Check out Fisher's record; then vote for Blasdel in SD4
As we near an important primary vote, I am writing to encourage you to vote for Mark Blasdel. Mark has demonstrated his leadership ability as speaker of the House, chairman of House Taxation and by serving on multiple House committees including local government, education and judiciary.
His commitment to this valley is obvious by his business relationships as a member of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, the Lakeside/Somers Chamber and the Evergreen Chamber. He recognizes that being an active member of your community is critical in order to help create positive change. He is the vice president of the Flathead Business & Industry Association, an alumni of Leadership Flathead, a member of Glacier Country Pachyderms and the Flathead County Republican Women, and went to school here and knows this community.
His opponent, on the other hand, claims to have accomplished amazing feats while mayor, all the while knowing that developing a strong reserve and negotiating union contracts are tasks handled by a city manager and staff, not by a mayor. As a matter of fact, she said she “regrets the way the city handled the situation” with the firefighters union during labor agreements.
Tammi Fisher in a 2013 interview described the city financial turnaround this way: “former City Manager Jane Howington led a remarkable turnaround to stabilization,” yet now Tammi takes claim to the accomplishment.
In June 2013, Tammi indicated she had “tapped out everything I aspire to do on this level” (as mayor) yet she was instrumental in the elimination of the transportation impact fees, which was a victory for developers and did nothing to replace the fee which placed the burden of transportation needs on the citywide taxpayers, and also will cause an increase in house and apartment rents.
She actually hindered the mandatory work of the Impact Fee Committee by continuously refusing to recommend committee members to the required committee. Evidently she was “tapped out” on finding an alternative to impact fees and reducing the burden from city taxpayers.
She also said, “It’s critically important for this community to have the north half of the bypass done. I’m pretty disappointed that hasn’t occurred.” Again “tapped out” of what she aspired to do as mayor? She also voted against a permanent easement for Kidsports Complex, which was many years in the negotiating process. Not very community minded: “Tapped out?”
As a property owner in downtown Kalispell, I ask that you look at the two Republican candidates for Senate District 4, and I am sure you will agree, the person that jumps to the top of the list is Speaker of the House Mark Blasdel. He graduated from Flathead High School, chose to raise his children here, has a solid reputation as an excellent business person, is a committed member of our community who understands and listens to the taxpayers, and has the knowledge, experience and ability to get things done in Helena.
He has no hidden agenda for running for the Senate and will go back to Helena with the taxpayers of Kalispell and the Flathead Valley in mind. Mark Blasdel is the best person for Senate District 4.
Clark is a Kalispell area resident.