House District 9

By CANDACE CHASE/Daily Inter Lake

Edd Blackler, a retired teacher/businessman, faces off with Scott Reichner, a mortgage broker, in House District 9.

The district covers an area of 429 square miles along the east shore of Flathead Lake from Polson to Kalispell, including Bigfork.

The winner will succeed Rep. William Jones, who is not running for re-election.

Blackler, the Democratic candidate, puts a priority on maintaining public access to unique public resources such as Estes Lake, preserving Flathead Lake's water quality and reforming the state's tax system to help people stay in their homes.

Reichner, the Republican candidate, has targeted as his top priority developing Montana's energy resources to create a fund to replace or renovate deteriorating schools. He also wants to reduce the state's income tax rates.

Blackler, a third-generation Montanan and 30-year Flathead resident, said he was motivated to run because he has the time, interest and inclination.

"I think the biggest thing is our state is moving in a positive direction under the leadership of our Democratic governor," he said. 'I think it's important that we have like-minded thinkers in the House of Representatives."

Blackler said he would like to craft legislation to modify the state Land Bank Program sales from "one-size-fits-all" to maintain public access to special properties such as Estes Lake.

"It's such a precious area with attributes so unique," he said. "It would be a travesty if it sold. Hopefully, we have it on hold."

He also has concerns over the safety of Montana 35 on the east shore of Flathead Lake. Blackler said he wants to find a way to entice long trucks to use U.S. 93 on the west shore to reduce the risk of hazardous materials spills into the lake.

The Democratic candidate sees growth as a priority issue with regard to impacting clean air and water and inflating property taxes of residents. Blackler said the Legislature needs to find an alternative to relying so heavily on the property taxpayer.

"Some retired people are trying their level best to hold on to their property," he said. "We need to reform the system and find other sources."

Blackler said he would consider a system of capping property taxes based on the purchase price with a formula that also takes into account a taxpayer's age, income and other pertinent factors. In conjunction, he wants to trim the fat from state departmental spending.

His Republican opponent Reichner agrees with the need to lighten the tax burden from Montanans.

He said his school board experience showed him that taxpayers could no longer shoulder the cost of replacing and repairing deteriorating schools.

"I think that we have an opportunity in this environment to really tackle energy and tie it into the education issue," he said.

The owner of Flathead Mortgage and father of nine children, Reichner said he was approached about running when Jones, the Republican incumbent, decided not to file. Reichner said he was at the end of a term on the Bigfork School Board and looking for a new challenge.

Reichner said he wants Montana to pursue the whole array of energy resources including coal, gas, nuclear power and wind. He quotes statistics that show Montana holds 25 percent of the nation's coal resources but produces only 3 percent.

"We're not producing anywhere near what we have," Reichner said.

He said Wyoming has fewer reserves yet exceeds Montana's production by a factor of 10. According to Reichner, Wyoming maintains a building fund for schools with revenue from its coal resources.

"None are older than 20 years," he said of Wyoming schools. "Our schools need to be a priority but I don't want to burden the taxpayer."

Reichner said he believes that linking energy development to improving schools should attract bipartisan support.

He pointed to consolidation of school administration as a second legislative priority to address decreasing enrollment in many schools.

"We have too many school districts in this state," he said. "We have over 400."

Reichner wants to put the money saved from eliminating duplication of administrative costs into areas such as teachers, who provide an direct educational benefit for children.

He said he puts a top priority on producing clean energy in all forms that the state can sell to benefit its citizens.

"A lot of good came from the environmental movement," Reichner said. "But you need to balance those concerns with common sense."

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com