Larson would bring community-centered approach to office

Editor’s note: This is the final profile of Flathead County commissioner candidates. Find previously published profiles at dailyinterlake.com/news/local-elections. The Inter Lake will feature state legislative races next week. Early voting for the June 2 primary election begins May 8.

Kristen Larson said she will serve with “honesty, integrity and love for community” if she is elected Flathead County commissioner.

Larson, a Democrat, seeks to replace Phil Mitchell, outgoing commissioner of District 1. She is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination in the June 2 primary.

While not the youngest amongst an especially young crop of primary candidates, the 39-year-old Larson told the Inter Lake “she will bring a fresh perspective while being able to work with the other commissioners.” She added that young people need more voice in county government.

In addition, she believes the county commissioner positions should not be affiliated with any party.

“I’m not very partisan and I want to go beyond conservative and liberal,” she said.

Larson owns the Glacier Lanes bowling alley in Columbia Falls and founded the organization Happiness Is A Warm Sleeping Bag. The group seeks to provide sleeping bags to Flathead County’s vulnerable homeless population.

She said she was motivated to start the organization when a childhood friend’s father passed away from hypothermia while he was homeless. She decided to focus on providing sleeping bags because for those without shelter, the cold and rapidly dropping temperatures – especially in Northwest Montana – are extremely dangerous when people are fully exposed.

As part of her desire to protect the Flathead County community, Larson said one of her number-one priorities is to protect the valley’s surface water and groundwater.

“Clean water is my top priority and I will always protect that,” she said.

She added “property values hinge on clean water,” and most residents would agree with her, as evidenced by the 70% of Flathead Valley voters who voted for the 2018 ballot initiative to expand the Egan Slough Zoning District. Larson worked on marketing efforts and outreach for the campaign.

She also agrees with the Montana Water Rights Protection Act – known as the CSKT Water Compact when it passed the Montana Legislature in 2015 – and applauded the efforts of Sen. Steve Daines and Sen. Jon Tester on the legislation.

“It’s a positive compromise that can help everyone,” Larson said.

When asked about the need for a county jail, she said she could see the necessity as the county grows, but said “the last thing we want to do is spend money on prison facilities.”

“Montana is doing a good job on prison reform,” Larson said. “We need to find alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent criminals.”

She said the county – and Public Health Office Hillary Hanson in particular – has done an “outstanding job” addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We need to be prepared on a local level and we can’t depend on federal government to solve all our problems,” Larson said.

“The idea that it [the virus] is a hoax and conspiracy is repulsive,” she said, adding she recently lost someone “really dear” to her due to the coronavirus.

She said while it was difficult to close her business under local and statewide restrictions, “it’s a sacrifice for the greater good of the community.”

As county commissioner, Larson said she would focus on transparency and incorporating “community voices” into her decision-making.

“It’s our tax dollars and we should be able to invest in our future here in the valley,” she said.

Kristen Larson

Age: 39

Family: Husband Derek Larson and 5-year-old daughter

Occupation: Owner of Glacier Lanes in Columbia Falls

Background: Born in Fairbanks, Alaska, grew up in Kalispell; Graduated from Flathead in 2000; A.A. degree from Bunkerhill Community College in Boston; Owner of BOOM BAP! PDX: Education + Art + Music + Technology Community Center; Built, managed and integrated social networking and marketing for Initiative 17-01 (Egan Slough District Expansion) in 2018; Founder of Happiness is a Warm Sleeping Bag: Owner of Glacier Lanes in Columbia Falls.

Website: larson4leadership.com

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