LETTER: Gianforte will help economy

I wanted to take a moment to congratulate Greg Gianforte on a stellar performance.

I am the Republican candidate for Montana HD 1 and I had the honor to better acquaint myself with Greg and his vision for Montana while joining Greg on a tour of the Montanore mine, a project that has languished in the re-permitting process for 11 years. This project has already passed a complete permitting process in the 1980s after undergoing a protracted process to receive its permit to start the project.

As Greg fully understands, the permitting process is flawed and needs to be revamped at both the state and federal levels. The federal laws that were enacted to protect the environment and biology were never designed to become economy killers, yet they have. Greg understands the need for balance between economy with rigid environmental standards.

I feel Greg is the best choice for Montana. His businessman approach to creating jobs, balancing economics with rigid environmental standards and bringing tax reform to the state is a breath of fresh air.

For too long Montana has been stagnated by governors that would not stand up to outside interests intent on destroying our economy and pushing to deny true state level management and unrestricted access to OUR public lands.

As a freshman legislator, I am eager to help craft good bills with my fellow legislators that will make it to the governor’s desk. My only want is to have a governor who will sign good bills into law that benefit ALL Montanans — NOT to veto the good ones.

I want a governor who is not beholden to outside interests and will stand up to outside influences intent on destroying Montana jobs. Give us a governor who will bring Montana back to the prosperity she once held.

—Steve Gunderson, Libby