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Jay Scott has proven record

OK, here’s the deal. Vote for Gerald Jay Scott for county commissioner. And here is why.

We need someone who’s going to represent the working men and women of Flathead County.

We need someone with a proven history of service to our county. Jay has done that both in and out of county government. He worked for us as the department head of the fairgrounds for 14 years. During that time, he was able to build the two biggest buildings on the fairgrounds. First the Expo and then the Trade Center. And he was able to do it without asking for money from the taxpayers. In other words he stayed within his budget

He’s also been of service to our community through his church and 4-H groups that he and his family are part of. Gerald Jay Scott is the type of guy who would get out of bed on a cold stormy night and get in his truck and come and help you get unstuck. He might call you bonehead for getting stuck. But he’d show up every time to help.

Perhaps most importantly he’s a man of integrity and respect the fact that it’s the same rules for everyone regardless of your position.

Everyone else running for this office is saying that they want to represent us. The difference is Jay is one of us. And it’s time for us to have a voice.

So like I said at the start, vote for Gerald Jay Scott for county commissioner. —David R. Hanson, Kalispell

Randy Brodehl for county commissioner

I have served with Randy Brodehl in the Montana Legislature since 2013, and while he will be missed in Helena, the Flathead has a great gift in his decision to run for county commissioner.

As my vice chair on the budget committee, Randy was a steadfast and consistent, hard-working colleague. He has a deep understanding of the way large budgets work but more importantly, Randy understands the way policy decisions impact the budget and vice versa. During his four terms in the Legislature he worked diligently to examine every area of spending and made every effort possible to provide Montanans with a conservative, responsible budget.

I can’t speak highly enough of my experience working with Randy, and I endorse him 100 percent for the role of county commissioner. —Nancy Ballance, Hamilton, HD87

Water-bottling plant would hinder tourism

In response to the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and the Realtors Association position against 17-01:

Given that tourism is a major economic driver in our area, how will 90 semi truckloads of bottled water shipping out of Flathead County each and every day (Sci Gia’s assessment that 710 acre feet/year (MAWC’s water permit volume) will be needed to move 1 BILLION bottles of water annually) contribute positively to our business?

How will tourists (and residents) like driving with THAT much heavy trucking? There are only so many roads out of the area — did the Kalispell Chamber consider how this heavy traffic would impact Lakeside, Bigfork, West Glacier, or Whitefish and their businesses? I came, I visited and I want to live in the Flathead with 90 semi trucks moving bottled water on a daily basis? —Gail Watson-Fulsaas, Kalispell

Scott: Not just another politician

Enough politicians already. What have politicians really done for any of us? And that’s exactly who we have running in our county commissioner race.

One candidate spent years in the state Legislature accomplishing what? So ask yourself how well does Helena seem to work? If anything over the past eight years, Helena looks more and more like Washington, D.C., instead of Helena, Montana.

Then we have our current commissioner running as a candidate once again. Someone who initially ran as one of us and became one of them right before our very eyes. Someone who we thought was going to be a fiscal conservative yet he oversaw numerous spending projects that took place. The county has to spend money in order to maintain the services it provides. But heated sidewalks? A sky bridge to nowhere? How many of these projects actually came in on time and on budget? Oh I forgot, he did go along with giving away our water rights.

There is actually one candidate in the race who is different. That candidate is Gerald Jay Scott. Jay is one of us. He’s someone who knows what it’s like to work within a budget. Someone who knows that dollars have to be spent but they must be spent wisely. Someone who will make sure that you get your dollars worth when you spend it.

I believe Jay will work for us, and by us I mean all of us. We have proof of that because he’s already worked for us once as manager of the fairgrounds.

Politicians don’t really make a difference. But I believe that Gerald Jay Scott will, and that’s why I’m going to vote for him and you should too. —Steve Twet, Kalispell

Beringer has needed years of experience

I attended the candidate forum at the Red Lion in Kalispell on April 26 and carefully listened to each candidate’s responses to the questions from the deputy’s office as well as the audience. One candidate stood out as the best person to guide Flathead County forward in the future: Calvin Beringer. Calvin’s extensive background shows a high degree of experience and qualifications the other candidates simply do not possess.

Flathead County is experiencing exponential growth similar to what other regions of our country have encountered. This growth will change our county’s demographics, which will necessitate methods of law enforcement be transformed to get ahead of the S curve. Transformation requires vision, experience, and a strong work ethic.

At the forum, Calvin spoke of the need to evaluate and assess the current condition of the sheriff’s office, then develop plans to implement updates for the 911 call center and jail. He expressed his goal to implement current and relevant training and education programs for law enforcement officers. He stated a desire to improve collaboration with local, statewide and federal law enforcement agencies including Border Patrol and DEA. Calvin further spelled out his intent to develop partnership programs with community volunteers and non-profit organizations to support joint law enforcement ventures rather than solicit funding though taxpayer-funded levies and bonds.

Calvin has served over 30 years in both the military and law enforcement both in Flathead County and other regions across the country and around the world. His experience in Western Washington with the King County Sheriff’s Office during exponential growth in that region combined with his leadership experience overseeing gang, narcotics, community policing, and court protection programs along with his oversight of mandatory training for over 800 sworn personnel has uniquely prepared him to serve as our next sheriff. —Janet Walters, Lakeside

Christopher: Firm but fair

Experience matters. Judge Kim Christopher has a proven track record of providing firm but fair justice.

I have known Kim as an adversary and colleague. We tried cases against each other when we were young lawyers and were then sworn in as judges at the same time and worked in our own districts for years. Being a District Court judge is a difficult and often thankless job. If you do it correctly you will make legally correct, but politically unpopular decisions. It takes courage and moral commitment to do the right thing when you know you will pay for it in the court of popular opinion. Judge Christopher has proven that she will do just that.

Her years of experience are invaluable and necessary to the people of Lake County. Please vote to retain Judge Kim Christopher. —Julie Macek, Swan Lake, retired District Court judge

Garner take tough stances

I have known Rep. Frank Garner for over 20 years, and have had the privilege of serving with him over the last two sessions in the House of Representatives.

Frank has dedicated his life to public service. I’ve always known him to be friendly, compassionate, hard working, smart and loyal, especially to the citizens of Kalispell. He is one of the most effective representatives I’ve worked with and knows how to get things done. Frank is not afraid to take tough and unpopular stances on many topics when he believes it’s the right thing to do. We agreed on most ideas and he was always respectful when there was disagreement.

Rep. Garner is the right choice and I’m convinced he will continue to work hard for the citizens of Kalispell and Montana. Please vote for Frank Garner for House District 7 on June 5 and again on Nov. 6! —Steve Lavin, Kalispell, HD 8

Vote for Egan Slough District expansion

In a time when our world is constantly being depleted of its natural resources and trampled upon by money-hungry corporations, local action to preserve our own ecosystems becomes paramount in initiating meaningful change.

Arguably one of the most pressing environmental issues in the Flathead Valley has been the possible creation of a water-bottling plant near Creston that would draw 230 millions gallons of water per year in order to bottle 1.5 billion plastic bottles of water per year. While it has been stated that this bottling plant is simply a “family” endeavor, it is imperative to actually analyze the effects of such a plant being built.

In addition to adding billions more plastic bottles into circulation, the plant would draw down the well levels of up to 2,000 surrounding properties all around the plant and discharge untreated bottle rinse water containing toxic residue into the nearby Flathead River, consequently threatening the diverse aquatic ecosystems in the waterway. Numerous experts and agencies have found that the plant will inevitably draw down springs, sloughs, and other local surface water such as pothole lakes and wetlands. This would irreparably damage the surrounding ecosystems, as well as local residents’ ability to enjoy the water for recreation.

It is imperative that residents all across Flathead County stand up for their natural resources and their livelihoods by voting FOR the Egan Slough Initiative 17-01 on June 5. This vote would be representative of our community’s commitment to their land, as well as finishing out the fight that over 12,000 county voters stood behind with the recent petition. Every voice counts, and a vote FOR the expansion of the Egan Slough District is a vote FOR our farms, FOR our water, and FOR our livelihoods. This is a call to action. —Jenna McCrorie, Kalispell