OPINION: Skees is needed for HD 11

Derek Skees is needed in the Legislature because he is well-grounded in the federal and state constitutions and has a keen financial mind.

He will be one of the few people in the House of Representatives who understand the fiscal notes that are attached to the bills. Montana and our constitutional republic are in great danger because of out-of-control spending. The Montana constitution requires that the budget be balanced at the end of each session. If there is not enough money to fund the budget, legislators must raise taxes or cut spending. We can depend on Derek to look for ways to cut spending and improving the economy rather than raising taxes.

Also, Derek recognizes that each person’s freedom, dignity, ability and responsibility must be honored to pull people together. He never skirts questions, considers pandering or being politically correct. Derek’s values are totally transparent because he is honest and fiscally conservative.

Derek earned my trust and as a result I hired him to head up building a second story on our house. He drew the plans, put me on his crew, started the building project in October and did not get a drop of water inside the existing house. It sounds impossible, but he succeeded and came in under budget.

I support Derek Skees for House District 11 because he loves our free enterprise system, which encourages individual initiative that has brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity. —Verdell Jackson, Kalispell