Pair of Republicans compete for House nomination

Reducing property taxes and getting a sluggish Northwest Montana economy going are two of the top issues for House District 9, the Republican candidates running for the office said.

Scott Reichner, R-Bigfork, is seeking a third term representing the district. He’s facing a June 5 primary challenge from Frank Mutch, who lives on Finley Point near Polson.

Early voting in the primary starts Monday, May 7.

The winner of the Republican primary faces Democratic challenger Rodrik Brosten of Bigfork.

Reichner, 45, said he sees the primary as a friendly Bigfork/Polson rivalry between him and Mutch.

“I’m a Bigfork Viking. He’s all the way down there in Polson ... I just think we’re going to beat them in football and basketball, and I look forward to beating Frank Mutch,” Reichner said.

Mutch, who is 72 and a fourth-generation Montana resident, said he knows plenty about Bigfork and the rest of the House district, having lived in it since 1980.

A desire to reduce property taxes prompted Mutch’s run for office, he said. But so did a concern that Reichner just isn’t conservative enough to do what needs to be done.

“Scott’s a nice guy, but he’s just not a conservative,” Mutch said. “I’m the only conservative running for this office, both fiscally and socially.”

Reichner acknowledged he’s “not a terribly partisan guy.”

“I like to be efficient with my time and try to get things done that are needed for the state of Montana. ... People have a choice of sending me back [to Helena] if they think I did a good job. If not, I can stay home with my family and enjoy that,” Reichner said.

“On the other hand, I really enjoy going down there and accomplishing things.”

MUTCH SAID his main drive is getting Montana’s economy going. He’s sick of seeing people —  including members of his own family — leave Montana for states such as North Dakota to find work.

“Almost every Republican candidate from dog catcher up is talking about how we can restore this economy with responsible development of natural resources,” Mutch said. “I know we can do a good job and not ruin the environment.”

Mutch said he aims to free up the economy by getting government out of the way and off people’s backs.

“We have bureaucracy upon bureaucracy that just enjoys shutting down development, from subdivisions on up. I think we need to change that,” he said. “People brag about all the laws they sponsored. I’d rather brag about all the unnecessary laws I repealed.”

REICHNER SAID he is focused on doing what can be done to revitalize Montana’s economy and supporting oil and gas development in Eastern Montana.

Last year Reichner led the push to lower workers’ compensation rates in Montana, which were among the country’s highest. That was a task handed to him by leadership of the Republican-controlled House.

Passage of House Bill 334, Reichner’s legislation to reform the worker’s compensation program, earned him a “most valuable policy maker” award from the Montana Chamber of Commerce.

The final bill reduced rates by 24 percent after some concessions to appease Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Reichner said.

Reichner added that the reform collectively saved employers in Montana about $90 million last year. “I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish with 95 percent of the aisle,” he said, adding that more needs to be done.

“But just talk to your local business owners and ask if that didn’t help.”

IF GRANTED a third term by House District 9 voters, Reichner said he faces other legislative priorities. Those include working on Medicaid reform, another task House leaders handed off to him.

“Our goal is to find out how to stretch our dollars so they will last longer and help more people and reduce the cost of abuse,” Reichner said, adding that he already has been out talking with staffers at Montana’s largest hospitals.

Other priorities are to improve the state’s performance measures for schools and teachers so parents can better see how well their schools are doing, and to fix the several billion dollars of unfunded liabilities projected over the next 30 years in Montana’s pension system.

“We can’t cut it and decimate it, but we can’t keep it as is,” Reichner said of the pension system. “There has to be changes and you have to find where the balance is. It will take broad-based support, not just one side trying to jam something through.”

BOTH CANDIDATES said people living in House District 9 need property tax relief.

“Taxes have gone sky-high, especially in this district and especially on the lake,” Mutch said, adding that with a tough economy working class people are being squeezed out of their homes.

“It just seems like the conservative Legislature didn’t get the job done in terms of real tax reforms.”

Mutch said he recognizes some level of taxation is needed. He said he would focus on crafting budgets that force state agencies to justify “every penny.”

“I think the real solution is to cut spending, and I mean cut,” Mutch said, adding that would like to see more frequent property appraisals and property appraisals done locally, not by the state.

Property tax reform has been a difficult challenge and several attempts have failed, Reichner said, adding that different ideas among not only Democrats and Republicans but also eastern and western parts of the state complicate the issue.

Reichner said he hopes to use tax revenues from oil and gas production not to grow government or start new programs, but to reduce the amount of property taxes levied for education statewide.

An “abundance of money” is being showered on local schools near lucrative wells in Eastern Montana, Reichner said.

“One has an Olympic-size swimming pool. One just completed a $12 million renovation and only has 90 kids. One just bought 20 acres and built 13 new homes, $300,000 homes, to rent to teachers for $200 a month,” Reichner said.

“Another said, ‘We need to attract teachers, let’s build a golf course.’”

Reichner proposes capping additional tax revenues from oil and gas that can go to those local schools, giving them a reasonable amount to meet their needs but sending the rest back to the state to help pay for education statewide.

“Let’s take that money and reduce the property tax burden, not just in Northwest Montana, but across the state,” Reichner said.

Around the state, property owners pay 95 mills levied by the state for K-12 education. “Maybe we can reduce that to 80 or 50 depending on the political will,” he said.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.