Why I support Dave Fern and other Democratic candidates

It was Friday night and I’d gone out to support a candidate who was in town. Dave Fern got up to introduce her, and even though everyone had been chattering away in their small circles, the whole room got quiet.

He said, “Normally what I do every Friday night is read legislation.”

I was pretty darn sure that no one else in the room thought about reading the last Legislature’s decisions on their Friday nights.

He went on to explain how a complex issue that came through the last session would’ve affected Montana. It was an intelligent analysis. He was very sincere and concerned. That was when I knew he would be perfect for our community as the next senator. I’d heard from others that he was reliable, conscientious, hard worker. That he’d worked to improve our educational system on a local and statewide level for years. That he understood what it meant to be a small business owner.

But I didn’t understand until then how he viewed the world, and that he took this responsibility to become our senator very, very seriously.

I don’t know how he will vote in Helena, but I trust him to vote in the way that he believes is in the best interest of all of us. I also believe that he will listen to each and every one of us, and will filter our views into his decision making. He is a good man committed to the people of this community. Please honor us all with your vote for Dave Fern.  

There are other good candidates as well.

I met Ed Lieser via the internet. I’d heard that he’d decided to run for HD4, and made contact. He has always been open and responsive to questions, comments, and is warm, inclusive, kind. I am relieved that we have someone running who has actually lived in the Whitefish community for decades, and knows enough people to truly represent the values and goals of our community.

I am very pleased that he has a balanced perspective around land-use issues, having worked in forestry, water issues and fire fighting. His wife adds another valuable insight to Ed’s experience by having worked in our local schools. He is a consensus-builder. I trust him with our future, and hope that you will do the same by extending him your vote.

I’ve met Gil Jordan and interviewed him about his perspective as a potential county commissioner. While I don’t think anyone running for county commissioner knows the real reason why the city of Whitefish chose to pass laws in the doughnut concerning water quality (I do), I think Gil is healthy in a number of ways — physically, financially, and emotionally, and will provide us with a moderate, calm perspective on how we grow in the county in the next 4-6 years.

Clara Mears-LaChappelle, another candidate for county commissioner, has a long-standing concern for maintaining the safety of our water in the valley, which I believe is key to our collective future. I appreciate her willingness to serve.

I love Steve Bullock, candidate for governor, for what he has done for Montana to keep our democracy about the people vs. big business/undisclosed dollars. Pam Bucy, candidate for attorney general, is a real Montanan, sharp, great problem-solver, good sense of humor. She’ll be excellent. I’ve met both of them. Liked them immediately.  

Jon Tester I’ve always admired. He’s real, honest, good. A consensus builder. Tons of money has been sent into Montana to defeat him, solely because the U.S. Senate could then turn over to Republican control. Those ads speak to the depravity of the people supporting his opponent. We are meant to honor and respect our leaders, and those ads degrade us all. Don’t believe them. Sen. Tester’s a great guy. He’s real, trying to solve our real problems in D.C. He has not only my vote, but my unfailing respect.

Monica Lindeen has done a great job as our state auditor. She’s a realist. I deal with insurance issues daily in my own work, so can tell you that this job is really, really important in a number of ways to Montanans. Please keep her in office. She’s there for all Montanans, vs. her opponent who has consistently promoted a very narrow platform, and consequently lost the trust of many in the constituency that he was elected to represent.

I’m one person out of a million in our great state of Montana exercising my right to free speech. You may or may not agree with my choices. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you educate yourself to make your own informed decisions about where we go next. In the long-run, it’s everyone showing up to be a part of our democracy that makes it great. Do your part. Keep it real. Vote.

Norton is a resident of Whitefish.