County hopefuls field questions

Four of the five Republicans running for the District 3 county commissioner seat fielded questions at a Flathead Business and Industry Association forum Wednesday morning.

Bob Herron, Mike Schlegel, Jay Scott and Terry Kramer attended the forum facilitated by association President Marc Rold. Some of them were asked different questions than others.

Herron and Kramer were asked what they could do at the county level to improve the economy.

Herron said he would “work tirelessly” to recruit new business to the valley and help existing businesses grow. He also vowed to be “bold” in encouraging more timber harvest on the Flathead National Forest.

“Some counties in Idaho are being very proactive and making a proposal to the federal government that they take over some of the national forest land in a trust and manage it as the county,” Herron said. “If you read what is permitted under coordination, I believe here in Flathead County we can start using our natural resources in a much more proactive way by taking over some of the federal land.”

Kramer said the county has control over many local regulations. “We need to go through those regulations and improve those things that are inhibiting business,” he said.

Scott and Herron were asked who should represent residents of the Whitefish two-mile planning “doughnut.”

“With their current litigation going on, I don’t expect that to be resolved any time in the real near future,” Scott said, adding that the parties should sit down and work things out.

“I believe the county should have control just because people are in the county, but the city also needs to have some say in that two-mile area,” Scott added.

Herron agreed litigation may stop people from sitting down and working things out, and also maintained doughnut residents should be represented by the county.

If Whitefish wants control “they need to annex the doughnut, extend their sewer out there and provide all the services the city has, which I’m sure they are financially unable to do,” Herron said. “How the city can think they should have control of those areas is beyond me.”

Schlegel and Kramer were asked how they would handle an abrupt reduction of federal Payment in Lieu of Taxes and Secure Rural Schools funds that make up about 20 percent of the county’s road budget.

Kramer said he would prioritize road department activities, work to cut costs and find efficiencies and explore cost-sharing opportunities such as the county’s dust abatement program.

“One thing they can do, which I’m not in favor of, they can create a maintenance district and levy that without putting it to a vote. If I were to do that because we really needed to do that, I would put it out to vote to the citizens,” Kramer said.

Schlegel said the county needs a plan to reduce maintenance costs and a maintenance plan to achieve its goals. “We need to figure out what roads are going to be most valuable to people in the county,” he said.

Herron and Scott were asked how they would encourage county departments to be more efficient.

“Merit pay, performance-based pay and bonuses based on efficiency,” Herron said.

Scott said he doesn’t believe in cash rewards.

“Hold them accountable for [their actions] and make sure they have proper equipment and proper training and that they’re doing the job they are hired to do,” he said.

Schlegel and Herron were asked what steps they would take to avoid the litigation that has cost county taxpayers so much in the past.

“One thing I’ve noticed with both the [Whitefish] doughnut and the North Shore area down by Somers, those two litigation issues were because there were decisions made based on emotion; that we didn’t follow the laws we have in place, both constitutional and local,” Schlegel said. “Whether you like something or don’t, I think you have to follow the law.”

Herron said extremists on the left and right like to file lawsuits.

“Somehow we have to have leadership in this county that will get people to sit down and talk,” he said.

All four candidates vowed to keep open doors for all county constituents and listen to concerns.

They also pledged to work closely with state legislators on issues such as the business equipment tax and water rights negotiations on the Flathead Reservation to make sure Flathead County’s interests are represented.

Gary Krueger, a fifth Republican candidate for District 3, did not attend the forum.

Early voting started Monday and the primary election is June 5. The winner advances to face Democratic candidate Clara Mears-LaChappelle.

Separately, voters also are deciding the District 1 commissioner seat that had been held by Jim Dupont, who died March 19.

County commissioners represent each of the three districts but are elected by all voters in Flathead County.

Flathead Business and Industry Association will hold a forum for the seven District 1 candidates from 8 to 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 15. It follows a 7:30 a.m. breakfast.

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