Senate District 2

Ryan Zinke and Brittany MacLean have common goals for Montana but differing philosophies on how to achieve them in their candidacies for Senate District 2.

Zinke, a former Navy SEAL commander and the Republican candidate, wants to see small business growth and investment, along with improvements in education, as a means of improving Montana wages and benefits.

MacLean, a Democrat and former grant writer, wants to see job development, support for education and reforms in health care.

Both candidates say they have been busy in recent weeks going door-to-door in a district that takes in the northern tier of the Flathead Valley, including Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Canyon area.

"I love doing doors," MacLean said. "I just enjoy all the people I've met and it's just confirmed why I got into this to begin with. I really felt compelled to stand up and make sure we have strong representation in Helena."

MacLean said there are common concerns in the district.

"People are really talking about the economy, and health care and education," she said.

Zinke said he has been visiting with district residents who are "working hard" and having a hard time getting by in a valley where higher paying jobs are scarce, despite booming growth and development.

The state needs to do all that it can for businesses to grow in a fashion that will provide for better wages and benefits, said Zinke, who favors doing away with Montana's lingering business equipment tax.

"It doesn't make sense to penalize small businesses for investing," he said. "There should be incentives."

He cites an example: a local screen printing business invested in a printer, only to see the tax on the more expensive equipment triple.

"A lot of people will say they are for small business, but you just look at their record," said Zinke, leveling a zinger at the Senate District 2 incumbent, Democrat Dan Weinberg, who did not seek re-election,

Weinberg, he said, got a "zero" rating from the Montana Chamber of Commerce after the last session.

"We can't have any zeroes like that," Zinke said, noting that lawmakers often pass legislation with hidden or unintended harmful effects on Montana businesses.

MacLean said she wants to encourage the recruitment of "quality" businesses, and she sees opportunity for better Montana jobs as the state develops alternative sources of energy, such as wind power.

"We need to attract quality businesses," she said. "We need to make sure they represent the Montana we all know and love."

She expressed her views on taxes:

"I am not for raising taxes, but wisely spending the tax dollars we receive."

And her views on government:

"I have a lot of faith in government and the political system, even with some of the abuses we've seen in the past. We can't turn our back on it and say it's never going to get better … I don't believe in big government. I believe in smart government. It needs to be run well as an effective organization. It can get too big and it can become ineffective."

Zinke says government needs to be transparent and fair, and it should provide rather than restrict opportunity.

"Government should dictate standards but not solutions," he said. "When government dictates solutions, it penalizes innovation and it creates government control over aspects of life that should be decided by self determination."

Both Zinke and MacLean say they advocate alternative energy development, but there are differences when asked about developing Montana's coal resources, particularly the state's Otter Creek coal tracts in southeast Montana.

"Coal is going to be part of our energy future," said Zinke, adding that the state can be a leader in developing "clean coal" burning technologies.

"I'm definitely more of a proponent of alternative energy sources, and if we do use coal it needs to be with the best, cleanest technologies available," MacLean said, noting that she would seek input from Montana Conservation Voters on matters such as Otter Creek.

Zinke describes himself as a "Teddy Roosevelt Republican" who thinks the state should have long-term conservation values and vision. But he also believes school-trust resources should be used to leverage improvements in the state's education system, which he considers to be part of Montana's economic future and ability to generate higher paying jobs.

MacLean views the state's education system as a "core investment" in the future, providing benefits in the form of lower societal costs in areas such as public health and juvenile justice.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com