Garner is qualified to be a good legislator

With the coming election, you, as a registered voter, will be sending someone to Helena to represent you and your family. First, let me offer this analogy for your consideration. Suppose you were sitting on a board of directors and had the responsibility of selecting a new chief operating officer, how would you go about the task? This new chief executive would be responsible for several thousand employees and a budget of just under $11 billion. I think, if you took your responsibility seriously, you and your fellow board members, would be very serious in your deliberations and the final selection.

It might seem strange, but every registered voter in Flathead County is in the position mentioned above. The last legislative session, in passing House Bill 2 (the 2014-15 budget), Montana will spend $10.917 billion. A large part of that will come from Washington, D.C.; however our Legislature is the ones designating the amount to be allocated.

Each biennium the various departments review what they feel their needs will be for the next two years. These budgets are combined and submitted to the governor and on to the Legislature for final approval. The House of Representatives is where all spending is reviewed and approved prior to going to the Senate for their approval, then to the governor.

A legislative appointment by the voter places the above job responsibility on the individual who you chose to represents you. Having had the privilege of serving as a legislator, I am overly cautious in my choice and the qualifications of the person that will represent me, and Frank Garner is that man.

Frank has all the qualifications and experience to handle budget matters and personnel matters. He was raised in the Flathead and knows Montana values. A graduate of FVCC and serving as Kalispell chief of police for a number of years, he knows the district and its people. He spent time in Afghanistan assisting the leaders in developing their police system. This assignment gave him access to the international community, which will allow him to work with Washington, D.C., if the need should arise.

 Absentee voting has already begun, so please consider these remarks. Do your own due diligence and vote if you will for Frank Garner. He has the ability and desire to represent you. Your vote does count.

Stan Fisher, Bigfork