Election mail bag Oct. 10

Bullock sets example of kindness

There are times when we experience personal acts of kindness in difficult times. We felt its healing power in December 2016, when my husband, Rabbi Allen Secher, and I were victims of neo-Nazi cyber terrorist attacks here in Whitefish along with two other leading Jewish families. It was a horrifying and frightening time for all of us and for our children. But support from the community of Whitefish, our U.S. Senators, and caring and concerned letters from people across the country helped turn our fears to gratitude.

However, the personal visit from Governor Steve Bullock created the most powerful example of human compassion. He spent the afternoon listening to our stories about hundreds of vile and threatening emails we received calling for our deaths in the ovens of the Holocaust, as well as the gunshots we heard when we answered late night phone calls, and Internet postings of our photos in front of the gates of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp wearing Nazi yellow stars and captioned with personal insults that reached a new low in human behavior.

We told him all of it. Governor Bullock’s response was a lesson in empathic listening and generous spiritual support. In Judaism, we are commanded to perform Tikun Olam… actions that call on us to repair the world. Gov. Bullock set the example for kindness that afternoon. By listening empathetically, he blessed us with a vision of Tikun Olam grounded in human healing.

Should he be elected as our next U.S. Senator? YES! His kindness and ability to listen are exactly what is needed in Washington and around the world. Learning to hear one another is a powerful path to understanding and peace.

From those of us at home, thank you Governor Bullock for the dignified and thoughtful campaign you are waging to gain the support of Montana voters.

—Ina Albert, Whitefish

Mitchell is ready to serve HD3

Braxton Mitchell is just what we all need to represent HD 3. A young principled conservative leader. His peers respect him because he listens, learns and leads. He has been studying, organizing, and participating to best represent his soon to be constituents.

He is prepared to step into leadership in due course. House District 3, Columbia Falls, Flathead County and Montana will be proud of his service. Braxton understands the issues, no training wheels necessary. He’s ready!

—Sen. Bob Keenan, R-Bigfork

Who protects our values?

As Governor, Steve Bullock vetoed bills that threatened Montana’s public lands. He opened thousands of acres for recreation. As a member of the state’s Land Board, Bullock fought against privatizing public lands and supported thoughtful management of state trust lands to ensure our schools received the funding they need.

Senator Daines speaks of defending Montana values. If your values include selling public lands to developers, Daines is for you. His political TV ad proclaims: “Daines will protect Montanans with pre-existing conditions.” Not only false, this is an outright lie. He voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act numerous times without replacement. Losing the ACA would affect 20 million people including 420,000 Montanans with pre-existing conditions and would remove health insurance from 80,000 constituents with Medicaid expansion coverage. If you have perfect health and megabucks to pay for medical expenses, Daines is for you.

Medicare health insurance for older Americans, financial support for millions of retirees and those with disabilities are part of indispensable programs extended by Congress in the1965 Social Security Act. Daines voted to reduce funding for Medicare and Social Security and increase the age for eligibility. If you don’t need Medicare or Social Security, Daines is your values-man.

Governor Steve Bullock fought for mental health and addictive care, supported suicide prevention programs, veteran services and improved Native American health and youth services. Because he has proven his ability to work closely with a Republican-dominated legislature and listens to his constituents Bullock has my vote.

Elect Steve Bullock to the Senate where, unlike Daines, he will work to protect Montana values.

—Gina Carpenter, Whitefish

Christi Jacobsen a proven leader

Montana is a precious place, one that is worth fighting for. As more and more out of state special interests spend money in Montana, they’re focusing on changing Montana one election at a time.

Montana has a critical decision to make this November for Secretary of State. We can choose between a proven leader in Christi Jacobsen who has worked in both the private and public sectors for over two-decades, or someone who’s worked for just a few years in a George Soros funded nonprofit, pushing extreme liberal policies from a college campus.

Christi Jacobsen raised her family hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting on public lands. Her opponent has read some liberal brochures that tell him how to talk about it. Montanans know we need someone on the Land Board who hikes the trails and walks the walk, not someone who sits at home and tells us what we want to hear.

Christi has actually done the work, her opponent just talks about. Montana’s elections and public lands couldn’t ask for a better champion than Christi Jacobsen. I endorse her for Montana’s next Secretary of State.

—Sen. Doug Kary, R-Billings

Allen uniquely qualified for HD10

I support my mother, Jennifer Allen, for Montana House District 10. My visits home consist of mornings with coffee on the porch while gazing at the mountains, then discussions about issues that are important to Montanans — protection of public lands, common sense gun safety, gender and racial equality, voting rights, indigenous rights, reproductive rights, and a medical system that works for everyone.

She is equally ready for a hike in Jewel Basin or a rally in Depot Park. She has taught me to be honest, caring, hardworking, and to approach issues with integrity. She has taught that “being political” is about standing up for what you believe in even against overwhelming odds, and using your voice to advocate for others.

I remember my mom “being political” when she started volunteering at the polls and knocking on doors to increase voter registration. But Jennifer Allen has always “been political”; raising a young family while attending graduate school for her Masters in Social Work made social issues part of her personal and professional life. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized my parents relied on WIC and food stamps while they were in school just to get by. She carried her experience and passion into her professional life as a mental health crisis worker by developing plans and programs for vulnerable persons and advocating for others as a Social Security Case manager. Her experiences during my father’s unsuccessful battle with cancer has made her intimately aware of the necessity of affordable healthcare for everyone.

Jennifer Allen’s lifelong experience advocating for people though crises, with compassion and professionalism, makes her uniquely qualified to help Montanans at this tumultuous time. I wish I still lived in Montana House District 10 so I could cast my vote for her, but hopefully you will.

—Hannah Allen, Lansing, Mich.

Support Greg Gianforte for governor

Democrats are trying to make the case as to why they should be elected this Fall, and if their vision for America’s future is frightening to you, you’re not alone. In the past few weeks Democrats have made defunding the police a top priority. All you need to do is see the reports that have come out of Seattle and Portland to know what a dangerous idea that would be.

For years Democrats have also supported creating sanctuaries for people who have broken the law by crossing the border and entering the United States illegally. They have no regard for law and order and have become the party of anarchy.

Mike Cooney has been a Helena insider and bureaucrat for over 40 years. Part of the reason he won the nomination is because he is known for toeing the party line. In a Cooney administration we would see a lot of the far-left liberal ideology that has decimated California right here in our own backyard.

In order to keep Montana the last best place this November, we have to say no to radical leftist policies, and vote for businessman and proven problem-solver Greg Gianforte for Governor!

—Rep. Forrest J. Mandeville, R-Columbus

Powers to the people

Debo Powers will bring responsible and balanced leadership to the Montana Legislature. Endorsed by our former HD3 Representative Zac Perry, Powers is the incumbent, appointed by the Flathead County Commissioners when Perry resigned, and is the best choice to represent HD3.

Powers is a strong proponent of education, unlike her opponent Braxton Mitchell who left FVCC and is associated with the racist and far-right Turning Point USA. She is also a supporter of public lands and advocates for the expansion of our public lands.

By contrast, Mitchell is abrasive and aggressive toward those with opposing views. He represents the worst of the far-right wing with an almost solitary focus on gun rights. There is no balance, no working with others and no leadership in Mitchell.

Vote Debo Powers and bring Powers to the People.

—Amy Weeks, Columbia Falls