Letters to the editor April 20
Dr. Annie Bukacek was appointed to the Flathead County Health Board in the name of diversity. However, her kooky, fringe views are the antithesis of the mission of public health. COVID-19 virus is not a hoax and should be taken seriously. She must be removed.
—Andrew Atkinson, Kalispell
Greg Myett (letter to the editor, April 16) thinks that a protest by a group of people opposed to “state of emergency” powers being bestowed upon a group of city employees, was “ridiculous.” It is certainly his right to think as he pleases, just as it was the right of everyone involved in the protest to do what they did.
I have just a few questions of Mr. Myett. Where does it say that members of the Health Board are stripped of their right to free speech, and if they exercise that right, should be removed from office immediately? When did peaceful protest become “Amon Bundyish thug like behavior”? Why are so many people willing to give up their Constitutional rights based on fear? Oh and by the way, it’s Dr. Bukacek, not Ms.
Thank God for Dr. B and others who are not afraid to question authority and provide perspective, which may contradict the opinions and models of so called experts.
—Rod Gillman, Kila
If we are to follow the orders of our governor; why can’t Annie Bukacek,a member of the Flathead County Health Board, do the same? How does her actions reflect upon our Health Board, our Commissioners and our community? Not honoring the governor’s orders during this pandemic has repercussions. No doubt. We have a large regional hospital manned by our neighbors who need to be safe to continue to provide medical services to us. We need to be safe for others.
The governor’s order joins at least 32 other governors (Republicans and Democrats) doing the same to protect all their constituents and their stay at home orders are working.
The commissioners have been caught by surprise as surely they do not want any appointment to become an expensive mistake. I can’t imagine a business wanting to move here after the national and local articles on this because it makes us look unscientific, careless and unwilling to following orders meant to protect this county. Hopefully, the commissioners will place this immediately on their agenda, rethink this, show support for the communities health and safety, and the governor’s order by asking Annie for her resignation which she should tender immediately. This would afford her the opportunity to continue her personal crusade without her actions reflecting upon or diminishing the efface of our Health Board and our county leaders.
We do not need controversy, we need steady, calm leadership. If not, at the very least, the commissioners should expand the membership to the board with members who are interested in the safety of our community and following the laws of our state and orders of our governor rather than their personal agendas.
—Francis Khor, Kalispell
Every day the shutdown continues, more small businesses will fail and never reopen. Was it smart to shut down? Yes. Does it make sense still? No. The fact is that this pandemic peaked back on March 26, and has spiked down ever since.
Please! Stop the panic, and open the economy before we find most of our stores and restaurants on Main Street shut forever. 1929 is on our doorstep and the governor needs to put Montanans back to work.
—Nick Chickering, Whitefish
I am writing this letter in support of Amy Regier for HD6. Her opponent’s record is less than stellar for a Flathead County Republican. He is pro-abortion; supported the West Valley Zoning District and then opened a gravel pit in that district; as a sitting Montana State Senator, carried the water for the CSKT water compact; the Taxpayer’s Advisory Board rated him a 10 out of 100 in 2013. He never found a state government bureaucracy that he didn’t think needed more taxpayer money.
Vote for fiscal constraint, especially in this time where most families will miss two months or more of expected income. I urge the voters of HD6 to support Amy Regier and to reject the failed liberalism of her opponent.
—Rick Breckenridge, Kalispell