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We need to elect someone with Montana values

I was not born in Montana, but I’ve lived here for a long time; long enough to recognize the difference between someone who lives Montana values and someone who only talks them.

In Rob Quist, I see a man who understands Montanans and will stand up for us. He knows Montanans want honest talk and a fair deal. He knows how Montanans value their public lands and how they depend on their public school system. He understands that we need affordable health care and the safety net of Social Security and Medicare.

Rob’s opponent, Mr. Gianforte, is heavily influenced by Americans for Prosperity, an organization funded by David and Charles Koch. The Koch brothers, Mr. Gianforte and their special interest friends do not just want smaller government. They want government they can more easily influence and exploit. Mr. Gianforte may claim to hold Montana values, but his actions and words say otherwise. His views on privatizing education would seriously harm Montana’s public school system. He’s never pledged to protect our public lands. He’s refused to embrace solar and wind energy, which are huge Montana assets. He would put LGBTQ rights, women’s rights and workers’ rights at risk.

Rob Quist is the better choice in this race. He knows Montanans and will fight for Montana values in D.C. —Suzanne Siegel, Kalispell

Bill would fix error in sexual assault law

News of passing a bill to put sexual assault on equal footing has me thinking that not only should we even out the footing on the topic but also fix the bill that is going to be presented.

The bill needs a little more work, but all in all it is a good bill that should be passed. As reported on Feb. 15, “Domestic violence protection orders are limited to victims in a domestic relationship with the perpetrator. But if someone were sexually assaulted by a person they weren’t in a domestic relationship with, they had no recourse in civil courts.”

This basically tells us that if a person who has been sexually assaulted and is not in a domestic relationship with the person who did it they have little to no recourse to hold up in civil court let alone if it was a one-time occurrence. Some people may object and say that the system is already equal and that many people lie about being raped. However the people who were raped may not feel as though justice was served in the current system.

As a people we need to consider the fact that 683,000 adult American women are forcibly raped each year. This equals 56,916 per month; 1,871 per day; 78 per hour; and 1.3 per minute and this is not including men, and children. —Emily Lamb, Columbia Falls

Businesses need to have better choice on BID

It is clear from the City Council work session of March 21 on the renewal and expansion of the Business Improvement District in Kalispell, lines are being drawn in the sand.

At issue, 79 property owners, some who had previously signed on to the BID, have changed their minds and those who do not wish to be included in the expanded boundaries of this BID district have compelling reasons specific to their property and programs to opt out. Many do not see value in the Business Improvement District, and others find this tax assessment unfair. The VFW has pointed out some of their programs will be cut back because of this additional tax assessment.

At the work session, we learned from Councilman Chad Graham that one member of the BID board received a facade grant while serving on the board, and others have received facade grants before or after leaving the BID board. Clearly, there should be no financial award for serving on a board as the perception alone creates issues of mistrust.

If the City Council decides to approve the BID in whatever form, the issue of facade grants to board members, past or present, must be clearly outlined. In other words, there should be a moratorium of time before a board member can either receive a facade grant or sit on the board.

There have been questions about the various BID ballots, the unclear voting procedure, allowing non-profits to vote, the use of the BID monies, BID leadership and, most important, the newly expanded boundaries. There are arguments a BID increases commercial downtown growth and increases property values for the property owner. Some property owners who have invested heavily in their properties have increased the property values for their neighbors without the BID’s assistance and others see no tangible value or help from the BID to their businesses.

It seems the BID board wants their expanded boundary and are unwilling to compromise. The 79 property owners who have signed a petition and others who are unhappy with the BID want out.

There are compromises available. First, the City Council could vote down the present BID renewal and encourage the BID board to return with a BID district that is not expanded. This would end this conflict.

Second, City Council could review the methodology they are using for determining each property BID tax assessment to find some more equitable and fair way to appease those property owners who want none of the BID and see no benefits for being included in this expanded BID. This would require careful crafting as it could be a potential minefield.

Lastly, who steers this BID and with what vision? Council must be mindful and considerate of all property owners. Forcing property owners together who do not want to be together is not a good formula for success.

Although, I would vote to sunset the BID entirely; it may be best for City Council to send this revised and expanded Business Improvement District back to the BID board for its reconsideration of its vision and boundaries. Clearly, this council may want a BID but putting one together without giving some relief to those who do not want to be a part of it must be palatable. It cannot be as the present BID board wants, which is all their way. —Karlene Khor, Kalispell

Holland for FEC Board, District 8

As a past trustee from Flathead Electric’s District 9 for 15 years and past president for five years, I ask you to vote and please vote for Paul Holland for District 8.

One third of the board is new, and this puts pressure on the remaining members of the board as well as the management. This business needs people with board experience as with new board members it causes an expense to us the members as the training is not cheap and it is a learning curve to be effective as a board member.

Paul has extensive experience as he has served as a board member in Alaska and now for 18 years on the Flathead Electric board. Paul is willing and able to travel to meetings in D.C. to meet with our representatives about power issues as well as co-op issues. The need for a person with experience helps all of us as members as there are a lot of complex issues facing our cooperatives. The biggest issue is power supply which we need experience to work on these issues as this affects all members as it relates to our rates we pay for power.

Please fill out your ballot and mail it in and vote for experience which is Paul Holland in District 8. —Earl Messick, Libby