Lavin, Rappleye face off for House District 8

Republican incumbent Steve Lavin, 49, and Democrat Paige Rappleye, 39 are vying for House District 8.

The candidates were asked for their take on several important issues in the upcoming legislative session: the state’s cash reserve, funding infrastructure, federal management of forests, raising the minimum wage, property taxes and publicly funded education.

Lavin, a sergeant with Montana Highway Patrol, is currently serving his third term representing District 8. Lavin said he is running again because “there’s still some things that need to be done that I could provide some experience and perspective to bring some positive things to the people of Montana,” such as lowering taxes and increasing jobs.

Rappleye, an administrator and community organizer at Love Lives Here Flathead Valley and an office administrator at Glacier Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, is interested in “speaking for the underdogs and low-income families,” and advocating for human rights.

Running for office is something Rappleye has thought about before, but was asked to run just two days before the filing deadline. Without time to spare Rappleye thought, if not now, then when?

“We’re a working-class family and I’m really trying to put a voice to people who might not have voice in Helena or feel they don’t,” Rappleye said.

When asked about the current state of Montana, where Rappleye saw division, Lavin saw a “great state.”

“We do pretty well because we’ve got a majority in the Legislature,” Lavin said.

Whether maintaining infrastructure or creating jobs, Rappleye said there is much work to be done.

“I think whoever ends up going to Helena needs to end up working together to find solutions. I haven’t seen people wanting to work together to solve those problems,” Rappleye said.

Both candidates were supportive of the state maintaining a “rainy day” budget surplus, however Lavin said it shouldn’t contain a huge amount of money.

“It’s now down to $100 million and that’s probably good, however, I don’t understand how we lost it all,” Lavin said when the surplus was projected to be more than $300 million. “I was never a huge proponent of having a huge rainy day fund because it’s people’s money and should go back to the people.”

When the Legislature failed to pass a $150 million bill to fund infrastructure and building projects across the state at the end of the 2015 session, Rappleye said she felt it was because there wasn’t a consensus on the definition of infrastructure.

“The bill really needs to be about roads, bridges and water,” Rappleye said later adding, “I think vote against infrastructure is a vote against jobs.”

Lavin felt there was not consensus around how the bill was funded from a combination of bonds and cash.

“The infrastructure bill failed because the executive branch failed to cooperate with the Legislature. The votes to pass it were there if there was some compromise to do less borrowing and more cash, and a deal on the projects. I think we can pass a great bill if the Democrats give a little, especially since the Republicans have, resulting in a great deal for the people of Montana,” Lavin said.

The candidates differed about proposals to transfer federal lands to state control around the state.

“It’s something we need to discuss at the very least. We understand our lands better than some bureaucrat in Washington D.C.,” Lavin said.

Rappleye said it was very simple.

“We need to keep public lands public,” Rappleye said.

When it comes to raising the minimum wage, the candidates aligned to their party standard. Lavin was opposed to the idea and said businesses should establish what wage to pay people, otherwise jobs may be cut if an increase was mandated.

Rappleye was supportive of a modest increase for two reasons.

“Workers here deserve it. We are a low-income area with a lot of minimum-wage jobs. Two, I think the only way to grow an economy is to allow people to have income to spend,” Rappleye said.

In the arena of property taxes in western Montana, Lavin isn’t sold on the current appraisal and reappraisal system.

“I’m always in favor of a more simplified tax system. A flat tax is a good thought. I’d like to look at a sales tax believe it or not, but only with a concurrent reduction in property tax,” Lavin said noting that a sales tax “essentially is a much fairer tax.”

Rappleye said there must be a solution that’s fair to homeowners.

“I don’t know if appraising based on land value or based on home value or some combination would work. I don’t know what the answer is,” Rappleye said, noting that she would have to study this area more.

Publicly funded preschool is an issue Rappleye is very supportive of.

“I’ve talked to a lot of experts and teachers, and the statistic I found most frightening was that children who enter kindergarten without preschool have a 500-word vocabulary deficit,” Rappleye said. “Many of our kids now don’t have access to that foundation that preschool gives.”

Lavin was not interested in using taxpayer money to fund preschool.

“I think families are the solution there. You start teaching kids when they’re young as parents,” Lavin said. “Quite frankly it seems more like a daycare at that age.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.