of the land and the Montana and U.S. Constitutions, is ignored.
Judicial candidates should be non- partisan, but are they? The political administration in Washington appoints the U.S. Supreme Court justices who rule for life and the federal judges who are overruling the will of the people as expressed in the ballot box in many states. Is the Democratic governor’s game of appointing individuals to unexpired terms to give them the benefit of incumbency in upcoming elections nonpartisan? The current U.S. Senate and Lake and Sanders District Court races are two examples. Did partisan payback influence the local court appointment?
No doubt length of service is influenced by the special interest groups whose campaign information, distorting or falsifying the facts, influences uninformed voters. A door hangar found in Helena recently promotes sitting Justice Mike Wheat as “the only candidate who will protect women’s health.” Women, what an insult to our intelligence! Another example, Justice Wheat pandered to the
extreme environmentalists by casting the only dissenting vote in the issuance of 23 drilling permits.
If we are to remain a government of, by, and for the people, we must exercise our right to vote and try to know for whom and for what we are voting. To return our government to the balance of power essential in maintaining a strong and prosperous land, we must elect those individuals who possess the qualifications of serving all the people and the law to the best of their ability. I urge you first to vote, and secondly to vote for Mark Russell for District Court judge in Lake and Sanders counties and for Lawrence VanDyke for Montana Supreme Court.
Mimi Milheim Dayton
SUPPORT GOVERNOR’S PLAN TO REDUCE CARBON POLLUTION
It has been a warm and beautiful fall so far in the Flathead. While I’ve greatly enjoyed it, I can’t fully embrace it. It’s too unseasonably warm. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2014 is on track to be the warmest year on record. This comes after so many other years of warm temperaturerecordbreaking.
The newspaper is already filled with public health, meteorological, and environmental disasters. I worry about the world my children will live in and with what they’re newspapers will be filled.
That’s why I was glad to see that Gov. Steve Bullock is prioritizing Montana’s efforts to meet the Clean Power Plan and reduce carbon pollution. This plan is just a very small piece of what we need to do to tackle climate change. However, it’s important that we begin mitigation at a state level.
The governor’s plan looks for workable solutions and allows for significant public input so that we can reduce carbon pollution to protect our health and our future. Your input in the process is valuable and will help Montana create a strong and beneficial plan.
Kim Davitt Bigfork
MITCHELL IS DEPENDABLE
It is my pleasure to be able to support Phil Mitchell in his bid for Flathead County commissioner. I have known Phil for several years and have been impressed by both his ability to work with people of differing viewpoints and by his willingness to put forth whatever effort is required to accomplish the task at hand. Most of my interaction with Phil has been on a professional level in my capacity as a land surveyor. Phil has consistently demonstrated himself to be a man of integrity and high moral character. He is dependable, honest, and hardworking. Please join me in voting for Phil Mitchell in the upcoming election.
Olaf Ervin Columbia Falls
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CORRECTIONS
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