Hall: County experience counts

This is the first in a series of profiles of the three candidates for Flathead County commissioner.

Considering that the biggest local race this year will be for the county commissioner seat, the silence less than a month from the June 3 primary may seem surprising.

Incumbent Commissioner Gary Hall, a Republican, said he expects the quiet campaigning to change.

"They are probably planning on throwing everything they can at me a couple weeks before the election," Hall said of his opponent's supporters.

Former Flathead County Sheriff Jim Dupont is challenging Hall in the June 3 GOP primary. The winner faces Democrat Steve Qunell in the November general election.

"I don't feel like I'm running against Jim Dupont," Hall said. "I feel like I'm running against the people trying to control everything."

Hall specifically mentioned groups such as American Dream Montana that he believes are working hard to put Dupont in office.

"They promised me six years ago that I'd be a one-term commissioner," Hall said.

It's no secret that Hall and American Dream Montana co-founder Russ Crowder aren't close friends, and Hall said he will deal with the critics like he did in the last election: Ignore them.

"If they have a legitimate point, I'm willing to listen to it, but to just throw darts to get rid of me because I don't vote the way they want - I don't respond to that," Hall said. "I will not respond to the negative, and they know I will not enter into that level of politics. I refuse to. I don't have to resort to negative campaigning to win an election."

Hall's strategy has worked so far. He has competed in two elections - one for mayor of Columbia Falls and the second for county commissioner - and won both times. His campaign is mainly run by Hall and his wife, Jayne.

"She is the most incredible woman I've ever met," Hall said. "She's very smart and well-respected. She's my main person on the campaign."

Although Hall has "captains" throughout the county who help with his campaign and fundraising efforts, he often is out pounding stakes in the ground and putting up his own signs. As the incumbent, he has found campaigning to be much more difficult.

Hall is building a house in Columbia Falls, working as a commissioner and trying to win re-election.

"The workload I have now is different," Hall said. "Sometimes I think, 'Why was it so easy last time?'"

When it comes to being county commissioner, "easy" is rarely a good adjective for the job. Commissioners are on top of the county's political food chain, which makes them the most obvious target for criticism. Hall especially seems to draw the lion's share of personal attacks.

"I think it's because I really do pour myself into every issue," Hall said. "I'm usually pretty outspoken about my opinion."

Hall said the role of commissioner consumes him. With myriad pressing issues and the upcoming election, he admits that he often wakes up at night thinking about the latest subdivision proposal or his campaign.

"Sometimes I carry this job too much," he said.

Hall said that his faith helps him deal with the demands of running a county that has 29 departments, 500 employees and a $62 million budget.

"I pray daily for wisdom," Hall said. "A lot of times, I'll just ask people to pray for me. It gives me strength to do a difficult job."

This election is shaping up to be Hall's toughest challenge yet.

Dupont is a heavy hitter in the county and has tremendous name recognition. Still, Hall said his chances of winning the primary election are strong.

"I think people realize that I work hard and my decisions are not based on special-interest influence," Hall said.

Hall believes his experience as commissioner is a key difference between himself and Dupont.

"If I was to put myself in the voters' shoes, I'd want someone who has experience," Hall said. "There's a difference between running one county department and overseeing 29 of them. The county is going through the biggest growth spurt we've ever had. The education you get from being in the middle of a firestorm is invaluable. I want to win and use the experience I have for the benefit of the Flathead. I'd vote for me."

Gary Hall on the issues

His accomplishments: Hall said he's most proud of his ability to bring a calmness and integrity to the office of commissioner while making well-thought-out land-use decisions. Hall worked to create a growth policy that he said isn't "over-regulatory" and fits the nature of the county.

He also lists hiring better county employees, tightening up the county's budget, making government more efficient, bringing about long-range planning and installing the Ten Commandments in front of the courthouse as his best accomplishments.

"I'm proud of the work I've done," Hall said. "I have nothing to hang my head about."

Impact fees: Hall said he is losing the political will to support countywide impact fees for roads and the jail.

"My biggest conflict is the impact they have on affordable housing," he said. "Impact fees profoundly affect affordable housing. It's not the answer to everything. If the county is going to implement them, it's not going to be an unreasonable amount."

County roads: Flathead County has approximately 700 miles of unpaved roads, and the outcry to fix the road dust situation grows louder every year. But the county doesn't have funding to pave even a small portion of the gravel roads, and few people seem to have any real answers.

"I'm excited about the road committee's ideas to mitigate dust issues," Hall said. "Paving all the roads won't happen, but everyone is tired of the dust."

Hall said the solution will have to come from a collaborative effort between county employees and citizens to find a creative fix.

Vision for the Flathead: Hall said the most pressing issue the county faces involves unfunded mandates from the state and federal government.

"We're trying to keep the cost of government down," Hall said. "We need to tighten our belts. The impacts of recession will hit the county, and we'll be operating with less funding than we've had in the past."

The need to set up a vision for the county's future led Hall to create the Long Range Planning Task Force, which works to think of creative ways to lead the Flathead in upcoming decades.

Planning and Zoning: A common criticism is that the county's Planning and Zoning Office holds too much authority over the commissioners.

Hall said he doesn't buy that argument.

"The planning and zoning staff does not control the commission," Hall said. "I have the greatest respect for the staff and the Planning Board, but we are the final decision-makers."

Hall said that the commissioners work behind the scenes to make sure planning and zoning doesn't become unfair or even illegal.

"The perfect example is Whitefish," Hall said. "You overregulate until you get a no-growth agenda."

Reporter Michael Richeson may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at mricheson@dailyinterlake.com