Abell touts his blue-collar, pro-business vision for county

Editor’s note: The Daily Inter Lake will be publishing profiles of the Flathead County commissioner candidates through Sunday, and will feature state legislative races next week. Early voting for the June 2 primary election begins May 8.

Brad Abell says he will bring a “blue-collar, working-guy” perspective to the Flathead County commissioners’ office if he is elected.

Abell, a Republican, seeks to replace Phil Mitchell, outgoing commissioner of District 1. He will be joined in the Republican primary election race by fellow Republicans Elliot Adams and Tony Brockman.

Abell has worked as a heavy equipment operator for Plum Creek/Weyerhaeuser for over 30 years. He told the Inter Lake he can “see a lot of people struggling to be able to afford life here” in Flathead County.

He added he wants to do what he can to promote business in Flathead County and “make it so our children and grandchildren can live here and afford to buy a house.”

Abell believes government and bureaucracy can act as an impediment to private business. He said “people are being priced out” of living in the Flathead Valley, especially young people, and much of it has to do with government regulations and costs.

“Politicians need to get out of the way and let private business prosper,” Abell said.

Abell explained he knows a developer who had to pay around $54,000 in costs – much of it associated with county rules and regulations – before he could put in a subdivision.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re not regulating people out of the housing market.”

However, he said subdivisions need to be “done properly” and growth should be overseen so “we’re not losing our prime farm ground.” Growth should also be managed so there are no “unintended consequences” preventing residents from receiving essential services.

“I don’t like it any more than the next guy,” Abell said about the inevitable growth and development in the valley, but added he is a firm supporter of private property rights.

He said the impact of COVID-19 is “not going to be as bad as it was hyped up to be,” and as a result of the public-health measures and restrictions, many younger people are out of work while facing bills including utilities and rent.

Coming out of the pandemic, Abell said “I think a lot of our elected officials … they think they’re gonna be the ones to solve the problems,” Abell said. “But I think the problems are gonna be solved with the businessmen, their own cash money.”

Abell believes the county should build a new jail, especially as “costs are going up every day.” But he said there is a “not-in-my-backyard attitude” that has eliminated potential locations for the jail.

“It’s got to be in somebody’s backyard,” Abell said, adding “it needs to be built” before the costs get out of hand.

But mostly, Abell wants to make sure the county’s money is “spent responsibly.”

“I know how hard the citizens are working for their money,” he said.

Brad Abell

Age: 60

Family: Married; three daughters, two sons

Position: Heavy equipment operator for Weyerhaeuser

Background: Born and raised in Flathead County; has worked in the timber industry for 32 years operating heavy equipment, for then-Plum Creek and now Weyerhaeuser.

Reporter Colin Gaiser may be reached at cgaiser@dailyinterlake.com