Veteran legislator faces Democratic challenger

The Senate District 5 race once again pits Democrat Edd Blackler against veteran Republican Sen. Verdell Jackson with many of the same differences that distinguished the two in the past.

Blackler is engaged in an unusual campaign involving no fundraising and no spending.

“From a broad perspective, if we as a nation don’t figure out a way to elect statesmen rather than bought-and-paid-for politicians, we’re not going to see the change we’re looking for,” Blackler said in explaining his decision to refuse any contributions.

“Basically, that’s what I’ve told people. Consequently, I’m not spending any money,” Blackler said. “I think people in my district know who the heck I am.”

Regardless of past unsuccessful runs for the Legislature,  Blackler believes it is important for constituents to have a choice rather than an unchallenged incumbent.

Blackler said he believes the Flathead Valley’s almost entirely Republican legislative delegation has not represented voters well, citing in particular considerable GOP opposition to the state’s basic spending vehicle, House Bill 2.

“Some of the people who are coming from the valley here are just party puppets,” he said. “They just go along with the party and I’m not going to do that.”

Next year’s Legislature will be faced with a primary challenge, Blackler said.

“Obviously, the economy is the thing, and trying to figure out ways to encourage businesses to put people back to work,” he said, noting that the Legislature’s ability’s to help in this arena are limited.

“Since economics plays such an important role in our human existence, I intend to work with other legislators to find ways to enhance our ability to be good managers of our money,” he states in a letter outlining some of his positions.

On the environment, he says the “health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of Montana is the primary concern of our government. I will be especially focused on protecting the air we breathe, the water we drink, the atmosphere in which we live and the nature of the resources that surround us.”

 Blackler regards the 2008 reappraisal of property values, leading to exorbitant increases in Flathead County, as a matter that needs to be more effectively addressed.

He favors establishing “circuit breakers” based on a property owner’s ability to pay as a means of curbing actual tax bills.

Montana’s medical marijuana law being exploited in a way that allowed more 20,000 participants also needs to be restrained, he said.

“It needs to be clarified, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.

Jackson, in his eight years in the Montana House and the past four years in the Senate, has had a variety of legislative interests.

Aside from having a conservative approach to taxation and spending, he has been deeply involved in issues regarding protecting water rights, water quality and in the last session, protecting Montana waters from invasion by exotic mussel species that can cause enormous environmental and economic damage.

Jackson was the lead sponsor for legislation that created a public education effort to reduce the risk of exotic aquatic species invasion, and he says more work can be done to increase the state’s ability to inspect boats entering Montana.

Those are examples of ways lawmakers can make a difference in Helena, said Jackson, who offered up another issue in which he was involved:

Prior to the last session, the state’s Gambling Control Division confiscated about $70,000 in antique gambling devices from a Whitefish antique store.

In response, Jackson and another lawmaker joined forces and drafted last-minute legislation to amend the law and restore the antiques to store’s owners.

But there are big issues to contend with as well.

“I think the top issue next year will be the economy and how we will take care of the deficit that we will have” over the next two years, Jackson said.

While Gov. Brian Schweitzer refutes the Legislative Fiscal Division’s forecast for a $400 million shortfall, Jackson takes a pessimistic view of state revenue. He said he believes spending needs to be held at the current biennium budget.

“My thought is there’s not going to be a quick recovery,” he said. “People are not expanding or investing. They are afraid of what’s in front of us.”

Jackson said the Legislature and the state need to do whatever is possible to restore “the confidence of business and industry that is going to get the economy to expand.”

Another important economic opportunity for Montana is in the energy arena, said Jackson, who has been involved with an interim committee that has been debating energy issues over the last few months.

Jackson staunchly advocates state policies that emphasize coal, oil and gas development, but he has been met with resistance from Democrats on the committee who believe alternative energy development should be the state’s priority.

Regarding Montana’s problematic medical marijuana law, Jackson said he favors “repealing the law and starting over. The intent of [voters for the 2004 ballot initiative] did not happen.”

Edd Blackler

Democrat

Age: 67

Family: Wife, Janet

Occupation: School bus driver

Background: Bachelor’s degree from University of Montana; taught in K-12 for 13 years; former real estate broker and Realtor; former detention officer for Flathead County; former member Bigfork Summer Playhouse Company; involved with Bigfork Park advisory Committee and the Back Country Horsemen.

Verdell Jackson

Republican

Age: 69

Family: Married, one daughter, three grandchildren

Occupation: educator, rancher, farmer

Background: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agriculture and vocational education; worked for Alaska’s education system as teacher, state supervisor of businesss education, vocational curriculum specialist and administrator; fours years in Montana Senate, eight years in Montana House; active in Clark Fork Basin Water Management Task Force.

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